Essex Police target uninsured drivers - taking more than 3,800 vehicles off the road so far this year
They seized 487 vehicles in July this year
More than 3,800 vehicles have been seized across Essex in the first seven months of 2026.
The total of 3,824 is larger than the number seized in the entirety of 2023.
Essex Police says the seizures are part of their "ongoing work to keep dangerous drivers and vehicles off our roads."
On average 546 vehicles have been seized each month of this year. In July 487 were seized, rising to 632 in May.
Adam Pipe, Head of Essex Police’s Roads Policing Unit said: “The figures highlight our continued focus on tackling uninsured driving and removing unsafe vehicles from the road network.
“Uninsured driving puts lives at risk.
“Drivers without insurance are far more likely to be involved in collisions and are often committing other offences at the same time.
“Vehicles without insurance are also frequently poorly maintained, creating additional risks for people travelling lawfully on Essex's roads.
“This work is part of regular road safety enforcement activity to identify uninsured drivers and take positive action at the roadside, to prevent serious harm before it happens.
"We’ll continue to carry out regular checks across Essex to tackle dangerous driving and protect our communities."
The enforcement activity supports the national Op Drive Insured campaign, which tackles uninsured driving and the wider risks it poses to other road users.
A vehicle can be seized immediately if it is driven without insurance or the correct licence.
It is taken to secure storage until the owner proves they are entitled to drive it by providing their driving licence, log book and insurance policy and pays the release fees.