Motor Insurance Database question

[r1200rt]

The Motor Insurance Database takes a day or so to update

I insured a car, and the next day 'askmid' said it wasn't insured (obviously yet to update)

Yet...I was allowed to tax the car online

Does the car taxing system use different data?

 

[AndrewA]

I heard that it used to verify insurance as part of your vehicle excise duty application. However, some people were taking out insurance and then cancelling it after it was taxed. This increased costs for insurers and didn’t reduce the number of uninsured vehicles on the road, so I believe they removed this check. Possibly also caused issues for vehicles aiming to be covered by non-vehicle-specific insurance (ie driver-based rather than vehicle-based insurance).

 

[wessie]

When you bought your insurance, there were multiple databases involved. Your broker, the underwriter, MID and DVLA will all have their own systems. Maybe the DVLA database is updated by the broker or underwriter in real time and the MID is done as a batch process every Tuesday?

 

[squibb34]

Keep a close eye on it - the underwriter updates the MID when they sign up to the risk as I understand it. Lean hard on your broker if necessary, as they may need to chase it through, but will probably try to BS you.

Occasionally MID gets missed/forgotten, so best carry a copy of your cover note in the meantime, in case you trigger an ANPR stop.

 

[ChasMill]

You have been able to tax your vehicle.
I assume that you have proof of cover from your broker (Certificate of Insurance / Covernote)?
If so, I would not be at all bothered by what the computer says as if you were required to show proof of insurance, you have it.