The number of uninsured vehicles seized by the police last year has doubled compared to 2006, it has been reported.
It is said that there is a growing number of expensive cars being seized because owners could not afford to insure them.
The total number of uninsured vehicles rose from 78,000 in 2006 to 150,000 in 2007, according to the AA.
Of these 45,000 unclaimed vehicles, a number were crushed while many went to auction.
Less expensive cars are not being insured because the drivers are trying to stay incognito to avoid tax, parking tickets and congestion charges.
AA president Edmund King said: ‘Some motorists feel that driving a top of the range car means they are less likely to be stopped. This may have been true a few years ago but the camera does not discriminate.
‘However, some villains are trying to stay one step ahead of the chase by using foreign number plates to try to avoid detection.
‘We need to increase the checks on foreign registered vehicles - plates from a left-hand drive eastern European country on a right-hand drive car is often a sign.’
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