Motorists in the flood-affected areas of the UK could see their premiums increase by as much as 57 per cent, a new report states.

A study from comparison site uSwitch.com claims that claims-making drivers could be hit with the extra charges, as insurance companies prepare to pick up a £2.5 billion incurred by the recent flooding that affected much of England.

According to uSwitch, there are currently 1.5 million cars at risk in potential flood areas, with around 25 per cent of motorists in these regions uninsured against flood damage as third party insurance will not cover their claims.

"Too many motorists are playing a risky game by failing to secure adequate cover should the worst happen," Aron Thompson, head of insurance at independent at uSwitch, commented.

"Motorists, particularly those who live in a designated flood area, must ensure they confirm with their insurer the adequacy of their current level of cover and gain clarification on any kind of activity involving their vehicle that could potentially invalidate a flood-related claim.

"If a customer feels that their policy isn't clear, they need to call their insurer immediately to find out what level of cover they have."