Car Insurance Database (MID)

RG2015

On 10th January, I switched to RAC car insurance to take effect at midnight on Saturday (Sun 28/01/2024 00:00:01) when my previous insurance expired.

As it stands, my car is showing as not insured on the MID online database.

On their online chat, RAC Insurance say that they automatically send my details to MID when I take out a new policy, but go on to say that it can take up to 10 days for my vehicle details to update.

Has anyone had any experience of this as it seems surprising that a computer record such as this is not instantaneous.

Brie

Had this a couple of years back when OH was stopped a couple of days after his renewal as nothing had been updated so the cops assumed he wasn't insured.  I was able to email him a copy of the docs showing the new policy year so they would let him continue to drive home.  Otherwise they would have confiscated the vehicle I believe.  

So if you have the docs available on your mobile or printed off that would suffice while the system gets updated.  

Goudy

Yes, it takes a few days to appear on the database, it quite normal.

Bigwheels1111

Last year it took 9 days before my insurance was visible on MID.
I just kept a printout in the car.

RG2015

Thanks for the replies. As it happens I always have a copy of my insurance certificate in my wallet.

I know I have previously checked on MID and it was always showing that I was covered. Today is the first time I have seen a negative result. 

I guess I got used to the MOT and car tax online updating immediately so thought that MID would be the same.

[Deleted User]

Brie said:

Had this a couple of years back when OH was stopped a couple of days after his renewal as nothing had been updated so the cops assumed he wasn't insured.  I was able to email him a copy of the docs showing the new policy year so they would let him continue to drive home.  Otherwise they would have confiscated the vehicle I believe.  

So if you have the docs available on your mobile or printed off that would suffice while the system gets updated.  

Given the frequency with which this seems to happen, it would really help if low IQ cops were told not to bother unless it's more than 10 days since the expiry.

DullGreyGuy

MID require insurers to update it within 7 working days of the effective date. Insurers are targeted with an SLA to achieve this target and face sanctions if they persistently miss the SLA (inevitably some will always be "late" when you are back dating cancellations etc). The ultimate sanction is blocking access to MID which effectively excludes them from writing Motor insurance in the UK. 

In some cases insurers delegated responsibility to the broker so in the OP's case Budget, rebranded as RAC, are taking on the responsibility from the insurer. 

In most cases updates are done overnight on a batch job so will be showing the next day or at worst case, the following. 

RG2015

DullGreyGuy said:

MID require insurers to update it within 7 working days of the effective date. Insurers are targeted with an SLA to achieve this target and face sanctions if they persistently miss the SLA (inevitably some will always be "late" when you are back dating cancellations etc). The ultimate sanction is blocking access to MID which effectively excludes them from writing Motor insurance in the UK. 

In some cases insurers delegated responsibility to the broker so in the OP's case Budget, rebranded as RAC, are taking on the responsibility from the insurer. 

In most cases updates are done overnight on a batch job so will be showing the next day or at worst case, the following. 

Thanks. This is useful information but as yet my car is still showing as uninsured on MID.

If we exclude the weekend, the batch job should have been overnight Monday/Tuesday.

I guess I am now looking at the "worst case scenario" of updating overnight Tuesday/Wednesday.

Arunmor

I keep a copy of my policy on Evernote and never check MID.  This leads to a more stress free life. 

stuhse

Carry a copy of your insurance....https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6479982/insurance-database#latest

RG2015

My car insurance is now updated on MID.

Many thanks to everyone for your input.