The Motor Insurance Policy Database is the database of motor insurance policy and vehicle records in the United Kingdom. The database includes vehicle registration numbers and owners, and whether or not the vehicle is insured. The database is managed by, or on behalf, of, The Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB).
The database used to be called the Motor Insurance Database (MID) and was renamed the Motor Insurance Policy Database in April 2024.
You can check if your vehicle is insured using this link to the Check Your Vehicle page of the MIB website, subject to their terms of use which are outlined on their website.
Driving without insurance is illegal. The police use the MIPD to identify uninsured vehicles. If you’re planning to drive – even just for 5 minutes – you must always have valid cover in place.
Why Being on the MIPD Matters
Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) means that all vehicles in the UK must be insured unless declared “off the road” by a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN).
If your vehicle isn’t listed on the MIPD and is not declared as SORN, you may receive an Insurance Advisory Letter to advise you that your vehicle appears to be uninsured and that unless you take action, you will receive a penalty from the Driver Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA).
Under CIE, if the registered keeper of a vehicle fails to comply with the advice set out in the Insurance Advisory Letter, they will face:
- A fixed penalty notice of £100
- Their vehicle being clamped, seized and disposed of
- A court prosecution and a maximum fine of £1000.
CIE measures are in addition to the powers the police already have to seize an uninsured vehicle being used on the road.
The DVLA and MIB work in partnership to identify uninsured vehicles constantly. Uninsured vehicles can be identified even if they aren’t being driven. If the vehicle is not declared SORN, it has to be insured with at least third-party coverage.
Consequences of Not Appearing on the MIPD
If your vehicle is not on the MIPD, but you have proof that you have insured it, you don’t need to worry about penalties. If you receive an Insurance Advisory Letter you should follow the instructions on the letter to provide this proof of insurance.
If your policy is taking over 48 hours to appear on the MIPD, check that your details are correct with your insurance provider and that you have bought from a legitimate FCA-approved provider.
INSHUR will send your certificate of insurance and all of your policy documentation to the email address that you provided when buying your policy or to your broker if you purchased an INSHUR policy via a broker. If you are stopped by the police whilst your vehicle is insured through INSHURyou can use these documents as proof of insurance
However, if your vehicle is not on the MIPD and you are identified to be driving it uninsured by the police, you could face:
- A £300 fine.
- Your car being clamped, impounded, or destroyed.
- 6 points on your licence
- A court prosecution – which could lead to a driving ban and unlimited fines
- Much higher insurance premiums in the future
Can You Check Someone Else’s Insurance?
If you’ve been involved in an accident and need to look up the details of the Third Party, you can use the Third Party Vehicle Look Up Service.
Using the Third Party Vehicle Look Up Service costs £10 per enquiry. Instructions and terms of use for this service can be found here