Lots of drivers have never checked whether their car is correctly listed as insured on the Motor Insurance Database (MID).
Find out why this is important and how to check your vehicle's listing on askMID.
What is the MID?
The MID database is used to compare insurance records with the DVLA.
The police use data from the MID for their automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology. The equipment alerts officers if it ‘spots’ an uninsured car.
Why do I need to be on the MID?
Unless you've registered your vehicle as off the road (Statutory Off Road Notification or SORN), you must keep it insured at all times. This rule is called Continuous Insurance Enforcement.
But if you make a simple mistake or delay renewing your cover, your car could be wrongly listed or missing on the MID. If that happens, you could be stopped by police.
How do I check the MID?
It's quick and easy to check if your car is listed as insured.
- Go to askMID.com.
- Enter your vehicle registration number in the box.
- Hit the button to instantly check your vehicle status.
How could my car be wrongly listed?
Simple errors on your insurance details can cause a mismatch, so it’s important to make sure the details are correct.
When you're taking out or renewing insurance, check for common mistakes like:
- Using the letter ‘O’ instead of a zero
- Putting 2 letters the wrong way round.
If you renew your cover at the last minute, it could mean your car’s details ‘drop off’ the database for a short time.
It can take 2 or 3 days (or even longer if there's issues to sort out) before your new insurance details are uploaded to the MID.
Avoid a mistake
To avoid an unpleasant conversation or letter from the police, renew your insurance or take out a new policy well before your cover expires. And then double-check the details are correct.
What if my insurance status is wrong?
If you know you have car insurance but the car is recorded as being uninsured or the details are wrong on the MID, take it up with your insurance company urgently.