Drivers warned 20% of accidents happen shortly after leaving the house

New research reveals 20% of car accidents happen within the first hour of a journey, prompting leading temporary car insurance provider, Cuvva to warn drivers of the dangers of driving uninsured – even for short trips.

Cuvva’s analysis of car insurance claims made since January 2021 shows that 1 in 5 accidents happen in less than one hour of the policy starting. In 2024 alone, UK drivers made 2.4 million car insurance claims, and the average cost of a claim hit an all-time high of £5.3k.
Darryl Bowman from Cuvva said: “Collisions are surprisingly common closer to home because familiarity with the roads can lead to complacency. Often drivers may be more relaxed and less focused on the road.”

Drivers may also be prone to distractions like adjusting the music, and distracted drivers are four times more likely to have an accident. Residential areas often have more parked cars, junctions, and pedestrians, which can increase the risk of accidents.

This means drivers should be cautious to avoid ‘short trip mentality’ – a false sense of security that can tempt some into driving uninsured when they only need to drive a short distance.

According to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, there are around 300,000 uninsured cars on UK roads every day, despite the fact that it’s a criminal offence to drive without insurance. So even those who manage to avoid accidents can face a £300 fixed penalty notice, 6 points on their licence and a driving ban if they’re caught driving uninsured.

Bowman continues, “Twenty percent of the claims we receive are related to accidents that happen soon after drivers set off. It’s really not worth the risk to drive uninsured – especially when it’s so easy to get an hour-long short-term Cuvva policy from just £11.89.

“Whether you’re nipping to the shop or to your mate’s house round the corner, you need to make sure you’re insured even if you’re only going to be on the road for a short time.”