Stay insured: penalties for vehicles without motor insurance :Cross Stitch – Motoring

The vehicle insurance law means that the registered keeper of a vehicle must keep it insured unless they’ve made a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). If you’re not insured and haven’t made a SORN, you could face a penalty. Find out what the law means for you.

Stay insured – stay legal

Watch a video on the rules on being insured and penalties you could face

If you’re the registered keeper of a vehicle, it must be insured at all times.

The exceptions are:

if you have made a SORN for the vehicle
if your vehicle has been kept off-road since before SORN came into force on 31 January 2024 – unless it was brought back into use
if your vehicle is recorded as stolen, passed or sold to the motor trade or between registered keepers
if your vehicle is recorded scrapped or permanently exported by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing (DVLA)

Insurance Advisory Letters (IAL) are issued by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau to the registered keepers of uninsured vehicles. This follows a check of the Motor Insurance Database (MID) – the UK’s central record of vehicle insurance. The IAL advises the registered keeper that their vehicle appears to have no insurance and what actions to take to avoid receiving a fixed penalty from DVLA.

If a vehicle does not have insurance the registered keeper could:

receive a fixed penalty of £100
have their vehicle wheel-clamped, impounded, or destroyed
face a court prosecution, with a possible maximum fine of £1000

Payment of a penalty does not replace the need for motor insurance.

If the details aren’t correct, or are not on the database, you should contact your insurer immediately. Only your insurer can update the MID’s information.

If not already insured:

insure your vehicle immediately
make a SORN, if the vehicle is not used on the road
notify DVLA if you are no longer the registered keeper

Failure to take one of these actions will result in a £100 penalty.

How does this law affect a vehicle used only in the summer?

If you have a vehicle that is still taxed but not insured, you could face a penalty. This includes vintage and classic cars, motorbikes and motor homes – all vehicles that people sometimes leave uninsured for part of the year. If this applies to you, you need to return the tax disc on a V14 (including nil value discs) and declare SORN at the same time.

Are vintage/classic cars affected?

If you have a vehicle that was manufactured before 1 January 2024 that has a ‘nil value tax disc’ it is still considered by DVLA as taxed. If your vehicle is taxed it therefore must be insured unless you return your tax disc on a V14 and declare SORN at the same time.

How does this affect pre-SORN vehicles?

Vehicles which have been kept off-road since before SORN came into force on 31 January 2024 are exempt from this law. If they are brought back into use they will no longer be exempt. If you want to bring the vehicle back into use, you will need to tax and insure it. Follow the link below to do this.

What if you have a personalised registration on your vehicle?

You should inform your insurance company if you change the registration number of your vehicle. If you do not you could receive an Insurance Advisory Letter (IAL) to say your vehicle is shown as uninsured.

What if I am moving abroad and taking my vehicle?

If the vehicle will be abroad for less than six months your vehicle is still subject to UK motoring laws and would need to be insured.

If permanently moving abroad, follow the link below for further details.

How does this law affect the Off Road Register?

Off road bikes and construction machinery on the Off Road Register are not affected by this law. If they are later registered for use on the public road they will be affected.

Where does the law apply?

The law applies in England, Scotland and Wales. It does not apply in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

To summarise, if your vehicle is on the road it must be taxed and insured at all times or you may face a penalty.

If your vehicle is:

taxed and insured – you do not need to do anything until your tax and insurance runs out
taxed and uninsured – you must insure your vehicle or make a refund application with a SORN declaration to DVLA if your vehicle is off-road
not taxed and uninsured – you must make a SORN and keep the vehicle off the road
not taxed and insured – you must make a SORN and keep your vehicle off the road

Getting the best insurance deal

You can get expert tips and advice on reducing your insurance costs from the Stay Insured website. Follow the link below to find out more.