[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/bmw-audi-seized\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/bmw-audi-seized\/","headline":"BMW and Audi most seized","name":"BMW and Audi most seized","description":"Having proper car insurance and a valid licence are pretty basic requirements when it comes to car ownership but thousands of UK motorists had their car taken away after failing to take care of these relatively straightforward needs. More than 22,500 vehicles were seized in the first half of 2016 by police forces in England and Wales, all because the driver wasn\u2019t insured or didn\u2019t have a valid licence. That roughly works out at 124 cars a day, and what\u2019s […]","datePublished":"2016-10-24","dateModified":"2016-10-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/feature-27.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/feature-27.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/bmw-audi-seized\/","about":["BLOG"],"wordCount":364,"keywords":["aston martin","Audi","bmw","ferrari","lamborghini","Maserati","porsche","Rolls-Royce","TVR"],"articleBody":"Having proper car insurance and a valid licence are pretty basic requirements when it comes to car ownership but thousands of UK motorists had their car taken away after failing to take care of these relatively straightforward needs.More than 22,500 vehicles were seized in the first half of 2016 by police forces in England and Wales, all because the driver wasn\u2019t insured or didn\u2019t have a valid licence.That roughly works out at 124 cars a day, and what\u2019s most interesting is the number of high-end makes and premium models included in there.Almost one in ten of the vehicles seized were BMW models (9.3 per cent), making it the most confiscated car brand of the year, a title it has held since 2013.Meanwhile, more than one in 20 cars seized in the first six months of 2016 were Audis (6.8 per cent – 1,546 models).Some 52 Porsches were also taken away, along with 11 Ferraris, six Bentleys, six Lamborghinis, four Maseratis, two Rolls-Royces including a \u00a3265k Dawn convertible (pictured), a TVR and an Aston Martin.The next stepWhat happens next to these cars varies. Most of them are reclaimed by their owner, who have to cough up a \u00a3150 removal charge in addition to storage costs of \u00a320 a day.If ownership can\u2019t be proved or if no-one comes forward to claim it after 14 days, then it goes to auction.Some 2,866 cars were sold off to the highest bidder in the first half of 2016, raising over \u00a31.4 million with London\u2019s Met Police accounting for more than half of that (\u00a3788,022).If they failed to sell, the next step isn\u2019t very pretty; they get sent to the crusher. At least 6,583 seized cars have been crushed in 2016 so far, raising \u00a3279,253 in scrap value.Some quick maths will tell you that works out at \u00a342 per seized car. Now, we don\u2019t have a list of the seized cars or what kind of state they were in, but crikey, you\u2019d get more flogging it down the pub!We don\u2019t want to keep saying this but it\u2019s worth underlining once again, all this could\u2019ve been avoided if the drivers\u2019 had secured the proper insurance or had a valid licence. Bonkers."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"BMW and Audi most seized","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/bmw-audi-seized\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]