askMID and Motor Insurance Database Checks

MIB for protection against uninsured drivers

askMID open source for private motorists

If you are a resident of the UK, there has never been an easier way to make certain any vehicle you or someone else is driving has the appropriate road insurance and DVLA mot check certificate. Launched in 2013, askMID allows motorists to easily obtain up to date insurance coverage verification and is maintained by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).

If you aren’t familiar with askMID, you can learn everything you need to know about this valuable service below.

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What is askMID?

Referred to as the Motor Insurance Database (MID), askMID is a comprehensive database of all vehicles insured in the UK. To make certain users are receiving the correct information, it is updated more than 10,000 times per hour. Due to askMID’s high rate of accuracy, it is used by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the police to verify road insurance policies and enforce UK laws, such as Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE), that require all vehicles that have not been declared “statutory off the road (SORN)” to be insured at all times when on the road.

Road insurance checks are free and online

It is very easy for all motorists to use askMID to check their own vehicle’s insurance status. Simply visit the website, ownvehicle.askmid.com or download the askMID app to your phone. You will be asked to enter the car’s number plate and agree to their Data Protection Declaration.

There is no cost to find out if your vehicle is listed on the MID. However, if you want additional information such as who your vehicle is insured with and other pertinent details, you must pay the small fee of £4.50.

In addition, you have the option of purchasing an annual subscription for £280. A subscription is only recommended for organisations that frequently need to verify road insurance coverage. Organisations will be required to identify a nominated Key Account Use (KAU). This person will serve as the askMID contact and is tasked with adding and removing users.

Using AskMID to Search Another Vehicle’s Insurance Status and the Associated Costs

If you are involved in an accident, you can use askMID to verify the insurance status of any other vehicles involved. To use this service, you will need to select ‘Other Vehicle Look Up Service.’ Be aware that you will be charged £4.50 for each query and you must be able to complete a short form asking for:

• Your legal name 
• Your email address
• Your initial
• Your vehicle’s registration number
• The other vehicle’s registration number
• The date the accident occurred
• A short description of how you were involved, such as a driver, pedestrian, cyclist, etc.

More content related to Motor Insurance Database checks can be found via Vehicle Check Blog homepage.