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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be anxious about this? (car insurance related)

30 replies

user7841794168 · 14/08/2017 15:27

Yesterday I was sorting out my car tax which is due to renew automatically next month. My car has a valid MOT, is insured fully comprehensive and I have a certificate of insurance. The insurance is paid for and no payments have been missed.

Despite this, my car is showing as uninsured on the database that you can check online and the database that is used to check MOT and insurance before car tax is renewed.

My insurance company insist that it is not a problem, they can't explain why my car is showing as uninsured but they have sent a request through to get my car flagged as insured on the database. They have said that having a certificate of insurance will keep the police happy if I am stopped and that the police would phone them if I was stopped and they had checked the database to see if I was insured.

I renewed my insurance two months ago so it's not a recent renewal that hasn't filtered through yet.

OP posts:
FannyWisdom · 14/08/2017 15:29

The police will contact them if you do get a pull.
Keep policy number and phone number in your phone.

Do you have a private plate?

StealthPolarBear · 14/08/2017 15:30

If you have a certificate (and the dates are valid) that's all you need surely

LurkingHusband · 14/08/2017 15:32

If you have a certificate (and the dates are valid) that's all you need surely

Not these days - the database rules supreme. There have been newspaper reports of cars being seized despite the driver having the paper policy to show the police.

araiwa · 14/08/2017 15:32

Check your paperwork for all details to ensure they are correct.

Its probably just an admin fail by your insurers and nothing to worry about

Original poster
user7841794168 · 14/08/2017 15:34

I've got a valid, in-date certificate but presumably that doesn't mean anything as I could, in theory, have cancelled the insurance. I haven't and the insurance company insist it's valid. I've asked them to send me a letter/email confirming that I am insured but one person I spoke to didn't bother to do it and the other hasn't replied to my request.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 14/08/2017 15:34

Really?! That's worrying

Original poster
user7841794168 · 14/08/2017 15:35

Oh, and all the details are correct. I've been insured for this car with the same company for many years and before that for a different car for longer so they know me and my details accurately.

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nocake · 14/08/2017 16:00

Sometimes updates to the MID (motor insurance database) fail to go through properly. The police know that which is why they call the insurance company if they stop someone showing as uninsured. It's worth knowing who you're insured and having a contact number and policy number in your car, just in case.

LurkingHusband · 14/08/2017 16:17

Sometimes updates to the MID (motor insurance database) fail to go through properly. The police know that which is why they call the insurance company if they stop someone showing as uninsured.

Few (if any) insurers run a 24/7 line for policy checks.

The cases reported were where the police were unable to verify the car was insured. They have to impound it, and leave the driver stranded. Any subsequent costs (which can run into hundreds of pounds) are down to the registered keeper.

www.mib.org.uk/managing-insurance-data/the-motor-insurance-database-mid/faqs/

Questions 7 onwards need to be carefully read.

Original poster
user7841794168 · 14/08/2017 16:32

Crap, that's worrying. I guess I will have to stay off the roads until they fix it then :-( What's worrying is that it's been like this for months and I wouldn't have known if I hadn't checked for the road tax.

OP posts:
CadnoDrwg · 14/08/2017 16:53

I don't mean to worry you further but there's been new articles recently about people buying 'ghost' insurance policies from brokers. Basically pretend policies that are set up by brokers using false details for a cheaper price which are cancelled as soon as the person buying the policy has paid.

This leaves the poor person buying insurance none the wiser until they try and tax their car or get pulled by the police.

From the sounds of it this hasn't happened to you because you've been with the same company for years but I'd chase them up and make clear you will escalate to FSCS/ombudsman if they don't remedy in a suitable timescale because your insurance currently isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

The real trouble is believing you have a valid insurance policy, even if backed up with a paper copy is not valid grounds for legal defence and you can be hit by the appropriate fines/penalties for the offence of not having insurance.

ANPR cameras can pick this up and so will random sweeps on the DVLA database so please be as obstinate as possible getting this sorted ASAP because not driving around will not protect you from a DVLA system check. You should not be punished for their system glitch.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

CadnoDrwg · 14/08/2017 16:54

new articles = news articles

Sorry for error!

Original poster
user7841794168 · 14/08/2017 16:57

@CadnoDrwg

I'm going to be phoning them every day until the car is showing up on the MID. I was wondering whether to speak to the local police and discuss it with them.

As for the insurance company, I've been their customer for about 21 years. When my insurance (car/house/buildings) is due for renewal next year I will be going elsewhere.

OP posts:
wasonthelist · 14/08/2017 17:01

YANBU - this is what happens when you rely on databases and "computer says no".

Have a think about this next time someone starts banging on about identity cards.

LurkingHusband · 14/08/2017 17:07

This leaves the poor person buying insurance none the wiser until they try and tax their car or get pulled by the police.

Or check the AskMID site referenced upthread.

It's a stark reminder to (some of us) oldies that things do change, and it's up to us to keep ourselves abreast of changes. (Which is why every driver has a copy of an up to date Highway Code, of course).

That said, it would be an interesting situation if a driver were to check the MID, show as insured but be stopped a few moments later, because the MID is now (incorrectly) showing the vehicle as uninsured. I promise all reading this thread that it will* happen one day.

We have this rather ludicrous fiction in the UK that a car is insured, which is - frankly - bollocks. We've managed to invent a situation where it's actually the car and driver* that are insured as a package deal. Which means an "insured" car could sail past a flotilla of ANPR cameras, and still manage to hit someone and have the insurance wash their hands of it.

Original poster
user7841794168 · 14/08/2017 17:13

So....shall I hit Twitter and name and shame the insurance company?

OP posts:
LurkingHusband · 14/08/2017 17:15

Have a think about this next time someone starts banging on about identity cards.

Yeah, but they've got DNA now ...

wasonthelist · 14/08/2017 17:17

Yeah, but they've got DNA now ...

I assume that's a joke :)

Not in/on ID cards - and admin balls-ups aren't unique to insurance.

minionsrule · 14/08/2017 17:22

Don't name and shame on twitter, tell us first (wondering if its the company i work for Grin)

AnUtterIdiot · 14/08/2017 17:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
user7841794168 · 14/08/2017 17:24

think of a name connected to Merseyside and a former Queen.

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Original poster
user7841794168 · 14/08/2017 17:26

@anutteridiot yes, probably so but if I can have my car taken off me?

Presumably it's OK, I'm guessing that the police will have phoned and checked at some point already because I think the cameras at petrol stations have ANPR and these check against insurance. I could be guessing of course.

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minionsrule · 14/08/2017 17:30

Ah right, nope i don't work for them Grin

reallybadidea · 14/08/2017 17:35

I got pulled over a few months ago because my car wasn't insured according to the ANPR. I pulled up my certificate of insurance on my smartphone and the police officer was happy to let me go on my way.

Original poster
user7841794168 · 14/08/2017 17:49

That's a relief.

OP posts: