car insurance premiums in Bradford have jumped by more than 20 per cent in the last year, the steepest rise in the UK, according to a survey.

The figure is more than eight per cent higher than the national average, research by the confused.com price comparison website has revealed.

Barkerend, Bradford, was named the UK’s uninsured driving capital by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau last year with almost half of all vehicles being driven without insurance.

AA spokesman Ian Crowder said there were direct links between uninsured driving and the cost of premiums. He said: “The cost of meeting claims as a result of accidents with uninsured drivers is about £30 for every car insurance policy bought.

“Uninsured drivers are more likely to have accidents. This all contributes to the rise.

“Fraud also adds to the costs. It is important to tell the truth, if you try to drive uninsured the police will catch you with their Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) equipment.”

Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Police have paid for a £300,000 ANPR network to help clamp down on uninsured drivers.

A police operation in December, which marked the start of the system, was hailed a success after six per cent of 1,500 vehicles stopped were found to be uninsured. Policed seized more than 100 cars during the five day operation.

Mr Crowder said motorists in inner-city areas were more likely to face high insurance premiums because the vehicles would be more at risk.

“I think it is unfair to pick on Bradford because it is tarring a whole society with the same brush,” he said.

“Some areas of Bradford will be bad because of the levels of uninsured driving, likelihood of accidents, cars being stolen and vandalised.

“But that doesn’t mean the whole of Bradford will be worse than the rest of the country. Any other inner city areas will show a similar picture because cars are at a greater risk.”