Transport minister Humza Yousaf has been caught driving without car insurance.

The SNP minister was driving a friend's car to a St Andrew's Day dinner on Friday evening when he was stopped by traffic police during a routine check on the A835 near Dingwall.

Mr Yousaf said that he believed he had fully comprehensive insurance that would allow him to drive any car.

However, an update to his policy following his recent marriage break-up meant he was only insured to drive his own car.

The Glasgow Pollok MSP said that he had made a 'genuine mistake' and would not contest the issue in an apology on Twitter on Wednesday morning.

Am sorry to have made genuine mistake in difficult personal times - will accept penalty & use my example to remind others to check insurance pic.twitter.com/8NY3LqO5bu — Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) December 7, 2016

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He said: "I believed I was in possession of fully comprehensive insurance, not just for my own car, and as such that I was insured to drive vehicles other than my own.

"If I had had even the slightest doubt about my insurance I would not have driven the car. Unfortunately, on investigation, it appears that following the breakup of my marriage and transfer of ownership of our car I did not complete the process of taking over as the main policy holder, which would have enabled me to drive other vehicles - which my policy had previously enabled me to do. However, I remained insured to drive my own car at all times throughout.

"I have co-operated fully and will not be contesting the issue. I will accept any penalty imposed and have taken immediate steps to update my insurance cover.

"This is an honest mistake, and an embarrassing one for me personally - however it underlines the importance of being properly insured at all times.

"I hope that my example reminds others to check their insurance and I remain committed to my work to improve Scotland's transport system for everyone."

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Mr Yousaf was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2011 and became a junior minister under Alex Salmond in 2012.

He outlined plans to improve rail services in Scotland last month after facing mounting pressure over the performance of Scotrail.

A statement from Humza Yousaf said: "Humza Yousaf was subject to a roadside check last Friday evening while driving a vehicle owned by a friend, who had given him permission to drive it.

"Following standard checks, it became clear that while Mr Yousaf is fully insured to drive his own car and his policy had previously insured him to drive other vehicles - he was not currently insured to drive a vehicle other than his own.

"The issue had arisen as a direct consequence of changes to his insurance policy and vehicle ownership following the breakup of his marriage earlier this year.

"Mr Yousaf will not be contesting the matter. At all points he has been insured to drive his own vehicle."

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: "We don't believe this is a resignation matter.

"Anyone could have found themselves in this situation, due process has been followed, Mr Yousaf himself has apologised, and we should move on.

"He now has an opportunity to use this incident to persuade others of the importance of motorists being properly insured."