Driving uninsured can have severe consequences that will stay with you year-after-year, including:

• £300 fine
• Six points on your licence
• Vehicle seized and potentially crushed
• Court referral, resulting in an unlimited fine and a driving ban
• Driving convictions can show in background checks, impacting job prospects

Unfortunately, there are a number of common insurance pitfalls that even the most conscientious driver can fall foul of, so it's important to regularly check you're carrying the right level of insurance cover for your needs.

Even the most careful drivers can get caught out. A quick check of your policy today could save a lot of stress (and expense) later.

Here are a few easy mistakes worth double-checking:

• Forgotten when your insurance expires? Check your renewal date today.
• Assumed your policy auto-renews? Not all do, and expired payment cards can cause lapses.
• Kept a vehicle off the road without declaring it SORN with the DVLA? Make sure it’s officially off-road.
• Thought fully comprehensive cover lets you drive someone else’s car? It often doesn’t - check your policy first.
• Using your car for work or deliveries on a social-only policy? You’ll likely need commuting, business or hire-and-reward cover.
• Found a deal on social media? Double-check it’s from a genuine insurer, ’Ghost Broking’ scams are common.
• Added yourself as a named rather than main driver on a car you mainly drive? That’s ‘fronting’, and it’s illegal.
• Taking a private e-scooter on public roads? Only local authority-operated scooters are legal.

A quick review now can help you stay fully protected and avoid some costly surprises later.

Use our Check Your Vehicle service, the new home of the Motor Insurance Database.