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Your car insurance due date might not be the most exciting event in your calendar, but it’s one that is important not to forget. Driving without insurance, even for just a few days, is an offence that could land you with points on your licence and a hefty fine. Here’s how to avoid this worst case scenario, and keep your renewal premium to a minimum.
Most car insurance policies last for a year. So, if you last bought car insurance on 12 September, chances are it will be due for renewal on 12 September the following year.
But there are exceptions to this rule. For example, some “bonus accelerator” policies only last for 10 months (while still giving you a full year’s worth of no-claims bonus). And even if you have a standard policy, it’s easy for your car insurance due date to slip your mind.
If you’ve got a nagging feeling that your car insurance is due some time soon, but you’re not sure exactly when, you can check by:
Yes. Your existing insurance company will send you a renewal notice. It will typically arrive 3 or 4 weeks before your car insurance is due. This may be by post, email, or both.
The notification will include your due date, last year’s premium, and a quote for a new policy if you choose to renew with the same insurer under the same terms.
Some insurers set up your policy to automatically renew for another term (usually a year) when you first sign up with them. If this is the case, it should be clearly stated on your renewal notice alongside the renewal premium. And your insurer should also make it clear, whether you’re set up to auto-renew or not, that you’re under no obligation to renew with them and could get a better deal by shopping around.
Sometimes, your insurer may send a second, or even a third, reminder as you approach or pass your due date. The cynical-minded might think it’s the insurer taking every opportunity to get you to renew with it. But it can also act as a helpful kick up the proverbial if you haven’t quite got round to sorting out your new policy.
You have two choices when your car insurance due date rolls around.
You don’t have to wait until the day before your car insurance is due to renew your policy. In fact, when we did some snapshot research in mid 2023, we found that a VW-driving, London-based teacher could save 12% (£136) off their premium by securing a deal 2-3 weeks ahead, compared with renewing on the due date. And some studies have found you can save even more (between 17% and 42%).
Don’t worry about getting on the case any earlier than 3 weeks in advance of your due date, though. Premiums are unlikely to be any cheaper before this point. And most insurers won’t even let you get quotes more than 30 days ahead of your due date.
If you’re not the best at keeping track of admin dates, and don’t want to risk relying on your car insurer’s renewal notice arriving safely, there are tactics you can use to make sure you don’t forget.
Let’s say you’ve misplaced your policy documents and can’t quite remember who you last bought insurance from. Or, importantly, when your renewal is (or was) due. You don’t want to risk driving without insurance…but nor do you want to risk double paying, if you still have weeks (or months) left on your existing policy.
All is not lost. The MIB (Motor Insurance Bureau) holds a central record of all insured vehicles in the UK – the Motor Insurance Database. Swing by its askMID website to run a free check on whether your vehicle is currently insured.
Be aware, though, that the free askMID service only shows you if your car is insured as of the date you run the search. It doesn’t tell you who the insurer is, or when your policy expires. You can put in a request for all information the MIB holds about your insurance history, such as the name of your insurer, by putting in a data subject access request. But this can take a while and there may be a small fee.
So it could be worth having another search for those elusive policy documents, or searching through past bank statements to work out who your insurer is.
Well, firstly and most importantly, don’t drive. If you’re caught driving without insurance, even if it’s a genuine mistake, you could face points on your licence and a £300 fine. The financial penalty can be unlimited for more serious or repeat offences, and you could even find yourself temporarily banned from driving.
Plus, if you’re involved in an accident, you won’t be covered and could face eye-watering repair bills for your own car. And, potentially, the cars or property of anyone else involved.
Unfortunately, though, simply not driving your car isn’t enough to stay on the right side of the law. Cars must be insured even to be parked on a public road in the UK. If your insurance has lapsed, you must immediately either:
Don’t be the numpty that’s risks punitive measures simply because you haven’t got round to buying a new policy by the due date. Use our tips above to make sure you never miss your renewal deadline.
Missing your car insurance due date could result in points on your licence and a £300 financial penalty (or more, in some cases). There are ways to find out when your car insurance is due, even if you’ve lost your policy documents. Use the tips we’ve outlined in this article to make sure you don’t forget your due date, and compare quotes a couple of weeks in advance to secure the best car insurance deal.
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