Do You Know About The Car Insurance Database?

Most drivers do not know that they can check that their car is insured correctly using the national Motor Insurance Database. Do you?

The national Motor Insurance Database (MID) is a central repository of all the insured vehicles in the UK. Police and the DVLA use it to find uninsured vehicles, however very few drivers know that it can be used by them to check that the details of their car insurance have been recorded correctly.

According to the AA, 93% per cent of drivers have never checked whether their car is correctly listed as insured on the MID, yet it is easy and free to do so using the askMID website.

Errors and delays on renewing car insurance can lead to cars not being listed on the national Motor Insurance Database, opening drivers up to being stopped by police, says AA Insurance.

It is very easy to use the askMID website to check that the details of your car insurance are correct.

If you have been involved in an accident and need to check the other vehicle is insured, for a small charge (£3.75) you can make a One-off askMID search . Once you have entered some details, including the accident date, you can identify the insurer of the other vehicle so that you can submit your claim.

Key Facts:

1) It is illegal to drive a car without suitable car insurance. It either has to be insured or declared as being “off the road”.

2) There is a central motor insurance database that is used by the Police to find uninsured vehicles. You can use it too. Free.

3) It is wise to check that your car insurance details have been entered in the database correctly. You may be stopped by the Police otherwise.

4) You can also use the MID to find the insurance details of a driver with whom you have had an accident, though there is a small charge for this. This could save a lot of hassle and potential cost after an accident.