Been driving without insurance for a year without knowing!!!

[Tvquizhelp]

Very long story short - need some advice desperately please -

I’ve just discovered I’ve been driving my car without insurance for a year. Went online to renew as its in my diary to expire next week and made the discovery that it is, in fact, currently uninsured.

How this has happened is a long, irrelevant story so won’t be going into details, that’s not why I’m posting. I will of course be calling tonight to take out insurance. I literally feel sick this has happened.

Does anyone know what happens in this scenario? Do insurers ask who the last years insurance was with? How does it work with the no claims discount discrepancy in years etc??

I know I won’t be the first or last for this to have happened to. I’m desperate for advice. Thanks so much in advance

They don't ask.
You could have been sorn for the year.

You'll have no no claims bonus now but I'd imagine you can just start a new insurance claim.

AFAIK insurers don't ask who you were with, they may want to see proof of no claims though. Current insurer likes to know where you are going if you leave them

I have no idea but I would think your no claims bonus would be affected in some way.

I’m a truthful person but I’d be wondering how to spin this, OP 🥴

BOB lasts minimum two years.
Also don't forget to insure NOW don't wait for anniversary.

And think, your day just got better.

No idea who Bob is NCB*

Your no claims will still be around from last year's policy. You just won't have gained any from this year. You can get proof from previous insurer. I had this issue. I didn't realise until I went to change who was on the policy. I then found it never renewed. I felt bad as it was a relative who had been driving for the year 😬

How did you manage to get it taxed with no insurance?

Just start a new claim, obviously you will have a year's less no claims but all insurers will ask is how many years no claims you have. Congrats on getting a free years 'insurance' 😂😂😂

Just insure it now (after checking your insurer didn't automatically renew you). We managed to drive for 11 months with no MOT when babies were tiny - called up the garage that day. We were very grateful for auto-renewing policies for a few years, before managing to sort everything out again.

Tax isn’t an issue with this car

We have a different car already insured. We’re planning on insuring with the same insurer again - the one we thought we were already with but aren’t - that seems less risky than going to a new insurer??

Should be OK.

Friend of mine had something similar - she phoned to renew her insurance, gave them card details etc to pay, and thought it was done and dusted. Insurance company allegedly sent her something by post which she was supposed to sign and return to confirm everything, but she never received it. She only discovered that she wasn't insured by accident around three months later, much to her horror. She phoned her insurers to ask what the hell and, since she was on the line to them, decided that it would be simplest and quickest just to renew with them. So far as I remember she said it didn't affect her premium and the insurance company didn't make any sort of issue about it.

You’ve not been driving it!!!

Your premium might be very slightly higher as you're arranging it last minute but it'll be fine. Just do it right now.

Every car has to be taxed, even if at nil rate.

I hope you’re not driving it until you sort out the issue.

Did you not realise you hadn’t paid?

@Sparklyring that's not true. You have two years of not being insured before you lose your no claims bonus. I know because we've just bought a second car and wasn't the main driver on the other policy.

There is no risk now, so insure it with whichever company gives you the best value policy.

DH got stopped my the police when driving my car and was told it wasn’t insured.

My insurance company had been taken over and had written to me but I hadn’t seen it.

They didn’t prosecute DH as he had his own policy on his car but said they would’ve if I’d been driving - which I had been doing for 4 months!
I felt sick when I thought about what could have happened.

Your premium might be very slightly higher as you're arranging it last minute

This isn't true on any level

I hope you’re not driving it until you sort out the issue.

Did OP say she would? Jeez, she's realised something's gone wrong, is trying to rectify it this very evening and she's getting lectured for things she hasn't done.

Are you sure about this OP? When my insurer forgot to update the database for mine I got pulled over 3 times in 2 days! I don't see how you would have gotten away with driving around for a year with no insurance.

Your no claims bonus is only lost when you have been uninsured for two consecutive years. DH and I went down to one car and now take turns being the main policy holder and earn just one year NCB every two years.

There is no higher cost for "last minute" insuring. You don't need to stick with the same insurer. Do a comparison site check and go for the best deal and company for you.

What you did insurance wise last year is of no consequence to your insurers unless you made a claim, were refused a policy or a policy was cancelled by the insurers.

They have no proof that you have driven at all, or had your car uninsured parked on the public highway. They don't care either.

Did you not realise you hadn’t paid?

Well, clearly not! Hence the thread title "without knowing." ANd if she'd have realised before now, she would have sorted it out.

I'm sorry to dispute the higher charge for instant insurance.

I was getting a brand new car, it was about 27th of a month, I said I'll pick it up on 1st of following month, I'd got an insurance quote.

Dealership were having non of it, I had to take it on 28th, so needed to get it insured, it was over £100 more. They offer discounts to achieve sales figures. I complained and got £50 back.