# Car Insurance Check: Is My Car Insured? (askMID)

> Is my car insured? Check free with askMID, the official Motor Insurance Database: checking a car or van, finding your insurer, fixing a missing record.

Check if a car is insured with askMID, the free official Motor Insurance Database check, and what to do if a car you drive or buy isn't on it.

## Is my car insured? How to check

The quickest way to check if a car is insured is askMID, the free online check of the Motor Insurance Database (MID). The MID is run by the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) and holds a record of every insured vehicle in the UK; the police and the DVLA use it to find uninsured vehicles.

1. Go to askMID's free [check your vehicle](https://enquiry.navigate.mib.org.uk/checkyourvehicle) service.
2. Enter the vehicle registration and confirm you have the right to check it: it is your vehicle, or one you drive.
3. The result says whether the vehicle is shown as insured on the MID.

The same check works for a car, a van or a motorbike. It shows whether a policy is in place, not who the insurer is or who is covered to drive.

## How to check if a car is insured when it isn't yours

askMID's free check is for vehicles you own or drive. If you were involved in an accident, askMID has a separate free service that tells you the other vehicle's insurer, so you can make a claim; you will need the other vehicle's registration and the date of the accident. Businesses such as fleets and hire companies use askMID's paid services.

Buying a used car? The seller's insurance does not cover you. Arrange your own policy before you drive the car away, and check the rest of its history with a [free car check](https://carcheckup.co.uk/).

## Who is my car insured with?

askMID will not tell you the name of your insurer. To find it, look for the policy documents or renewal email, search your bank statements for the payment, or call the insurers you think it might be with. Our guide on [finding out who your car is insured with](https://carcheckup.co.uk/blog/who-is-my-car-insured-with-how-to-find-your-insurer/) goes through each option.

## Why a car might not show as insured

- **A new policy:** insurers add new policies and changes to the MID quickly, but it can take a few days. Keep your certificate or cover note to show you are insured.
- **A changed registration:** after a private plate transfer, the insurer must update the MID with the new number.
- **Fleet or trade cover:** some company and motor trade policies list vehicles differently.
- **The policy has lapsed or been cancelled.**

If your car shows as uninsured but you have a policy, contact your insurer straight away and ask them to update the MID. If that does not fix it, contact the MIB.

## Driving without insurance

Driving without at least third-party insurance is illegal. The police can give a £300 fixed penalty and 6 penalty points, a court can impose an unlimited fine and a driving ban, and the vehicle can be seized. A car that is not insured must be declared off the road (SORN) under continuous insurance enforcement, even if it is never driven; see [what continuous insurance enforcement means](https://carcheckup.co.uk/blog/what-is-continuous-insurance-enforcement-cie/).

## askMID and car insurance FAQs

**What is askMID?** askMID is the public online service of the Motor Insurance Database. It lets you check whether a vehicle you own or drive is insured, and, after an accident, find the other vehicle's insurer.

**Is the askMID car insurance check free?** Yes, checking a vehicle you own or drive is free.

**What details do I need?** Only the vehicle registration. For an accident claim you also need the date and place of the accident.

**Does askMID show who is insured to drive the car?** No. It shows that a policy covers the vehicle, not which drivers it covers. Check your policy or ask your insurer.

**How often should I check?** When you take out or renew a policy, after changing your registration, and any time you are unsure.

**Can I insure a car that is not registered in my name?** Yes, but you must tell the insurer who the registered keeper and the main driver are. Giving the wrong main driver to lower the price, known as fronting, is fraud.

**What happens if I drive without insurance and have an accident?** You can be personally liable for the damage and injuries, as well as the penalties above. The MIB compensates victims of uninsured drivers and can then recover the cost from the driver.

**Does a free car check show insurance?** No. Insurance status comes from the MID through askMID. Our free check shows the car's tax and MOT status, MOT history and mileage; see the [car tax check](https://carcheckup.co.uk/dvla-tax-check) and [MOT check](https://carcheckup.co.uk/mot-check).

Run the check: enter a UK registration or VIN at https://carcheckup.co.uk/ask-mids (free: DVLA details, MOT history and mileage readings; finance, write-off, stolen, keeper records and the mileage anomaly check are in the full report). HTML page: https://carcheckup.co.uk/ask-mids