Insurance status
Live from the Motor Insurance Database (MID).
Tax & SORN
Whether it's taxed or declared off-road.
MOT status
Valid, expired, or how long's left.
How to check if a car is insured
Pop the registration into the box above and I'll check the Motor Insurance Database — the official record insurers update. It's the same source the police use at the roadside. You'll also see whether the car is taxed and has a valid MOT.
Worth a check before you buy a used car, lend yours to a mate, or if you're not sure your renewal went through.
Good question
Insurance check — your questions
What the MID is, how this compares to askMID, when it's legal to check, and UK driving-without-insurance penalties.
How can I check if a car is insured for free?
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Enter the UK registration number above. CarOkay queries the official Motor Insurance Database (MID) — the same database the police and DVLA use — and tells you whether the vehicle has live cover. No sign-up, no card details, no stored data.
Is this the same as askMID?
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Yes — it queries the same Motor Insurance Database run by the MIB. CarOkay just wraps the lookup in a faster, mobile-friendly interface and combines it with our MOT and AI diagnostic tools. The underlying result is identical to askMID.
Why would I need to check car insurance?
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Common reasons: confirming a car you've just bought or sold is insured, checking after a no-fault accident to verify the other driver's cover, making sure your own new policy has gone live on the MID, or checking that a SORN'd vehicle is properly off the road.
How quickly does new insurance show on the MID?
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Insurers must update the MID within seven days of cover starting, but most do so within a few hours. If you've just bought a policy and it isn't showing yet, give it 24–48 hours, then chase your insurer if the gap persists.
Is driving without insurance illegal in the UK?
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Yes — and the penalties are severe. An IN10 conviction carries a fine of up to £5,000, 6–8 penalty points, possible disqualification, and on-the-spot police powers to seize and destroy the vehicle. Insurance must be at least third-party.
Can I check insurance on a car I don't own?
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Yes — it's legal and free. The MID is a public-interest service. You're only allowed to check; the system doesn't tell you who the policyholder is or which insurer covers the car (privacy rules), only whether live cover exists.
Is my registration check logged anywhere?
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No. CarOkay does not store the registration you check, does not link it to your account or device, and does not share lookups with any third party. Each check is anonymous.