Is my car insured? How to check your vehicle’s insurance status online

How to check car insurance status

To check the car insurance status of a vehicle, all you have to do is enter its registration number into askMID’s own-vehicle insurance check tool.

This free tool allows you to check your vehicle’s insurance status online - and a quick search will reveal whether it is currently on the Motor Insurance Database (MID).

When does my car insurance expire?

There are several methods at your disposal for checking when your car insurance expires:

• Check your policy documents or car insurance documents for the expiry or renewal date.
• Contact your car insurance provider and ask them directly.
• Log in to your account via your insurance provider’s website and check your policy’s expiry date from there.

Many car insurance providers will also contact you when your policy is about to auto-renew or expire.

How can I check if someone else’s car is insured?

You can check whether a third-party vehicle is insured in the event of an accident using askMID’s other vehicle lookup tool by providing the following details:

• Your name, reference (or initials), and email address.
• The date of the incident - and how you were involved.
• Your registration number - and the registration of the vehicle you would like to check.

This is a chargeable service, with a fee of £10 per enquiry.

Please note: This service is only intended for determining if a third-party is insured in the event of a road accident – and obtaining details to progress an insurance claim. Refer to askMID’s ‘Terms of Use’ document for more details.

What information does askMID’s ‘other vehicle’ lookup tool provide?

The ‘other vehicle’ lookup tool will reveal whether a third-party vehicle is listed on the Motor Insurance Database. If the registration is found, you will also receive the following information:

• The third-party vehicle’s policy number.
• The name of the insurance provider.
• The claims contact details.

How can I check who my car is insured with?

If you know that your car is insured, but can’t remember your insurance company, there are several ways to find out:

• Search your email inbox for ‘car insurance’ to find your insurance certificate or any emails from your chosen provider.

• Check your banking app or credit card statements for payments made to an insurance provider.

• Submit a ‘Data Subject Access Request’ form to the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) by emailing DSARdept2@mib.org.uk. You’ll need to provide proof of identity with your request.

What type of car insurance do I have?

• Third-party

  This is the minimum legal requirement for car insurance in the UK. With third-party insurance, you will be covered for injury or damage caused to other people and their property. However, you will not receive any financial assistance for any injuries you sustain yourself, or towards repair costs for your own vehicle.

• Third-party, fire and theft

  ‘Third-party, fire and theft’ insurance includes everything offered under third-party cover and can also pay out in the event of your vehicle being stolen or fire damaged. However, you won’t be covered for damage to your own vehicle in the event of an accident.

• Fully comprehensive

  Fully comprehensive insurance includes everything offered under a ‘third-party, fire and theft’ policy – and can also pay out for damage to your car. With fully comprehensive insurance, you may also receive compensation for medical treatment, legal expenses, and any accidental damage.

What to consider when choosing a car insurance policy

A price comparison website can provide you with an overview of the policies available from various insurers. For instance, Compare the Market claim to compare 178 car insurance products within minutes, which help you save time when selecting a policy.

Here are a few key factors to consider:

• Coverage level: Consider whether a third-party, third-party fire and theft, or fully comprehensive policy would best suit your needs.
• Excess amount: Consider how much you’ll have to pay if you make a claim.
• No claims discount (NCD): Check which providers offer extra discounts for each year you don’t file a claim.
• Additional perks: Some policies also come with extras such as breakdown cover, courtesy cars, and legal protection, which can help you save money.
• Customer reviews: Before signing up with a provider, check their customer reviews across the web. It’s not worth choosing an insurer offering a subpar service for the sake of a small cost saving.

Don’t be enticed by the cheapest quote; you should take the time to review what each policy offers to ensure you select one that meets your individual requirements - and legally covers all your driving activity.

Cost-saving tips

• Consider increasing your voluntary excess, if you can afford to do so. This will reduce your premium. Just bear in mind that you will have to pay more if you do make a claim.
• Keep your car parked in a secure, well-lit area, and consider installing a steering lock.
• Review different cover types. Third-party isn’t always cheaper, so it’s worth considering a comprehensive policy.
• Premiums tend to be higher for larger and more premium cars due to their desirability to thieves. Thinking about downsizing? Making the switch could reduce your premiums significantly. Use our car insurance group checker if you’re shopping for a new motor!
• Ensure your policy accurately reflects how you use your car. If you use it for work, your premium is likely to be higher due to the increased risk.

Why do I need car insurance?

It is a legal requirement to have valid insurance whilst driving a car. This legislation is in place to protect drivers from the financial costs associated with accidental damage. For instance, if you accidentally drive into the back of another car whilst on the road, your insurance can pay for this damage to be repaired.

Aside from being a legal requirement, insurance gives drivers the peace of mind that in the event of a road accident, any repair costs will be covered.

When do I not need car insurance?

According to the Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) legislation, all vehicles must be insured if they are used on the roads or parked on public highways.

However, you do not need vehicle insurance if you have submitted a Statutory Off-road Notification (SORN) to inform the DVLA that you have taken your vehicle ‘off road’.

There are other limited circumstances where you won’t need car insurance:

Your vehicle is between registered keepers

When you decide to sell your car, there will be a short period of time when the vehicle is between registered keepers - and from here on, you will not be responsible for insuring it.

However, from the moment you become the registered keeper of another car, you will be responsible for making sure that vehicle has valid insurance.

Your vehicle has been written off, scrapped, or stolen

If your vehicle has been written off, scrapped, or stolen, you’ll need to inform both the DVLA and your insurance provider as soon as possible. Once you have done so, you will no longer require insurance for that vehicle.

What can happen if my car is not insured?

If you are caught driving without insurance, the police can issue a fixed penalty of £300 and 6 penalty points on your driving licence. If the police deem the case serious enough to refer to court, you could be disqualified from driving and receive an unlimited fine.

The police also hold powers to immediately seize and, in some cases, destroy vehicles that have been driven without insurance.

Is it legal to buy or sell an uninsured car?

Yes, it is perfectly legal to buy or sell a car without insurance.

However, you must have insurance in place before driving it. If you plan to keep the car without insurance, you’ll need to make a SORN and ensure it’s kept on private property at all times.

Frequently Asked Questions