How to Check if a Car is Insured

Table of Contents

How can I check if my car is insured?
How do I check who my car is insured with?
When does my car insurance run out?
What is the penalty for driving without insurance?
Does a SORN car need to be insured?
Am I insured to drive other cars?

Is my car insured?…it’s sensible to check. Car insurance is a legal requirement if you want to drive in the UK, so knowing how to check if your car is insured is a must. Here’s everything you need to know.

How can I check if my car is insured?

The simplest way to check whether your car is insured is through the Motor Insurance Database (MID) on the Motor Insurers’ Bureau website. All you need is your vehicle registration number.

The check is free of charge. The service simply confirms if your car is showing as insured on the database or not. It might also show the make and model of your car, if your insurer added it to the database.

However, it won’t give you details of who your car insurance is with, or when your policy began or when it’s due for renewal.

Can I check if someone else’s car is insured?

You may want to check if another person’s car is insured if you’ve been involved in an accident. In this instance, it may be possible to carry out a one-off search using the askMID service on the Motor Insurers’ Bureau website.

To do this, you’ll need to know the date of the accident, and the registration details of your vehicle and the other car. If you’re in luck you’ll get the name and contact details of the other person’s insurance provider, and their policy number. However, there is a cost for this service.

How do I check who my car is insured with?

If you’ve forgotten who your car insurance provider is, you could:

Check through any documents you have at home
Search through your emails for confirmation of your policy
Check your bank statements for payments to an insurer
Get in touch with your broker if you sorted your policy through them
Request the information from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (it’s usually free but could take a few weeks)

When does my car insurance run out?

A typical car insurance policy usually lasts for 12 months. Unless you’ve taken out short-term or temporary car insurance, that is.

Your policy documents will tell you exactly when your policy ends. Alternatively, get in touch with your insurer. Your insurance company will also usually contact you when your renewal date is getting close.

The letter or email it sends will normally give you the option to automatically renew your policy, and include a quote for the year ahead.

However, one of the top tips for getting cheaper car insurance is don’t simply let your policy auto-renew. It’s sensible to check whether you can save by getting covered with a different insurer.

» MORE: Compare car insurance

How can I check if my car is taxed?

You can check whether your car is taxed using this free vehicle tax check service on the Gov.uk website.

How do I check if my car needs an MOT?

You can check whether your car needs an MOT using this free MOT status check on the Gov.uk website.

What is the penalty for driving without insurance?

If you drive without insurance you could get a £300 fixed penalty fine and 6 penalty points on your driving licence. And that’s not all – there is no maximum fine, and you could even be banned from driving if your case goes to court.

The minimum level of cover legally required to drive in the UK is third party insurance.

Does a SORN car need to be insured?

A car doesn’t have to be insured if it has a ‘Statutory Off Road Notification’ (SORN) because it won’t be driven or kept on a public road. You must register your car as SORN with the DVLA if you don’t want to tax or insure it.

Can you pause car insurance?

You can’t usually pause car insurance once it’s started. You’ll need to check with your insurer. But if your car will remain on the road, even if you won’t drive it for a few weeks or months, you still need car insurance by law.

Am I insured to drive other cars?

Some fully comprehensive car insurance policies might allow you to drive other cars, but always double-check with your insurer first. If it is permitted, you may have third-party cover only. If you want more cover, or you’re not insured to drive other cars under your existing policy, you could consider temporary car insurance.