More than 200 BMWs were among nearly 6,000 cars seized from tax dodgers and uninsured drivers by police in Wiltshire in the last four years.

The favoured transport of reps and estate agents is at the top of the list of vehicles taken off the road by police under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act, with 226 Beemers impounded.

The legislation, which came into effect in July 2005, gives police officers the power to take vehicles off the road if they are untaxed or uninsured, or both.

Police say drivers who drive without insurance are nine times more likely to be involved in a collision, mainly due to the fact that uninsured drivers are six times more likely to drive an unroadworthy vehicle, three times more likely to have been convicted of careless driving and ten times more likely to have been convicted of a drink-drive offence.

Wiltshire police seized 114 vehicles in the remainder of 2005 after the regulations came in but in 2006 they took 1,439 off the road, impounding 1,943 in 2007 and 1,636 in 2008. So far in 2009 they have seized 490 cars.

These include 77 Mercedes, 13 Subaru Imprezas, 10 Lexus, a Porsche and a Bentley.

Police have also seized cars used in anti-social behaviour.

If their car is seized, drivers face fines of up to £5,000, six to eight points on their licences, a £150 recovery fee and £20 a day storage charges.

If a valid certificate of insurance or a licence is not produced within 14 days, the vehicle may be crushed or sold, and a further disposal fee of £50 incurred.

In the past 12 months almost 40 per cent of the vehicles seized have been crushed.

Inspector Nick Elton, operations manager for Wiltshire Roads Policing Unit, said: “These figures clearly show the extent of the number of uninsured vehicles using the roads.

“Officers will continue to make best use of modern technological advances to identify and prosecute those drivers who have no regard for the safety of others by driving whilst uninsured, and by taking this positive action we will make this county a much safer place for everyone.”

Wiltshire police will be taking a cubed, crushed vehicle on a tour of the county over the next two weeks to underline the message. The exhibition will be on display on Wednesday from 9-11am in Fore Street, Trowbridge; from 12 noon to 2pm in Melksham Market Place and from 2.30 to 4.30pm in Chippenham town centre, in the lay-by near the Buttercross.