How To Check If a Car Is Insured.

It’s against the law in the UK to drive on a public road without valid insurance. The penalties can be severe, including points on your license and a hefty fine. So, it’s essential that you know how to check vehicle insurance is valid to avoid any consequences.
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What are the penalties for neglecting an insurance check?

As of 2020, the maximum penalty for driving without insurance is 6 to 8 penalty points on your license and a means-tested fine which can be anything up to £5,000, depending on your earnings. In certain cases, you could even receive a driving ban, so checking your vehicle insurance is valid is critical.

Why do I need vehicle insurance?

All motorists are legally required to insure their cars, which provides financial protection if an accident occurs that causes damage or injury to another person, vehicle, property or animal. Policies can vary and may or may not include repair costs for your own vehicle too. It is important to provide all of the correct information so in the event of an accident you will have a valid insurance claim. 

There are various reasons why you need to check vehicle insurance is in place

We understand that it can be confusing knowing whether you have valid insurance in place:

  • Drivers are legally responsible for checking that their vehicle is insured before driving on any public road
  • You need to ensure that you have the correct insurance in place for your vehicle
  • Insurance protects yourself and others from harm and damage to people and property
  • Having insurance in place removes much of the stress and hassle involved in dealing with the aftermath of an accident

Car Insurance Check FAQs

How do I check if my car is insured?

The quickest and easiest way to check if your car is insured is to make a note of your vehicle registration number and then check this against the national Motor Insurance Database which is a national register of all cars insured in the UK. It’s a service available to all registered insurance companies in the UK, as well as the police and DVLA. You can run a quick check on this database using AskMID.

At Reg Car Check, we can’t supply you with information about your insurance since the Motor Insurance Database doesn’t resell their data. However, you can use Reg Car Check to check other details such as your MOT expiry date, car tax due date, fuel type and so much more which will help you stay on top of all the important elements of your vehicle ownership.

Is there a reminder service to check car insurance status for me?

There’s no handy reminder for car insurance at this time, like there is for MOT checker or vehicle tax, but if you’re worried about forgetting to renew your car insurance, your insurer may be able to send you renewal reminders by email. Alternatively, you can download the MoneySupermarket app which provides push notifications the day before your insurance is due for renewal – you just need to insert the date when your insurance expires and you’ll be notified automatically, and you don’t need to purchase your insurance through them to use the app.

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

You can check the insurance on someone else’s car in just the same way that you would check your own – you just need to know the registration number of the vehicle and search the Motor Insurance Database for the details. If you only need the name of the insurance company for that vehicle, the service is free, but if you need further details there might be a nominal fee.

What if the database says my car is uninsured when I know it is?

It’s surprisingly common that when you search for details of a vehicle, you’ll be met with the news that your car is uninsured, even though you know it is. However, the service is updated every few hours and that may be the cause of the issue – you may just need to check a few hours later to see if it’s been updated. If you’re concerned, or it hasn’t updated the next time you check, you can contact them directly to make sure that all the details have been entered correctly.

Am I legally allowed to buy an uninsured car?

There’s no legal requirement to buy a car that has valid insurance. In fact, many cars that are purchased through traders or forecourts come with a “7 day drive off” insurance, which begins the moment you drive the car away.

But if you’re buying from a private seller, it’s unlikely it will come with this 7-day insurance so you will need to immediately insure the vehicle to be able to drive it home. It’s not worth the risk of thinking you’ll drive home and then insure the car, as this is illegal and could cost you both financially and in terms of points on your license.

It may seem like a tedious task to have to deal with after the excitement of getting your new car, but it’s important and could just be the thing that saves your license from being revoked, so it’s worthwhile.

Is car insurance necessary if someone borrows my car?

Yes, you still need car insurance if someone borrows your vehicle. The car insurance policy typically follows the car that is being covered, so if you lend it to a friend or family member, your insurance will cover most of the claims that could occur when the car is being driven. If your car is likely to be driven regularly by someone other than yourself, you should check that you have appropriate coverage for another individual to drive it. It may be necessary to add the person to your policy to ensure that you’re both covered.

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