by dapinky » Tue 04.11.2008, 16:46
As with every database held/provided by multiple sources, it is not 100% accurate. Not all insurance companies submit to it, but most do. It is likely (but not exhaustive) to be the smaller companies (those who do the specialist market - like what we use!) who do not submit the info.
The Police are fully aware of it, and the database is used to indicate that someone has insurance, NOT to show that someone hasn't.
As a general guide, if you have been able to tax your car on-line, then your details are held on the MIB system, if they aint held, you can't tax it on t'interweb.
Of course, like any database, it is only as accurate as the speed of input, so can't be 100% as some of the companies may not work in real time.
There's too much scare-mongering on here of late - rest assured, the Police do not want a car park full of (believed) uninsured cars which turn out okay. Although a Constable CAN seize a motor vehicle where the driver cannot prove he has insurance, we wont. Policy is that we will seize a car where the driver ADMITS to having no insurance, or there is believed to be some doubt.
i.e. - Take the scenario where 4 youths are driving around the local housing estate at 3 in the morning in a 1988 Ford Escort with rust holding it together and VEL which expired in 2003. Would you believe that the 17 year old driver had just bought it and was happily paying £1500 a year TPF&T???? Of course, if he's telling the truth, and can prove it, all well and good - if not the car ends up at the compound and he (or the registered keeper) has a period of time to produce the V5 and insurance to get it out again - otherwise it will be crushed.
Without further stereotyping, i can say that it is unlikely that a typical car owner/driver would ever need to even consider this issue, let alone worry about it - after all, how many of you have lost sleep over the past four or five years because of it???
Dave
Just the one now, but this one's mine! - and it will be finished eventually..... - but also temporary custodian of a project until it is finished enough for Angie to drive it
...oh, and a 2006 Freelander destined for the jungles of The Gambia - 4500 miles across roads, desert and tracks - what could possibly go wrong?