Hundreds of vehicles are being seized by Dorset Police each year for no insurance - with a high majority being subsequently crushed.

The figures, obtained by Cuvva via a Freedom of Information Request, show that in 2016 969 vehicles were seized by Dorset Police for no insurance, with 1,085 seized in 2017.

Of those 2,054 vehicles seized in the two years, 1,099 were subsequently crushed.

Inspector Matt Butler of the traffic unit said: "Uninsured drivers cost not just the economy, as well as those drivers who do insure their vehicles, hundreds of thousands of pounds every year. Those who choose not to insure their vehicles are more likely to be involved in other criminality as well.

"All patrol officers are involved in targeting uninsured vehicles and Dorset Police seized 1,085 last year.

"A patrol officer can very quickly carry out a check to see if a vehicle is insured. When a vehicle is found to be uninsured it is stopped, seized and taken to a recovery garage.

"The driver will be fined and receive points on their licence. If the vehicle is re-insured then the owner can collect it from the recovery garage. If not the vehicle is scrapped or sold dependant on its value."

When police seize a vehicle for not having insurance, the owner or driver has seven days to produce the relevant documentation - proof of ownership of the vehicle and a valid insurance certificate. In many cases, people are not able to prove ownership because they are not the registered keeper or they have not notified the DVLA of a change of ownership. In other cases, people drive without insurance and once the vehicle has been compounded it can be difficult and expensive to get insurance.

If a valid insurance certificate cannot be provided within seven days, the vehicle will be disposed of after 14 days in compound. If claiming a car, there’s still a £300 fixed penalty fine along with six points on the driver’s license, and then an additional £150 recovery fee and £20 a day storage fee.

The decision as to weather the vehicle is crushed is dependent on its value, Dorset Police added.

Freddy Macnamara, CEO and founder of Cuvva, said: “Driving without insurance is not only against the law, it can be painfully costly if your car ends up being seized by police. Once in an impound, getting the vehicle back can be so expensive that it's not even worth saving it from the crusher.

"The simple answer is - get insured. If traditional annual premiums are putting too much of a strain on your wallet, then it's worth thinking about how much you actually use the car. If you’re driving very infrequently, you could be better off borrowing a car from a friend or family member, and using short term insurance as and when you need it.”