In the UK, car insurance is an essential part of car ownership thanks to something called continuous insurance enforcement or CIE for short. Go without cover and you could face hefty fines and severe penalties. But what exactly is CIE and why was it introduced? Comparison site mustard.co.uk explains it all.
Continuous insurance enforcement explained
CIE means that all cars using public roads must be insured. In fact, CIE applies to all vehicles including motorbikes and mopeds, vans, and motorhomes.
If your car is not insured you can be fined £300 and be given six penalty points. If you’re taken to court, you could also be given an unlimited fine and be disqualified from driving. What’s more, the police have the right to seize, impound or destroy any uninsured vehicles.
Why do we have continuous insurance enforcement?
CIE was introduced back in 2011 to tackle uninsured driving. One of the reasons for this is because insured drivers end up footing the bill for accidents caused by drivers without cover.
Another reason for continuous enforcement is that it can help lower criminal activity, according to research from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) who work with the police and DVLA. The MIB found evidence that shows uninsured cars often play a part in other criminal activities which can be uncovered by cracking down on the uninsured.
How is CIE monitored?
Continuous insurance enforcement is monitored by the MIB using the Motor Insurance Database which records details of all insured vehicles. Every time a policy is bought, it’s added to the database so that the DVLA and the police can check if a vehicle is insured. Crucially, the database is used in the technology that supports ANPR (automatic number plate recognition).
The database isn’t live so updates aren’t instantaneous or automatic. Instead, your insurer will need to upload your details which can take up to 48 hours. With that in mind, it’s always a good idea to check the database after you’ve bought a new policy. You can do this by going to askMID and typing in your car registration. It’s also worth keeping a copy of your policy in your car just in case you’re pulled over and asked about insurance.
What should I do if I don’t drive my car all the time?
If you don’t drive your car all the time and don’t want to pay for car insurance, you must arrange a statutory off road notification or SORN for short. For example, if you have a classic car and you only drive it in the summer.
A SORN shows that your car has officially been taken off the road, which also means you must keep it on private land (for instance, a driveway or garage). When you arrange a SORN, you’ll also be refunded for any full months left on your car tax.
You can register a SORN online at GOV.UK or call the DVLA on 0300 123 4321 (the phone line is open 24 hours a day). Alternatively, you can download a V890 form and send it to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR.
What happens if I have an accident with an uninsured driver?
If you have an accident caused by another driver, their insurance will usually cover the cost of repairing your car if it’s damaged. Needless to say, this can’t happen if you’re hit by an uninsured driver as there’s no policy to support your claim.
If you had comprehensive insurance, you can of course make a claim on your own policy but that could impact your no claims bonus. To stop that from happening, the MIB also helps fund compensation claims from honest drivers who have been in accidents caused by the uninsured.
You can find out more about how the MIB can support you and what their claims process is at MIB.com, making a claim.
Compare great value car insurance
Car insurance is something you must have by law but that doesn’t mean it should cost the earth. The good news is that at mustard.co.uk, their Cheapest Price Guarantee* is a promise to beat any other online quote.
To start your search for great value car cover, why not head to mustard.co.uk or speak to an expert advisor on 0330 022 8791.
*T&Cs apply. See mustard.co.uk for details.
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