App to check insurance status of a vehicle?

JustAnotherSaver

I just wondered if such a free app with this feature as free exists?


I'm thinking more in the event you're in an accident and the other person does stop. They could give you bogus details and their car may not be insured. It'd be quick and easy to run their reg through first off on the app (rather that opening a web browser, typing out 'check vehicle insurance' and then entering the details - is the car a this, is it that colour so on & so forth).


Not perfect i know but hey ho, it's just a question. Anything i've looked you have to pay for.

Joe_Horner

That's because, legally, you're not allowed to check on the free MID page. If you have reason (like being in an accident) then they'll sell you the info, but you have no automatic right to it.

They use data protection as the reason but, regardless of whether or not that's a valid basis, under s.1 of the Computer Misuse Act, you're committing an offence of unauthorised access to computer material if you use the free check for anything but the purposes stated on the page because they own the database and they haven't given you permission.

They tend to ignore individuals misusing it but you can be sure any app that started querying it without payment would be shut down pronto.

ROY47

https://ownvehicle.askmid.com/#

type in the reg number and tick the box etc ,
It won't say who owns it just if is on the insurance database

JustAnotherSaver

All seems a bit daft to me. Surely you should at least be able to check whether a vehicle has insurance or not. Fair enough not being able to find out who owns it or who it's insured with but the fact that it is insured - yes/no, that should be free info.


But that's just my worthless opinion.

ROY47

my link is free

Joe_Horner

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

All seems a bit daft to me. Surely you should at least be able to check whether a vehicle has insurance or not. Fair enough not being able to find out who owns it or who it's insured with but the fact that it is insured - yes/no, that should be free info.


But that's just my worthless opinion.

I agree, but the MID control the data and they get to decide who has access and under what terms. They've decided that, if you don't have a direct interest in the car (basically, if you're not going to be driving it), you have to pay them money to look.

The insurance industry extracting money at any opportunity - who'da thunk it, eh? :rotfl:

ROY47 wrote: »

my link is free

Yes, it's free but it's also an offence to use it (as explained above) unless you have a reason out of the list they give:

I am entitled to the insurance information about the vehicle detailed above for one or more of the following reasons: It is either registered/ owned/ insured by me or my employer; I am permitted to drive it; I am an Insurance Broker or agent and acting on behalf of my client.

Those are the ONLY reasons that they grant permission to use that page for, so any other reason is unauthorised and becomes an offence.

The chance you'd ever be prosecuted for it is probably zero but that doesn't stop it being an offence.

Icarus01

But they have no way to link an IP address to a vehicle log. You will never get prosecuted by searching on askMID unless you're ringing up to them what you're doing - and doubtful even at that.



I wouldn't pay for a service when askMID is still available

Nodding_Donkey

Askmid already provide this service for free with a smartphone.


see https://www.mib.org.uk/check-insurance-details/check-a-vehicle-at-the-roadside-after-an-accident/

payandisplay

There is no obligation to provide insurance details to a third party (except a police officer) at the scene of an incident.

JustAnotherSaver

payandisplay wrote: »

There is no obligation to provide insurance details to a third party (except a police officer) at the scene of an incident.

Well yeah, but if they do stop & you run the plate to find out the vehicle isn't insured then you'll know what you're going to be dealing with, rather than being given a bogus name, thinking great i'll sort this when i get home it'll all be plain sailing only to find it's not.

thenudeone

payandisplay said:

There is no obligation to provide insurance details to a third party (except a police officer) at the scene of an incident.

It's an old thread; but what although you said is strictly correct (in that there is no obligation to produce a certificate other than to Police), if there is an injury and you don't produce your certificate to anyone who has reasonable grounds for asking for it. s170 (5) Road Traffic Act 1988, then you have an obligation to report the accident that you wouldn't otherwise have. If you do produce it, then there is no obligation to report it to Police, even if there is an injury.