How do you check car insurance on askMID?
You use askMID, the website that lets you look a vehicle up on the Motor Insurance Database. GOV.UK says you can check whether your vehicle is insured there. askMID says you can check your own vehicle for free.
It is worth knowing how to check car insurance, because the law is strict and the penalties are not small. This guide explains the free check, what the law says about uninsured vehicles and drivers, and what changes on askMID in December.
This is general information, not advice about which policy or insurer to choose. What cover you need, and what it costs, depends on you, your car, your address and your claims history.
What does the law say about insuring a car?
GOV.UK says you must have motor insurance for your vehicle if you use it on roads and in public places. It is also illegal to drive a vehicle on a road or in a public place without at least third party insurance.
There is one exception that catches people out: you do not need to insure a vehicle that is kept off the road and declared as off the road, known as SORN. GOV.UK calls the wider rule continuous insurance enforcement. There are different rules for vehicle insurance in Northern Ireland.
It is not enough for the car itself to be insured. GOV.UK sets out separate penalties for driving a vehicle you are not insured to drive, so being a named driver on the right policy matters as much as the vehicle having cover at all.
Key takeaways
- You must have at least third party insurance to drive on a road or in a public place.
- A vehicle kept off the road and declared SORN does not need insurance.
- You can check whether a vehicle is insured on askMID, free for your own vehicle.
- The vehicle being insured is not enough if you are not insured to drive it.
What are the penalties for an uninsured car or driver?
There are two sets of penalties, one for the registered keeper and one for the driver. GOV.UK sets out both, and you can still be asked to pay for insurance on top of any fines.
If you are the registered keeper of an uninsured vehicle that has not been declared off the road, GOV.UK says you could be fined £100. Your vehicle could also be wheel clamped, impounded or destroyed, or you could be taken to court, where the maximum fine is £1,000.
If you are caught driving a vehicle you are not insured to drive, GOV.UK says the police could give you a fixed penalty of £300 and 6 penalty points. If the case goes to court you could get an unlimited fine and be disqualified from driving. The police also have the power to seize, and in some cases destroy, a vehicle driven uninsured.
These figures come from GOV.UK and could change, so check the current pages if it matters to you.
Can you check someone else’s car insurance?
Yes, but not for free. askMID’s own page lists a one off search at £10.00 for checking another vehicle, for example after an accident. Checking your own vehicle is free, according to the askMID site.
askMID also says it is being replatformed and rebranded as Check Their Vehicle, with go live scheduled for Monday 7 December. It says one off users will be directed to Check Their Vehicle, and that the amount payable will remain the same as part of the replatforming. That date is a plan, so it could move.
If you are renewing your own policy, our guide to why car insurance renewals go up explains what can change. Our guide to electric car insurance covers the questions to ask if you drive an EV.
Frequently asked questions about checking car insurance
- Is it free to check car insurance on askMID?
- askMID says you can check your own vehicle for free. A one off search of another vehicle is listed at £10.00.
- Do I need insurance if my car is off the road?
- GOV.UK says you do not need to insure a vehicle that is kept off the road and declared SORN.
- What is the penalty for driving without insurance?
- GOV.UK says the police could give a fixed penalty of £300 and 6 penalty points. In court you could get an unlimited fine and be disqualified.
- What happens if my vehicle is uninsured and not declared off the road?
- The registered keeper could be fined £100, and the vehicle could be clamped, impounded or destroyed. In court the maximum fine is £1,000.
Sources
- GOV.UK, Uninsured vehicles. Source of the duty to insure a vehicle used on roads and in public places, the SORN exception, continuous insurance enforcement, the £100 fine, the £1,000 maximum court fine, the clamping, impounding and destruction of a vehicle, and the Northern Ireland note.
- GOV.UK, Driving without insurance. Source of the rule that it is illegal to drive without at least third party insurance, the £300 fixed penalty and 6 penalty points, the unlimited fine and disqualification in court, and the police power to seize and in some cases destroy the vehicle.
- askMID. Source of the free check on your own vehicle, the £10.00 one off search on another vehicle, and the replatforming and rebranding to Check Their Vehicle with go live on Monday 7 December and the same amount payable.
Checked 9 November 2026.
