MORE than 10,000 vehicles without insurance have been seized by Hampshire Constabulary since 2018, new figures reveal.

The statistics come as a leading motoring body tells drivers "don't take the risk" by dodging car insurance before hitting the road.

Figures obtained by the AA drivers' association show 10,558 uninsured cars have been seized by Hampshire Constabulary since the start of 2018 – including at least 1,434 so far this year.

Drivers caught without proper insurance can face a fine of £300 and six points on their licence – with the potential for larger fines or even a driving ban if their case goes to court.

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In 2021, 1,959 vehicles were seized by police in Hampshire – equating to 1.4 seizures for every 1,000 licensed vehicles in the area as of the end of 2021, one of the lowest rates in the country.

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson said: “Driving without insurance puts all road users at risk so we are taking action to remove these vehicles from our network and make the motorways and roads of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight a safer place to drive.”

Many forces now use automatic number plate recognition to check whether cars are road-legal, which can instantly tell officers whether cars have insurance and an up-to-date MOT.

Gus Park, managing director for AA Insurance Services, said: “Every driver is worried about being involved in a collision, but worse still is the other party being uninsured.

“Sadly, we know that when times are hard some people try to cut their costs, and one area people are tempted to chance it, is cutting out their motor insurance.

“However, these figures show that forces across the country are on the lookout and will take an uninsured car away.”

Despite successive lockdowns, 2020 saw the most cars seized across the country, including 2,334 in Hampshire.