The consequences of not having a valid Certificate of Motor Insurance

The law states that, in order to drive a motor vehicle or keep it on the public highway, you need a valid certificate of motor insurance.  The insurance can be either fully comprehensive, or one that covers third party liability only, and most people hold an annual motor insurance certificate for their vehicle(s).

Third party policies cover third party liability in the event of an accident, and also fire and theft to the policyholder's vehicle.  Fully comprehensive policies also cover damage to the policyholder's vehicle in the event of an accident, no matter who was at fault for the accident.

Both types of policy may allow the policyholder to drive other vehicles not belonging to them, although this is not usually on a fully comprehensive basis.  However, these types of policies are gradually being withdrawn by the insurance industry.

If your policy does not allow you to drive other vehicles at all, or if it only covers you to drive other vehicles on a third party basis, then you can use short term motor insurance in order to comply with the law whilst using a vehicle not belonging to you.

If you fail to have either an annual or a short term motor insurance policy for your vehicle, then you are committing an offence. The penalties for not having motor insurance are 6 to 8 points on your driving licence, and a fine up to a maximum of £5,000. A driving ban is discretionary for this endorsable offence unless you total 12 or more penalty points on your licence, in which case the driving ban is mandatory for a minimum period of 6 months - but it could be longer. You can argue a case for exceptional hardship in an attempt to aviod a driving ban, but this defence can only be used once in any 3 year period. However, even if you are successful in this defence, then your penalty points total will not be reduced, with the effect that any subsequent offences and penalty points will result in an automatic ban with no defence, subject to any of your penalty points passing the expiry date.

Drive securely - always ensure that you have either an annual, or short term, motor insurance policy for your vehicle.