In the UK, any car that is more than three years old must undergo an annual MOT to check its roadworthiness. Generally, all car insurance policies have a clause that requires you to keep the vehicle in roadworthy condition. Failing to have a valid MOT means you have breached this clause, and your insurance will be invalidated. That means if you have an accident you will not be able to claim repairs or replacement. Much more seriously, it also means you can face fines and even court proceedings for driving without valid car insurance.

Is it ever okay to drive without a valid MOT?

The only time when you can drive without an MOT is if you are making your way to or from a pre-booked MOT appointment. Driving at any other time without a valid MOT is an offence.

What are the penalties for driving without an MOT?

As well as the fines and penalty points you’ll receive for driving without insurance, you may be penalised for not having an MOT.

If you don’t have a valid MOT certificate and you drive on the public road you will commit an offence under Section 47 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. You can be fined £1,000 and receive between six to eight penalty points on your licence.

Check if your car has a valid MOT for peace of mind

If you can’t find your paper documents and you’re not sure if your car or van has a valid MOT, you can check it here. It’s free to check if your vehicle has an MOT and all you need is your vehicle registration number.

Check if your car is insured

If you’re not sure if your vehicle is insured, you can check it for free using the ask Motor Insurance Database (askMID) numberplate database.

Tips for finding cheaper car insurance

If you’re still reeling from the renewal cost for your car insurance follow our five-step plan to find more affordable car insurance.

1)   Never simply renew your car insurance.

In most cases staying loyal to the same insurance company doesn’t reward you financially. Never simply renew your insurance policy. Instead shop around to find the best price deal or use an independent insurance company to do this for you. Price comparison websites can be an excellent place to start, but remember that not all insurance companies advertise on these and always check the small print very carefully.

2)   Increase your excess.

The excess is the amount you automatically pay if you make a claim. Generally the higher the excess that you choose, the lower your premium. Just make sure you don’t set your excess so high that it becomes unaffordable for you.

3)   Consider a telematics policy.

If you are a safe driver, opting for a telematics policy could reward you with cheaper premiums. A ‘black box’ will be fitted to your car and reports back on your driving style. If you drive safely, your premiums are lowered. But it works both ways, and if you are considered to be driving more riskily, your premiums will go up. Things like sudden braking, speeding, and driving at night time can all push your premiums up.

4)   Opt for a limited mileage policy.

If you cover less than 10,000 miles a year a limited mileage policy can save you cash. Insurance is based on risk, and the less you drive, the less likely you are to have an accident and make a claim. But don’t limit your mileage if you cover many more miles than that. If you have an accident, your insurance company will discover that you have done more miles than you said and your insurance could be void.

5)   Double check what you’re getting for your money.

The cheapest deal isn’t always the best deal. Always check the small print before you buy your insurance to make sure it covers you for everything you need. This is especially important if you buy your car insurance through an online comparison site, as the results returned won’t always include everything you specified initially. If you don’t double check but leave this to chance, you could find yourself seriously out of pocket in the long-run.

It’s Easy2Insure your car

You’ll find our friendly team at Easy2Insure helpful and knowledgeable. Fill in a simple form online or give us a call and we’ll do the rest for you. We’ll search insurance companies large and small to find you insurance that matches your needs and budget. We’ll guide you on if a limited mileage or telematics policy could be right for you. And we’ll explain what cover you’re getting, so there will be no nasty surprises lurking in the small print.

Call us on 0800 9179522 or get in touch.

According to MoneySupermarket.com having one to three penalty points on your licence will increase the average car insurance premium by £25 a year. But if you’ve been snapped speeding or caught for other motoring offences and racked up more than three points you’re likely to see a stiff hike in costs. We explain how your penalty points will affect your car insurance price and share how to get a better price quote.

Why do penalty points on my licence increase the cost of car insurance?

You get penalty points for riskier driving, such as speeding or using your mobile phone. The more penalty points you’ve clocked up, the higher a risk you pose to insurance companies. Because you’re considered a riskier driver, you’ll be charged higher premiums than if you had no points on your licence.

How do I find cheap car insurance if I have penalty points?

The four main tips to get the best price on car insurance are the same whether you have penalty points on your licence or not:

• Don’t just accept your renewal quote. Shop around or use an independent insurance broker like Easy2Insure to do the legwork for you.
• If you cover a lower than average mileage each year, make sure you tell your insurance broker. Fewer miles travelled means a lower risk of having an accident, and that translates to lower premiums.
• Consider increasing your excess. This is the amount you’ll automatically pay if you make a claim. Generally, the higher your excess, the lower your premium will be. Just make sure you keep it affordable for you.
• Pay your insurance annually if you can. If you opt to pay monthly for car insurance, you’ll end up paying much more than if you pay in one go. Some insurance companies will charge up to 20% extra for monthly payment plans. So if your basic premium is £500 a year, you’ll end up paying around £600 to pay in monthly instalments.

Another great tip to reduce your car insurance premiums when you have penalty points is to get personal. When you fill in a form online, a computer crunches the numbers to arrive at your premium. If you call an insurance broker that specialises in sourcing insurance for people with penalty points you can discuss your situation. You can explain exactly how you got your points and any steps you have now taken to prevent the same thing happening again. Your insurance broker can then assess what risk you pose and may be able to negotiate a better deal than a computer.

Do I need to declare penalty points when applying for car insurance?

Yes. When you apply for car insurance, you must declare any points on your licence. If you don’t your car insurance will be invalid. That means any claim you make will be rejected, leaving you out of pocket. You can also be fined for failing to have correct insurance, which will also add to the penalty points on your licence.

Remember that you only need to declare ‘unspent’ points. Generally, motoring offences and penalty points will remain on your licence for between four to 11 years. The length of time depends on the offence. If you’re not sure, you can find out how long your offence must be declared by looking at www.gov.uk

How to check if your penalty points are spent

Time flies, and it can be easy to forget exactly how long ago it was that you received penalty points. If you don’t know if you have penalty points that are currently live on your licence, you can check it for free here.

It’s important to do this because you must always declare any penalty points that are current. But if your penalty points are spent, you won’t want to continue paying the extra on your insurance.

It’s Easy2 get a quote for car insurance

Whether you’ve got no points or 11 points on your licence, it’s quick and Easy2Insure your car with us. It’s free to ask for a quote, and you’re under no obligation to proceed. We’re an independent insurance broker, so we’re free to shop around insurance companies large and small to find you the best price deal. We can even negotiate on your behalf to secure prices that are cheaper than you’d find on the high street. Call us on 0800 9179522 or get in touch.