Police seize 12,000 vehicles from streets of South Yorkshire for nuisance, traffic offences or no insurance
“People see driving without insurance as a victimless crime, but that couldn't be further from the truth”
South Yorkshire Police seized nearly 12,000 vehicles in 12 months including dangerously parked cars, nuisance bikes and uninsured motors.
Figures obtained by car insurers esure found SYP are the eighth busiest force in the country for taking wheels off the road after finding they are stolen, uninsured or their driver has no licence.
In fact, more than 1,157,000 vehicles were seized by UK police forces between 2021 and 2025, according to new data from esure.
Officers often haul cars away for traffic offences or in combination with the driver committing other faults.
On July 17, 2026, police seized 10 vehicles in a single day in just the Kilton Hill area of Burngreave.
Vehicles can include bikes and quad bikes, such as the two bikes officers seized for riding on green spaces and in woodlands in the Shiregreen and Ecclesfield area on March 13 this year.
And, over a week in November 2025, 106 uninsured vehicles were seized in South Yorkshire, with Roads Policing Sergeant Martyn Micklethwaite saying: “People see driving without insurance as a victimless crime, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Lives are put at risk, as those who are willing to drive without insurance are more likely to take greater risks and be involved in fatal and serious collisions."
In neighbouring Derbyshire where police patrol the Peak District, officers from the Buxton Safer Neighbourhood Team seized an astonishing 21 vehicles from beauty spots for dangerous or inconsiderate parking where drivers left their cars on blind bends.
The figures from esure says no insurance nor valid driving licence is the most common reason for vehicle seizures in the UK.
Between 2021 and 2025, 160,662 vehicles were seized for these offences, averaging around 87 per day.
The penalty for driving a vehicle with no car insurance is £300 and six points on your licence; however, if the case goes to court, it’s an unlimited fine, and drivers can be disqualified from driving.
Stolen vehicles account for the second-highest number of seizures carried out by police, with 113,465 vehicles seized between 2021 and 2025.
A spokesperson from esure says: “With more than one in five vehicle seizures involving uninsured or unlicensed drivers in 2021 to 2025, it's clear that too many motorists are still ignoring the rules of the road.
“Driving without insurance is not a victimless offence. It puts other road users at risk of high costs and lengthy claims disputes following a collision, while offenders face vehicle seizure, fines and further penalties. These figures are a stark reminder of the importance of having the right cover in place before driving any vehicle.”