HL Deb 17 July 2003 vol 651 cc173-4WA
Lord Beaumont of Whitley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the question by the Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes on 23 June (HL Deb, col. 7), whether they will take steps to compel car owners to display a disc certifying that their cars are insured. [HL4004]

Lord Davies of Oldham

Requiring vehicles to show evidence of being insured by means of a windscreen insurance disc has drawbacks. UK law requires the driver to be insured, rat her than the vehicle, and such a disc would not necessarily guarantee that the person behind the wheel was insured to drive that vehicle or was complying with policy conditions. Furthermore, it would be evidence only that somebody had insurance cover for the use of the vehicle when the disc was issued. Such insurance cover is necessary in order to renew the vehicle excise duty disc which is already required to be displayed.