Forgot to switch over my car insurance - ANPR cameras?

[aceofspades1]

I have made the stupidest mistake ever.

I sold my car yesterday and up until yesterday I had my new car on a temporary policy.

This morning I completely forgot to change over my new car on my insurance website, so effectively I drove around this morning with no insurance. I know that I have been through an ANPR camera. I changed it over immediately when I realised my mistake an hour ago.

I am fully aware that, mistake or not, I have committed an offence. The question is, what is the likelihood of getting done for this? I'm very worried because it was a genuine error and driving without insurance will cost me 6 points which will revoke my license!

[Canon_Fodder]

OP I think little - perhaps zero - likelihood.

Your lack of insurance probably wasn't even registered on the ANPR database in that brief window when you were uninsured

[jondude]

When I let a policy lapse I was on the database for 4 days before they removed it. I believe too the only way you would need worry is if a police car followed you with ANPR and it raised the alarm?

(Have you checked the MID database as you may still be on it)

[aceofspades1]

jondude said:

When I let a policy lapse I was on the database for 4 days before they removed it. I believe too the only way you would need worry is if a police car followed you with ANPR and it raised the alarm?

(Have you checked the MID database as you may still be on it)

Yeah, I've checked the MID database and the car was showing as uninsured this afternoon.

[Sheepshanks]

You could take the weight off your mind by handing yourself in. You'd know for sure then.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

aceofspades1 said:

I have made the stupidest mistake ever.

I would argue that Hitler's decision to open up an Eastern Front against the Soviet Union was probably stupider.

[i4got]

For the future it's worth amending the insurance so the old car has the temporary cover and the new one the permanent. When I bought and sold last month thats how Admiral handled it.

[aceofspades1]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I would argue that Hitler's decision to open up an Eastern Front against the Soviet Union was probably stupider.

Haha that’s probably true

[Cat]

An ANPR activation for no insurance indicates that the registration read is not linked to an insurance policy, not that the vehicle being driven without insurance. The driver could have a trade policy, 3rd party cover on their own policy, it could be a new policy that is yet to appear on the MID etc. If you were not stopped at the time there is no way to know if the vehicle was actually being used without insurance there is zero chance you will hear any more about it.

Cat

[Greendubber]

Cat said:

An ANPR activation for no insurance indicates that the registration read is not linked to an insurance policy, not that the vehicle being driven without insurance. The driver could have a trade policy, 3rd party cover on their own policy, it could be a new policy that is yet to appear on the MID etc. If you were not stopped at the time there is no way to know if the vehicle was actually being used without insurance there is zero chance you will hear any more about it.

Cat

Absolutely this.

[VSKeith]

aceofspades1 said:

I have made the stupidest mistake ever.

I think 81,326 tory party members would disagree with you

[aceofspades1]

Cat said:

An ANPR activation for no insurance indicates that the registration read is not linked to an insurance policy, not that the vehicle being driven without insurance. The driver could have a trade policy, 3rd party cover on their own policy, it could be a new policy that is yet to appear on the MID etc. If you were not stopped at the time there is no way to know if the vehicle was actually being used without insurance there is zero chance you will hear any more about it.

Cat

Thank you! This has taken a weight off my mind!

[BertBert]

VSKeith said:

aceofspades1 said:

I have made the stupidest mistake ever.

I think 81,326 tory party members would disagree with you

As would a growing number of Russians

[mdb55]

While noting this is not quite the same circumstances:

I reported a vehicle to the local plod recently, driven like a madman, and declared as SORN. Even shared video of it driving past, VRM clear from the footage. Plod simply not interested, said they would only take action if actually stopped by an officer.

[vikingaero]

Years ago (pre-ANPR) one of my friends found a blindingly cheap motor policy for his car via the AA at c. £180.

He drove around for 9 months before he double checked and found out that he had in fact bought breakdown cover and not comprehensive insurance!

[Unreal]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I would argue that Hitler's decision to open up an Eastern Front against the Soviet Union was probably stupider.

Close, but topped by declaring war on America after Pearl Harbour.

[WolvesWill]

The powers that be are somewhat worried about public perception surrounding ANPR, given concerns over civil liberties and the ability for the government to track the movements of citizens etc.

As such, one must bear in mind it is relatively lightly utilised, given the potential of the technology. You could automate a system to let the cameras dish out fines for all sorts (SORN'd vehicles being driven about, no MOT, etc), but the legislation was never written in a way to support this, plus the administrative burden and public reaction need consideration. If you go looking you will notice many police forces periodically ask people to fill out surveys on their social media channels, relating to the use of ANPR (and perception of the technology).

It must also be mentioned that just because there is no insurance policy showing on a vehicle (which ANPR can easily flag up, by checking the MIB insurance database the cameras can be linked to), does not mean that the driver is not insured to drive it. They could have taken out a policy via telephone having just bought the vehicle for example, but the electronic insurance database operated by MIB is not updated in real time - so on the drive home, and for a period up to 24 hours or maybe more, at weekends or bank holidays, the car still presents as uninsured on the database.

This (along with the wording of the legislation) effectively makes driving with no insurance a 'seen committing' offence, where a police officer needs to actually see someone driving, to stop them and make the requirement for them to produce documents (licence and insurance).

[Sheepshanks]

aceofspades1 said:

Yeah, I've checked the MID database and the car was showing as uninsured this afternoon.

Did you look previously? I've seen lots of comments that it's slow to update so I wonder if it showed the temporary insurance.

In theory you could get 'done' for the administrative breach of having a taxed car but not having insurance (Continuous Insurance Enforcement, or CIE). That's £100 penalty, no points.

[Cat]

Sheepshank said:

In theory you could get 'done' for the administrative breach of having a taxed car but not having insurance (Continuous Insurance Enforcement, or CIE). That's £100 penalty, no points.

CIE has nothing to do with ANPR. It is administered by comparing the DVLA's records of taxed vehicles with the MIB's list of insured vehicles. Where a discrepancy is found the 1st step is to send a letter to the keeper telling them their vehicle appears to be taxed but uninsured and asking them to sort it. Only if this is not done is a fine issued. From the circumstances given by the OP there is no possibilty of a CIE penalty.

Cat

[Sheepshanks]

Cat said:

CIE has nothing to do with ANPR.

I didn't say it did. I said it was an admin "offence".