New Motor Insurance Law

Feb 8, 2011

Uninsured drivers cost the UK more than £500 million a year. The police already use the Motor Insurance Database (MID) to detect uninsured vehicles on the road and more than 500 are seized every day. Around 300,000 offenders are convicted for uninsured driving every year.

From January 2011 a new law gives DVLA more power to combat keepers of vehicles that are not insured. DVLA will compare its records with details of vehicles on the MID (Motor Insurance Database) – the UK’s central record of vehicle insurance. 

If a vehicle does not have insurance and a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) has not been made, then the registered keeper could face:

• a fixed penalty fine of £100

• their vehicle being clamped, seized and disposed of

• a court prosecution with a maximum fine of £1000

These new measures are in addition to the powers the police already have to seize an uninsured vehicle and fine the driver.

This new approach is being introduced to protect honest motorists and do even more to prevent people from driving without insurance. Most people obey the law, but there are still too many people driving without insurance. 

If you are insured, the good news is there is no need to worry. However, it would be good to get into the habit of checking that your vehicle appears on the MID. This will avoid the inconvenience of you being un-necessarily contacted or worse, stopped by the police.

If you want to check your vehicle is recorded as ‘insured’ on the MID record, visit the free service at www.askMID.com 

Do not contact DVLA as only your insurance provider can update your insurance details on the MID. If your vehicle registration number is not on the MID, contact your insurance provider immediately to get the MID updated.

What this means for you:

• If you are keeping your vehicle for use on the road and it is not insured, insure it now.

• If you are keeping your vehicle off the road and it is not insured you must make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). If it is taxed you need to return the disc (including nil discs) to DVLA.

For more information on this, please visit www.direct.gov.uk/stayinsured

If you would like to discuss this further, please don’t hesitate to contacting Wilby Limited on 01422 358 525.