Motorists who fail to renew their car insurance face having their car clamped in their driveway, seized and destroyed it has been reported.

The clamp-and-scrap powers, have been authorized  to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) by ministers, and are a fresh weapon in the Government’s fight against uninsured drivers.

The new system, called continuous insurance enforcement, comes into place in June and will mean that cars must be insured at all times - and as a result will no longer have to be spotted on the road to be clamped and seized.

The only exception to the rule is, if the registered keeper makes an official declaration that the car is permanently off the road and not being driven.

Motoring groups fear innocent motorists who forget to insure their vehicle on time because they are on holiday or have an extended stay in hospital will fall foul of the new rules which can also see drivers landed with a £100 fine.

But road safety minister Mike Penning insists drivers will be given a warning letter and a £100 fixed penalty notice before any car is clamped and seized from the driveway.

The Department for Transport said: ’Under continuous insurance enforcement it will be an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle, rather than just to drive when uninsured.’ The regulations laid down today will allow the DVLA to take action against those who ignore warnings to get their vehicle insured.’

Road safety minister Mr. Penning said: ‘Uninsured drivers injure 23,000 people each year and add £30 to every responsible motorist’s premium so we need to do everything we can to keep them off the roads.’

There is no two ways about the fact though, that it may affect those of us who are simply a little forgetful with our busy stressful lives. There is the added worry that this system could become nothing more that a money spinner. Systems need to be put in place to ensure that where offences are committed inadvertently, for example being involved in an accident or an illness that requires hospital treatment. In such cases drivers need to be treated sympathetically.

Under the new system the DVLA will work in partnership with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau to identify from their database vehicles which are uninsured. Motorists will then receive a letter telling them that their vehicle appears to be uninsured and a warning followed by a fine unless they take action.