UK law requires all drivers to have valid car insurance to ensure safe driving on public roads. Not having car insurance can lead to severe penalties, especially if you have been involved in an accident and caused damages to a third-party vehicle or property.
Research shows drivers without insurance have a maximum penalty of 6-8 penalty points on their licenses. You will also have to pay a hefty fine of up to £5,000 depending on your earnings. In some cases, the court may cancel your driving license.
If you drive a car without insurance, the law enforcement agencies have the authority to seize or destroy your vehicle. The Police Department will refer extreme cases to the courts, meaning you can face driving disqualification, a huge fine, or even a jail sentence.
Some people have car insurance that undergoes an auto-renewal process. Because it is a completed process, some people have confusion knowing about their insurance companies or even if they have insurance at all. That’s why it is crucial to check whether you have car insurance. That way, you can streamline the renewal process or save yourself from complications associated with it.
Check on the National Motor Insurance Database
Experts recommend noting down your car’s registration number to see your insurance. You can check the registration number on the National Motor Insurance Database (MID). All Insurance Companies, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), and the Police Department have access to MID.
The UK Government allows all motorists to conduct a free search on the MID database. However, the MID will charge you a small fee if you want to get more details, such as the insurance company, policy information, and others.
Because MID does not resell their car insurance data, it is wise to avoid checking it online on third-party websites. Otherwise, you will just waste your time and get nothing. Therefore, the only place to find whether you have car insurance is to check on the official MID website.
What to do if you don’t have car insurance?
Most uninsured drivers receive 6-8 penalty points and £300 fine when caught by the Police on the road. If the Police Department sends your case to court, you will have an unlimited fine and a driving ban. It is a serious offense (IN10), meaning it reduces your chances of having inexpensive insurance in the future.
According to the Continuous Insurance Enforcement Law, if you don’t drive a car anymore, you still have to pay your premiums. For example, if your vehicle is in the garage for a long time, the insurance company will ask you to continue paying your premiums.
If you want to declare your vehicle “off the road,” you must contact DVLA and sign the “Statutory Off-Road Notification” (SORN). If you don’t have car insurance and SORN, you will still pay the penalties. This also applies to those who don’t drive their cars any longer. One way to solve this problem is to consult a legal expert or a qualified insurance agent.
Final Words
Some people check their vehicle documents or records to check whether they are insured. It requires you to act like a detective and go through all the documents you have at home. The best way to check car insurance is through the MID website if you want to save time.
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