Skip advert
Advertisement

How to check if a car is taxed and insured

Your car needs to be taxed and insured to be legally allowed on UK roads. Here’s how to check that you’re covered…

If you want to check whether a car is taxed and insured in the UK, all you need is the registration number and access to the internet. Looking up a vehicle’s tax and insurance status is easy. It can be an important reminder, too, as failing to keep these up to date can quickly result in heavy fines or points on your driving licence.

Advertisement - Article continues below

When checking whether a car’s Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) road tax has been paid, you’ll also be provided with its current MoT status. This, combined with an insurance check, means you’ll have all the information you need to keep things safe and legal. 

How to check a car’s tax and insurance

Got the registration number at the ready? Read on to learn how to check a car’s tax and insurance status in the UK.

How to check if a car is taxed

The UK Government provides a free online tool on the GOV.UK website that can quickly check whether a car’s Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) road tax has been paid, and if it has a valid MoT. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Visit the ‘check if a vehicle is taxed’ page on the official GOV.UK website.
  2. Click ‘start now’.
  3. Type in the vehicle’s registration number and click ‘continue’.
  4. Some preliminary information will now appear in order to confirm that you are searching for the correct vehicle. Double check this information and, if you’re happy to proceed, select ‘yes’ then click ‘continue’.
  5. A full page of information about the vehicle will now appear. At the top of the page are its current tax and MoT status. These will be highlighted in red or green: red means that the car is not currently road legal while green means the tax or MoT is valid.
Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

There is also an option at the bottom of the page that will allow you to check your car’s tax rate. You will need the latest 11-digit reference number from the V5C registration certificate in order to do this.

The tax checker includes a quick overview of a vehicle’s current MoT status, but if you want a more detailed record of the mileage and MoT history, there is another tool available. This can prove especially useful when buying a used car. We've got a complete guide to this MOT checker, and you can find the checker itself on GOV.UK.

How to check if a car is insured 

Information about a car’s insurance is more sensitive. You can still find out if a car is insured, but only if you have the correct permission to do so. As with road tax, the process for checking insurance is a simple one:

  1. Visit the official Motor Insurance Database checker website (also known as AskMID).
  2. Enter the vehicle’s registration number.
  3. Carefully read the Data Protection Declaration, and if you are happy to proceed then tick the confirmation box to agree. You will also need to submit a reCAPTCHA test to confirm that you are not a robot.
  4. The following page will then simply provide you a yes or no answer to the question of whether the vehicle is insured.

What if a car’s tax or insurance details are wrong?

If you know that a car’s details are incorrect, it’s important to rectify this as soon as possible in order to prevent any legal issues from arising. If you have only just taken out insurance or taxed a car on the very same day, it can take a little while for this to show up on checker websites. If the information still isn’t right by the following day, you will need to contact the appropriate authority in order to resolve it. If your insurance status is wrong, contact your insurance provider. If your tax status is wrong, contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Frequently Asked Questions
Your car’s tax band is determined by its age and emissions. You can use the GOV.UK tax checker tool to get the exact rate, but you will need the 11-digit reference number from the V5C document.

Now learn more about VED road tax by reading our in-depth guide

Skip advert
Advertisement

Shane is responsible for looking after the day-to-day running of the Auto Express website and social media channels. Prior to joining Auto Express in 2021, he worked as a radio producer and presenter for outlets such as the BBC.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Where and how to advertise your car for free
Classified advertisement listings
Tips & advice

Where and how to advertise your car for free

Do you want to list and sell your car for free? We give our top tips on where and how to do so
25 Apr 2024
What paperwork do I need to sell my car in the UK?
Person pointing at documents with car keys on top of them
Tips & advice

What paperwork do I need to sell my car in the UK?

Our checklist of the documents you need to sell your car will help you make sure that you don’t miss anything when making that sale
25 Apr 2024
What is an HPI check?
What is an hpi check
Tips & advice

What is an HPI check?

Many adverts will mention that a car is “HPI clear”, but what is an HPI check and should you get one on the car you're buying?
19 Apr 2024
Car valuations: your car could be worth more than you think
Hand building piles of coins
Tips & advice

Car valuations: your car could be worth more than you think

When buying or selling a car, you’ll want to know how much it’s worth but what’s the best way to find the true value of a car and once you know the va…
19 Apr 2024

Most Popular

Skoda Fabia goes for bigger slice of supermini sales with 2024 updates
Skoda fabia front 3/4
News

Skoda Fabia goes for bigger slice of supermini sales with 2024 updates

Skoda has given its Fabia updated powertrains and equipment
22 Apr 2024
New Audi A3 facelift 2024 review: big improvements for the premium hatch
Audi A3 facelift - front
Road tests

New Audi A3 facelift 2024 review: big improvements for the premium hatch

The updated Audi A3 hasn’t been revolutionised, but is thoroughly improved thanks to a set of small but impactful improvements
22 Apr 2024
New Vauxhall Grandland 2024 preview: walkaround, specs and full details
Vauxhall Grandland 2024 - front
News

New Vauxhall Grandland 2024 preview: walkaround, specs and full details

Consider this a new era for Vauxhall, because the step between this new EV and ICE model and the last Grandland it replaces is huge
22 Apr 2024