Vehicle Insurance: Am I Covered?

Driving without insurance in the UK is illegal and can result in severe penalties, including points on your license, a fine, or even a driving ban. To avoid these consequences, it is essential to know how to check if your car is insured. The easiest way to find out is to use the Motor Insurance Database (MID) or askMID, which allows you to check by entering the vehicle's registration number. This database is a centralised register of all insured vehicles in the UK and is accessible to insurance companies, police, and other authorities. While the basic search is free, there is a small fee for additional details such as the insurance provider and policy specifics. It is worth noting that car insurance is not transferable when vehicles are sold, so new owners must obtain their own insurance.

How to check if your vehicle is insured

There are several ways to check if your vehicle is insured. Here are some options:

Check for an Online Policy

If you know which insurance company you or your family have used in the past, you can start by checking if they offer online accounts. Many insurers provide online portals or mobile apps where you can log in and review your coverage details, proof of coverage, and payment history. This is a quick way to confirm if your insurance is active and up to date.

Search Your Vehicle

Most drivers keep some form of proof of car insurance in their vehicles, such as an insurance card or policy document. Check your glove compartment, centre console, or other storage compartments for any insurance-related paperwork. Even if you find expired documentation, it can provide a starting point, as you can contact the insurance company to inquire about renewals.

Review Financial Documents

If you have access to the vehicle owner's financial records, you can review bank statements, credit card statements, and emails to look for payments made to insurance companies. This can help you identify the insurance provider and then contact them to confirm coverage details.

Contact Relevant Authorities

In the United States, you can contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to request information about insurance coverage. You may need to fill out a form and provide details such as your contact information, vehicle license plate number, and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Additionally, the Secretary of State in your state of residence may also have records regarding car insurance, which you can access by providing your driver's license number or other identifying information.

Check with the Police

In some cases, local police departments can check if a vehicle is insured. This may depend on the specific department and their willingness to release such information. However, if you have been in an accident, the police will gather information from all parties involved, including insurance details, and you can request this information through the police report.

Contact the Insurance Company

If you have the insurance company's name or details, you can contact them directly to confirm whether the vehicle's insurance is active. They can provide you with the necessary coverage details and ensure that the policy is up to date.

Request a CLUE Report

You can also request a Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) report, which contains up to seven years of history on your car insurance claims. This report includes your car insurance policy number, details of covered property, claim dates, types of loss, and payout amounts. You can obtain this report directly from LexisNexis, and it won't affect your credit score.

Check with Major Auto Insurance Companies

If you are unable to find specific insurance company information, you can try contacting national insurance providers or major auto insurance companies. They may be able to check their records and determine if a policy is in place for the vehicle in question.

What to do if your vehicle is not insured

In the UK, it is illegal to drive a car without insurance. If you are caught driving without insurance, you could face a fine and six points on your license. If your case goes to court, you could be disqualified from driving and receive an unlimited fine. The police are also allowed to seize, clamp, or destroy a vehicle that is being driven uninsured. In some cases, you may even face jail time.

If you own a vehicle, it must be insured unless it is kept off the road and declared as off the road with a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN). This rule is called 'continuous insurance enforcement'. If your vehicle is not insured and you have not registered a SORN, you could face several penalties. The police can check if your vehicle is insured using the Motor Insurance Database (MID) by scanning your number plate. If your vehicle is not insured, they can seize it immediately. You will then have to produce a certificate of insurance and pay charges to get your vehicle back. If you don't, the police can dispose of your car after 14 days.

If your vehicle is not insured, you will get a warning letter from the Motor Insurers' Bureau. If you still don't insure your vehicle, you will get a Fixed Penalty Notice, and your vehicle could be seized, clamped, or destroyed. You could also be taken to court, where you could face an unlimited fine and be disqualified from driving.

If you are driving without insurance and cause an accident, you will be personally liable for any damage or injuries. The financial fallout can be devastating, and you could be sued if you don't pay. It is always best to keep your vehicle insured to avoid these consequences.

What happens if you're in an accident with an uninsured driver

If you're in an accident with an uninsured driver, the first thing you should do is file a police report. While you wait for the police to arrive, take photos of the damage, note as many details as you can, and exchange information with the other driver. It's also important to get the contact information of any witnesses. Even if the accident seems minor, it's best not to handle it privately, as damage to your vehicle may be worse than you initially thought, and some injuries, like whiplash, may not appear until days later.

After filing a police report, you should file an uninsured motorist claim with your insurance provider. They will pay for medical bills and property damage, up to your coverage amount. It's important to do this as soon as possible, as most insurers only give you 30 days to file an uninsured motorist claim. If you don't have uninsured motorist protection, you can file a claim under the collision portion of your policy, but this won't reimburse you for any medical expenses.

Keep all receipts related to repairing your vehicle and all records of any medical care you receive as a result of the accident. If you can prove you were injured, it's more likely your insurance company will pay out your claim. It's also a good idea to gather evidence that the other party is uninsured as soon as possible after the accident. The more evidence you have against the other driver, the more likely your claim will be approved.

If you don't have uninsured motorist coverage, your options are more limited. The best-case scenario is that the person who caused the accident has enough assets to pay for your losses. You can pursue a claim against them directly, and the court can order the party responsible for the crash to pay damages. However, many people who are uninsured don't have the funds to pay for the repair or replacement of a damaged vehicle or the costs of injuries. So, even if the court orders the driver who caused the crash to pay damages, there's no guarantee you'll be able to collect any money from them.

How to check if someone else's vehicle is insured

It is important to know how to check if someone else's vehicle is insured, especially if you are planning on buying a used car. Failure to have insurance could lead to penalties and fines. Here are the steps you can take to check if someone else's vehicle is insured:

Online Vehicle Information Services:

You can use online vehicle information services such as the Motor Insurance Database (MID) or askMID. The MID is the only centralised database of motor insurance policy information for all insured vehicles in the UK. To check if a vehicle is insured, you will need the vehicle's registration number or number plate. You can enter this information into the MID database, along with declaring that you are the owner or registered keeper of the car.

Additional Details:

If you need additional details, such as the name of the insurance provider and specific policy information, there may be a nominal fee associated with the search. For example, the MID's 'Other Vehicle Look Up' service charges a nominal fee of £10, intended for use after accidents.

Contact the Insurance Company Directly:

Another way to check if a vehicle is insured is to directly contact the insurance company. This can be done by checking your bank statements for payments to an insurance company or checking your emails for correspondence from an insurance company.

Use a Short-Term Insurance Option:

If you are test-driving or buying from a far location, you can avail of short-term insurance, which offers daily and hourly insurance options.

Check with the Previous Owner:

If you are buying a used car, you can check with the previous owner to see if they have paid the insurance and confirm that it is still valid.

Check with the Dealer:

If you are buying from a dealer, they may offer short-term or temporary insurance that starts as soon as you drive away the vehicle.

Check with the Police:

The police can also tell if a vehicle is insured by simply scanning the number plate.

It is important to note that it is illegal to drive or own an uninsured car in the UK. Driving without insurance can result in penalties, fines, licence points, and even a driving ban.

What to do if you can't remember your insurance company

Forgetting your insurance company could prevent you from filing a claim, adjusting your coverage, or providing proof of insurance. If you can't remember your insurance company, there are several ways to find out. Here are some detailed and direct instructions to help you determine which company you are insured with:

Check your emails

Most insurers send confirmation and essential policy details via email. Search your inbox for terms like "insurance", "car insurance", "van insurance", "policy", or "premium", and you should find an email from your insurer. You can also try searching for your vehicle's registration number, as this may be quoted in emails from your insurer.

Review your paperwork

Your insurer may have provided you with hard copies of your policy details and additional literature. Check your files for these documents, as they are important and not something you would typically throw away. Look for a certificate of insurance, which contains information about the policy, including the insurance start date, your name, and the registration mark of the vehicle.

Contact your bank

If you have a standing order or direct debit arrangement for your insurance payments, call your bank to confirm the insurance company's name. You can also check your bank statements for recurring payments to your insurer. If you remember the cost of your policy but not the provider's name, reviewing your statements may help jog your memory.

Check with government resources

In the UK, you can use the Motor Insurance Database (MID) to check if your car has a valid insurance policy. Simply enter your vehicle's registration number, and the database will let you know. In the US, LexisNexis offers Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) reports, which provide up to seven years of claims history. You can request a free report to obtain your insurance company's information, but this only works if you've filed a claim within the past seven years.

Contact your lienholder

If you're still paying off your auto loan or leasing your car, get in touch with your lienholder. They may have detailed information about your insurance policy, as most lienholders require full coverage to protect the vehicle.

Check your insurance card

If you've purchased auto coverage or renewed your policy, your insurance company may have mailed you a physical copy of your insurance card. This card typically includes your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), coverage expiration date, and the company's contact information. Many people keep a copy of their insurance card in their car, usually in the glovebox or with the sun visors, for easy access in case of an accident or if they're pulled over.

Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

In the US, almost every state requires drivers to have a basic auto insurance policy, so the DMV may be able to provide information about your insurance company. In some cases, you can fill out an online inquiry form and receive the information via email. Otherwise, you may need to call them.

Download your insurer's app

Many major insurance companies offer smartphone apps that can help you keep track of your policy information. Some top-rated insurance company apps include USAA, State Farm, Geico, Allstate, and Progressive.

Prevent future forgetfulness

To avoid finding yourself in this situation again, consider implementing some of the following strategies:

• Make copies of your insurance card and keep them in your car, wallet, and at home.
• Take a photo of your insurance card on your phone for easy access.
• Set reminders to replace old insurance cards with new ones when it's time to renew your policy.
• Download your insurer's app and enable paperless billing to receive statements directly to your email.
• Bundle your coverage if you have multiple types of insurance (e.g., life, homeowners, renters). This can save you time and money, and having all your policies in one place makes them easier to remember.

Frequently asked questions