Sainsbury's Car Insurance has revealed that 1.15 million people have admitted to this crime, which the study has shown varies according to age and location.

While 8 per cent of self-confessed offenders were aged 17 to 24, this level dropped to 5 per cent in the 15 to 34 age group.

Only 2 per cent of drivers aged 35 to 44 drove without insurance, dropping to 1 per cent and under in higher age groups.

Londoners were the worst offenders on a regional basis, with 6 per cent of its residents driving uninsured.

The South west and Wales came in next with 5 per cent.

Drivers in the West Midlands, East Midlands and Anglia and the South east were the best behaved within the past year, with just 1 per cent of drivers in each region offending.

Of those who admitted to driving uninsured, 19 per cent of them said they did it because they could not afford insurance.

The same percentage said they did not think it was necessary to have insurance, while 13 per cent said they forgot to purchase it.