How to find out your own car insurer?

A friend's elderly Dad has just had his tax renewal form through. He can't find his insurance certificate (which he needs for the tax), can't remember which company he's with, and isn't totally sure whether he even still has valid cover or not. My friend is trying to track down the insurance details. There are apparently records at the Motor Insurers Bureau, and he's got a form to fill out to get the details, but it costs £10. Is this the quickest /cheapest way to find out? Does anyone know of a way of finding out over the phone instead? :confused:
Live on £11k in 2011 :D
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Comments

  • lyndasharp wrote: »
    A friend's elderly Dad has just had his tax renewal form through. He can't find his insurance certificate (which he needs for the tax), can't remember which company he's with, and isn't totally sure whether he even still has valid cover or not. My friend is trying to track down the insurance details. There are apparently records at the Motor Insurers Bureau, and he's got a form to fill out to get the details, but it costs £10. Is this the quickest /cheapest way to find out? Does anyone know of a way of finding out over the phone instead? :confused:

    PM me the registration number and I'll get you the insurer name and policy number tomorrow morning if you want. :)
    ALL DEBT NOW PAID OFF IN FULL 3 YEARS EARLY!
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  • homer_j_3
    homer_j_3 Posts: 3,266 Forumite
    You dont need to know, do it online or over phone and you don't need to proof. You can just put the code in on the renewal form and the system checks all the databases.
    I am a Mortgage Adviser
    You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a Mortgage Adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice.
  • Mikeyorks
    Mikeyorks Posts: 10,377 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    lyndasharp wrote: »
    Does anyone know of a way of finding out over the phone instead?

    Is he sure he's still got a car?;)

    Use the DVLA online facility to renew the tax. It will then decline if there's no valid Insce registered in the MIB database. At least he gets it taxed ... but he'll have to rely on the Insurer contacting him re Insce renewal. No cheque stubs / entry on Bank statements for when he last paid the Insurer?
    If you want to test the depth of the water .........don't use both feet !
  • dfh4np
    dfh4np Posts: 68 Forumite
    http://www.askmid.com/askmid.aspx

    Wont tell who by but will tell you if cover is live.
  • I'll do a live MID check at work and send you the info :)
    ALL DEBT NOW PAID OFF IN FULL 3 YEARS EARLY!
    Lightbulb Moment Dec 2008 - DFD Nov 2016!
    Debt at lightbulb moment - £9,440.03 - Payplan DMP - £100 per month
  • Labman wrote: »
    OP, as has already been said, just renew it online...it'll be easier & quicker.

    Hardly, it involved me typing 7 digits and the OP had the information they needed. :p
    ALL DEBT NOW PAID OFF IN FULL 3 YEARS EARLY!
    Lightbulb Moment Dec 2008 - DFD Nov 2016!
    Debt at lightbulb moment - £9,440.03 - Payplan DMP - £100 per month
  • lyndasharp
    lyndasharp Posts: 649 Forumite
    500 Posts
    All sorted, thank you everyone! I had thought about the online tax option, but he's also lost the tax renewal form as well, so the chances of being able to track down the V5C instead are pretty slim... The guy's wife died recently and he's finding it difficult to cope with the everyday paperwork etc, plus he cleared out a load of stuff, I suspect a lot of useful bits ended up in the bin unfortunately!
    Live on £11k in 2011 :D
  • BenL
    BenL Posts: 3,189 Forumite
    Just seen this but its all sorted. I would have also checked any bank/credit card statements to see who he had paid for the cover.
    I beep for Robins - Beep Beep
    & Choo Choo for trains!!
  • tinkerbell84
    tinkerbell84 Posts: 5,323 Forumite
    I just hope he isn't intending to drive the car!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:
  • lyndasharp
    lyndasharp Posts: 649 Forumite
    500 Posts
    Labman wrote: »
    Does OP has to PM you with details? Then you have to key in the info...and get details back? You key in the results to OP....OP contacts road tax....etc ...or is it just easier renewing online?

    Although renewing online would answer the question of whether the car is insured or not, thanks to right_track the car owner now knows who his insurer is, and what the policy number is, so in case of an accident he can give his insurance details.
    Live on £11k in 2011 :D
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