If you've forgotten who you’re insured with, don’t worry, you're in good company. Many drivers lose track of whether their insurance is still valid, the renewal date - and even who the provider is.
Thankfully, it's quick and easy to find out these details. You'll need to know such information if you want to switch insurers or add other named drivers to your policy.
You cannot take a vehicle onto a public road without insurance. If you do and you're caught, you could face six to eight penalty points or even an instant ban. Means-tested fines of up to £5,000 can be imposed, and if the case goes to court the fine is unlimited. Police can even seize your vehicle and have the legal power to send it to the crushers' yard.
Visit The Motor Insurance Database
The Motor Insurance Database, or MID, is a general database of all insured vehicles in the UK. It is used by the DVLA and police in support of the Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) scheme. You can check your basic insurance details for free. Other information is available for a small fee. To check your vehicle, visit AskMID (managed by Experian). Simply enter your number plate and you'll find out if you're insured - for free. However, to find out who your insurer is, you'll need to download a form and make a request (this is the main MID website).
But my car never leaves my driveway...
In general, every roadworthy car must be insured, even if it is never used. However, if you do not plan to use it at all, or it is not fit for road use, you can apply for a Statutory Off Road Notice (SORN), which would eliminate the need to take out insurance.
