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Original poster

I’ve been driving around without insurance since December.

79 replies

Userr46372644 · 27/02/2023 12:32

Please don’t come at me. I’ve been driving without insurance since December. I’ve just had a letter to say I’m not on some kind of car insurance database and if it wasn’t for that arriving I would have carried on being blissfully unaware.

Been with the same insurer until December for about 2-3 years and they’ve always sent out reminders about renewal by letter of post but had nothing - always checking emails and I open any post I get. Makes me wonder if a letter had been sent but lost.

I am mortified, mortified that if I had to make a claim I couldn’t - thankfully I have not had to. Mortified at I could have been done for driving with no insurance.

this is partly my fault. I should have realised that it had been 12 months but I’ve had a lot going on with my MH and the kids having complex needs etc.

obviously shopping around for insurance as we speak but Jesus, I feel an idiot. I just wanted to vent. I’ve been driving for 13 years and never been as stupid.

OP posts:
Sarahcoggles · 27/02/2023 12:36

I'd be inclined to raise this with your insurers. They'd usually send more than 1 letter and it would be really unusual for 2 letters to get lost.

Original poster
Userr46372644 · 27/02/2023 12:37

Sarahcoggles · 27/02/2023 12:36

I'd be inclined to raise this with your insurers. They'd usually send more than 1 letter and it would be really unusual for 2 letters to get lost.

yes maybe, looking into my account with them, I should be getting email and letter contact. I’ve had nothing. I always open post as soon as I get it, I regularly check my emails! I’ve searched my inbox and my last email from them is when it was renewed in December 2021. Very strange!

OP posts:
Judashascomeintosomemoney · 27/02/2023 12:38

Doesn’t car insurance automatically renew though? I wouldn’t know because I change insurers pretty much every year for a teeter deal so can’t remember

WhiteFire · 27/02/2023 12:39

Nothing happened, sort out a policy today and rack it up to experience.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 27/02/2023 12:40

Better deal! Stoopid autocorrect

Original poster
Userr46372644 · 27/02/2023 12:41

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 27/02/2023 12:38

Doesn’t car insurance automatically renew though? I wouldn’t know because I change insurers pretty much every year for a teeter deal so can’t remember

You’d think so! We generally change every year too but had been with these 2-3 years as was the cheapest each year. Going to change now out of principal that their communication is poor!

OP posts:
KnittedCardi · 27/02/2023 12:46

I found out last week had no MOT since Sept! Only prompted because I received my car tax renewal and the computer said NO!

I blame COVID. So the two were aligned until everything closed down, so couldn't get MOT that March. Then it slipped to the summer when everything opened up. Then obvs forgot the next year, and got it done in the Sept. Then forgot again.

Oh well. At least it is aligned once again, so Tax, MOT and Insurance all Feb/March.

I wish they would change annual MOTs. Never failed one, and modern cars really don' t deteriorate like old ones used to.

ReformedWaywardTeen · 27/02/2023 12:51

It's OK, DH had a letter to say they had no record of his MOT the other day. He had it done and passed in October but the frankly moronic MOT lot who did it "forgot" to register it with the national database. If he had of been pulled over he would have been in trouble as he doesn't carry his MOT certificate around with him.

I wanted to give them what for but DH is a bloody wimp kinder person than me and their excuse was they thought they had done it but maybe they didn't but sometimes the data base doesn't register it (utter bollocks, if it was uploaded it was uploaded, they're making excuses for their ineptitude). Suffice to say I've told DH to not go to them this time.

I would be raising this with your insurance firm, they usually auto renew so it's not on and they may as a result sort it out cheaper as a goodwill gesture.

oatmilkl · 27/02/2023 12:52

Are you sure that’s right?
when I bought my first car in 2020 I got pulled over within an hour of driving because it was showing as uninsured in the police system. Obviously I was insured so it was fine but it just wasn’t on their system.

ivegotthisyeah · 27/02/2023 12:55

It's been flagged on the MID ( motor insurance database) I am supposed it's taken this long to get a letter to you.
I would check your bank has any money come out for the insurance? Also ring your insurance sometimes it's an admin error with the registration plate been put in incorrectly by insurers

ivegotthisyeah · 27/02/2023 12:55

Surprised!

PaulRuddDoesntAge · 27/02/2023 12:57

December was peak postal strike time wasn’t it? So it’s not all that surprising it didn’t get to you. Don’t beat yourself up about it.

Original poster
Userr46372644 · 27/02/2023 12:58

ivegotthisyeah · 27/02/2023 12:55

It's been flagged on the MID ( motor insurance database) I am supposed it's taken this long to get a letter to you.
I would check your bank has any money come out for the insurance? Also ring your insurance sometimes it's an admin error with the registration plate been put in incorrectly by insurers

Pay monthly and just checked my bank statements and no payments since November/December. I should have realised but I had so many transactions around that time of year it went unnoticed.

OP posts:
alpaca44 · 27/02/2023 12:58

I once needed to claim on the insurance as I hit a car while reversing in a car park. Turns out the insurance had expired two days before.

I stupidly thought it would auto renew and hadn’t properly checked dates etc. I’ve learned my lesson. I was horrified that I’d been driving without insurance.

LittleTiger007 · 27/02/2023 13:23

I know it’s not your fault but the biggest thing to be mortified about is if you got into an accident and accidentally killed someone. You would go to prison and likely have to pay the compensation over the course of the rest of your life (compensation the insurance would have paid). Get it sorted asap and set a reminder for when it lapses.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 27/02/2023 13:42

KnittedCardi · 27/02/2023 12:46

I found out last week had no MOT since Sept! Only prompted because I received my car tax renewal and the computer said NO!

I blame COVID. So the two were aligned until everything closed down, so couldn't get MOT that March. Then it slipped to the summer when everything opened up. Then obvs forgot the next year, and got it done in the Sept. Then forgot again.

Oh well. At least it is aligned once again, so Tax, MOT and Insurance all Feb/March.

I wish they would change annual MOTs. Never failed one, and modern cars really don' t deteriorate like old ones used to.

You can sign up for MOT reminders on gov.co.uk

AllIwantforChristmas22 · 27/02/2023 13:43

@KnittedCardi omg are you me? I also just found out my MOT has been expired since September. I am mortified. Off to the garage this week - will they report me?

Chasedbythechaser · 27/02/2023 13:47

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 27/02/2023 12:38

Doesn’t car insurance automatically renew though? I wouldn’t know because I change insurers pretty much every year for a teeter deal so can’t remember

Mine doesn't automatically renew.

The ins. company send out reminders but if I ignore them, my insurance would end.

JohnnyYenSetHimselfOnFireAgain · 27/02/2023 13:48

AllIwantforChristmas22 · 27/02/2023 13:43

@KnittedCardi omg are you me? I also just found out my MOT has been expired since September. I am mortified. Off to the garage this week - will they report me?

No, they won't report you, don't worry. People take their cars to get MOT'd when their old MOT has expired all the time.

AllIwantforChristmas22 · 27/02/2023 13:54

Thank you for the reassurance. I am mortified I forgot.

stopringingme · 27/02/2023 14:09

@Userr46372644

I had this a couple of years ago, it turned out the company we used cancelled my insurance and kept the insurance on the car we had got rid of.

I think I was caught by a mobile camera van, never got a fine. I did ring the company and they agreed to pay any fines etc that I might have got.

They gave us a discount on my insurance and a couple of months free.

We moved all our insurance from them one by one on the next renewal.

Nomoreno · 27/02/2023 14:15

I wouldn't raise this with anyone.....it's entirely illegal. You could get in trouble if you're on a recorded call to an insurance company telling them you've been driving but it's their fault they didn't send a letter (it isn't their legal responsibility to do that). And the reason you have no insurance is because you didn't have an MOT....eek!

Mistakes happen but honestly just quietly and quickly sort some car insurance and your MOT. Then make a note in your phone dairy to remind you next year - don't rely on external reminders and count yourself lucky you haven't been picked up on it.

Definitely not one to be raising complaints about though.

KnittedCardi · 27/02/2023 16:05

AllIwantforChristmas22 · 27/02/2023 13:43

@KnittedCardi omg are you me? I also just found out my MOT has been expired since September. I am mortified. Off to the garage this week - will they report me?

No. My local garage was packed. He is trying to fit everyone in. Apparently we aren't the only ones ,😉

Cookerhood · 27/02/2023 17:14

I once went from December to February without insurance. We had never received the letter & we deliberately don't have it on auto-renew. I had driven all over the place, goodness knows how I didn't get caught. We also missed an MOT once & now have that set up as a reminder from the DVLA. We also have reminders in our diaries for insurance, MOT & tax!

caramac04 · 27/02/2023 17:49

You may have lost any no claims discount as you have had a ‘break’ between policies.

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