Electronic certificates are e-mailed directly to a motorist by the insurer as soon as the policy is approved, enabling the driver to print out a copy and cut out the frustrating wait for paperwork to arrive in the post, which can often cause drivers delays in tasks such as taxing their vehicles.

swiftcover.com says that drivers can now insure and tax their cars completely online in a matter of minutes, without the need for any printed documentation or time-wasting telephone calls and Post Office queues.

Tina Shortle, marketing director for swiftcover.com, explains: "We are delighted to see that e-certificates for motor insurance have finally been approved by the Department for Transport as this has been something that swiftcover.com has been pushing for since we began in business.

"Our service is based on making car insurance quicker, simpler and more efficient to organise, which not only saves drivers time, by getting rid of things like call-centres, it also helps save costs. "

The British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA), who, along with major insurers, took part in the discussions with the Department for Transport, says the move is environmentally-friendly, saving 2,280 tonnes of carbon dioxide and up to 9,750 trees annually that would normally be used to create paper insurance certificates.