Passenger in uninsured vehicle

[bluey1905]

A very quick question chaps, if somebody is a passenger in an uninsured vehicle, are they breaking the law? Somebody on another forum has stated that they are, but I am not so sure.

[73mark]

If you knowingly get in to a uninsured car. I think you can but not 100% on that.

[Mr Happy]

If it is a stolen vehicle, yes - if it is just uninsured, then I'd have thought no.

The offence is driving without insurance, not passengering without insurance, surely?

[trickywoo]

No - unless they are the registered keeper.

[sunbeam alpine]

Seems unlikely. How would you know?

I don't ask people I'm travelling with whether their car is insured, or whether they have a driving license/MOT/anything else.

Maybe being a passenger in stolen vehicle could lead to problems.

Edit: I think trickywoo has found the answer!

[bluey1905]

Mr Happy said:

If it is a stolen vehicle, yes - if it is just uninsured, then I'd have thought no.

The offence is driving without insurance, not being driven without insurance, surely?

I realise a stolen vehicle is definitely a nick, but I don't think I've ever heard of a passenger being charged because the driver was not insured.

Edit; @trickywoo, that's what I thought. Thanks chaps

Edited by bluey1905 on Sunday 1st March 12:47

[sim72]

Unless you're the RK (and you know the driver's uninsured) or you know it's stolen, no.

If you know the driver is uninsured, you may not be liable to claim compensation in case of an accident, however.

[anonymous-user]

possibly, but not always

"Offences of causing or permitting the uninsured use of a vehicle should be regarded as being as serious as using a motor vehicle without insurance.

It can often be vital to correctly choose between using, causing or permitting. For the definition of using, causing or permitting, (see Wilkinson's 1.159 - 1.192)."

http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/p_to_r/road_traffic_of...

[dacouch]

You can be a passenger in an uninsured vehicle and still be entitled to compensation eg from the MIB or the Insurer of the vehicle in the event of an accident providing you did not know it was uninsured.

[ging84]

causing or permitting does not need to be the registered keeper, someone who borrows a car then lends it to someone else could equally commit that offence

But it has nothing to do with being a passenger, you do not need to be present at the time to have committed the offence