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Insurers have closed a loophole that allowed uninsured drivers to retrieve their impounded vehicles.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) stepped in after it emerged that a provision in fully comprehensive insurance policies was being abused.

Police said individuals had been able to use the 'driving other cars' provision to reclaim vehicles that had been impounded.

The provision is intended to allow anyone with a fully comprehensive policy to drive another car with the owner's permission.

New wording for policies issued by the ABI will now specifically exclude the driving of impounded vehicles.

"Since the police highlighted this abuse we have acted quickly to stamp it out," said Justin Jacobs, head of motor insurance at the ABI. "This wording will help the police to make full use of their powers to tackle the menace of these illegal, often dangerous, motorists."

One man in the West Midlands is thought to have reclaimed 60 vehicles using this loophole.

"The police have been frustrated by individuals abusing this provision to recover seized vehicles, which often end up back on the roads uninsured," said Meredydd Hughes, Chief Constable of South Yorkshire police.

"I welcome this move by the industry, which should outlaw this practice and help police forces in their crackdown on this serious problem."

There are thought to be as many as a million uninsured drivers on Britain's roads, which is the equivalent of one in 20.

Accidents involving uninsured drivers add around £30 to the cost of every car insurance premium.