If you were hoping to put your car insurance renewal forms to the back of a drawer to be dealt with another day, then think again.
From January 2008, thousands of drivers who are running late renewing their
car insurance could be affected by a rule change aimed at tightening the police’s grip on uninsured driving.
Insurers must now register customers’ details on to the Motor Insurance Database (MID) within seven days – instead of the previous 14 days limit. This means that anyone that does not renew their car insurance cover before its expiry could be caught out.
The police now use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology which cross checks a vehicle’s registration against the MID. If the police stop a driver who cannot prove that they are covered, their car could be confiscated.
This new scheme has not been implemented to catch out the innocent – instead it is the latest step in a crackdown on those who deliberately avoid paying for car insurance. Figures suggest one in every 20 drivers avoids paying car insurance premiums, and the annual cost to the industry of injuries and accidents caused by those uninsured is more than £500m according to the Motor Insurance Bureau.
Despite the urgency to ensure you’re covered, motorists are being urged to shop around before they renew in order to find
cheap car insurance policies.
Many insurers increase premiums year on year, even if you have a flawless driving record.
By shopping around, customers can avoid these price increases, take advantage of introductory offers and potentially save hundreds of pounds each year.
So the message to drivers due to renew their car insurance is simple – don’t hesitate but do take the time to find a cheap car insurance policy that’s right for you.
