There is also a major issue with cloning of vehicles, where say, a grey ford focus is stolen, then fitted with the number plates of a similar vehicle in another part of the country. As long as the genuine vehicle is insured and taxed being caught is rather unlikely.

As far as I am aware, the insurance industry does not publish figures of the mis match between the number of registered vehicles in UK. and the number of renewable insurance contracts.
Presumably, it would be a fairly easy task to coordinate the figures from the various insurance companies and then compare with the number of vehicles that don't have insurance.
Like with so many other issues in this country, one suspects its the tip of an iceberg.

[quote]Round-up of drivers and cars taken off our roads in Warwickshire in one day

Five drivers have been stopped for document offences and had their vehicles seized.

A VW Polo was intercepted and stopped on the A428 near Rugby. The driver had no insurance and no tax.

A Ford Focus was stopped on the M40 Northbound Warwick Services. The driver only held a provisional licence and no insurance.[/quote]

Source: [url=https://www.warwickshireworld.com/news/crime/round-up-of-drivers-and-cars-taken-off-our-roads-in-warwickshire-in-one-day-5112068]Warwickshire World[/url]