With the Government planning stricter sanctions for motorists who neglect to wear seat belts, new research has found that 5.9 million UK drivers (14%) admit they routinely get behind the wheel without fastening up. Data from the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) shows that in 2023, a quarter of car occupants (25%) killed in crashes across Great Britain, where seat belt status was recorded, weren't wearing one.
Against this backdrop, Alicia Hempsted, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, is urging motorists that, barring exemptions or specific situations, travelling without a seat belt constitutes a legal offence and could land you with a fine reaching £500 under present legislation.
A new survey from MoneySuperMarket discovered that, whilst 7.6 million drivers (18%) acknowledged they've driven without a seat belt, only just over a third (32%) of those have been hit with a fine over the past five years for this particular violation. Meanwhile, 14% (5.9 million) confessed they habitually drive without buckling up.
Motorists are required to wear a seat belt at all times, unless medically exempt or when reversing. Should you be exempt, you must keep your certificate of 'exemption from compulsory seat belt wearing' in your car permanently and notify your insurer accordingly.
Alicia said: "Seat belts are one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce injury and save lives on the road, so it's concerning that a significant number of UK drivers admit to not wearing them when behind the wheel. Because insurers use penalty points as a measure of risk, the proposed changes could leave drivers facing more than just a fine. Points on a licence may also push up premiums when it's time to renew.
"There are a limited number of exceptions to this law, such as when reversing, those who are licensed taxi drivers of a private hire vehicle in specific circumstances, certain delivery drivers, and people who are medically exempt. Should you be medically exempt, you must always keep your certificate in your vehicle, as well as update your insurer of your exemption. For most drivers though, the message is simple: wearing a seat belt isn't just about avoiding fines, it's about saving lives."
In its consultation proposals, the Government stated: "It has been mandatory since 1991 for drivers and passengers to wear a seat belt when travelling in any motor vehicle unless medically exempt, or under specified circumstances, such as a driver reversing their vehicle or a taxi driver plying for hire. It is also mandatory for drivers to ensure that children under the age of 14 in their vehicle wear a seat belt or are secured with an appropriate child seat or restraint.
"The sanction for failing to do so is a fixed penalty notice of £100 or, if the case goes to court, a maximum fine of £500. Failure to wear a seat belt is not currently an endorsable offence; that means the offender does not incur penalty points. This section asks the public's view on whether drivers and passengers failing to wear a seat belt, and drivers who fail to ensure children travelling in the vehicle are suitably restrained, should receive three penalty points on their driving licence."
The document continued: "We propose that three penalty points should apply to all drivers who fail to wear a seat belt or who fail to ensure that any child in the vehicle wears an appropriate child restraint."
Present regulations stipulate that "drivers must wear a seat belt if one is fitted in the seat they are using, with only a few exceptions. You're also only allowed one person per seat fitted with a seat belt".
Furthermore, "you must make sure that any children in the vehicle you are driving in are in the correct car seat for their height or weight until they reach 135 centimetres tall or their 12th birthday, whichever is first. And ensure they are wearing a seat belt if they're 12 or 13 years old, or younger and over 135cm tall".
MoneySuperMarket commissioned research through Censuswide involving 1,000 UK motorists aged 17 and over (full licence holders). The study took place between January 20, 2026 and January 23, 2026. DVLA figures show that 42,120,966 individuals presently hold a full UK driving licence.