How quickly is the insurance database updated?
Discussion
I've bought a car, but it has no tax on it at the moment. I'm intending on insuring it and collecting it either tomorrow or over this coming weekend, but obviously the insurance documents will not reach me by tomorrow if I insured it now.
If I were to go and get it taxed at the post office local to where the car is, can the Post Office use the online database to check if the car is insured? How long does it take from getting insurance online to the insurance database being updated so it can be taxed without the insurance documents?
I've also heard of some insurance companies sending you an electronic copy of the documents that you can print out. Will the Post Office accept this as legitimate if I can't rely on the database being updated in time?
Cheers!
If I were to go and get it taxed at the post office local to where the car is, can the Post Office use the online database to check if the car is insured? How long does it take from getting insurance online to the insurance database being updated so it can be taxed without the insurance documents?
I've also heard of some insurance companies sending you an electronic copy of the documents that you can print out. Will the Post Office accept this as legitimate if I can't rely on the database being updated in time?
Cheers!
Hi RJP,
Some insurance companies only provide electronic docs, so you dont always have to wait for the post, however it can take up to a week for insurers to update the MID, so don't count on that. I believe the website for tax checks electronically, but not aware that the post office do.
Hope this helps.
Kris
Some insurance companies only provide electronic docs, so you dont always have to wait for the post, however it can take up to a week for insurers to update the MID, so don't count on that. I believe the website for tax checks electronically, but not aware that the post office do.
Hope this helps.
Kris
I think the legal requirement is within 14 days, although I would guess insurers probably do it in less than that; still not going to help you much. I don't think the Post Office will accept an MID search anyway (it could potentially be showing an old policy that has been cancelled in the last two weeks).
If you get it electronically and print the certificate it should be fine.
I used to get asked if the certificate "was printed from a laser printer?" whenever I taxed a vehicle, and heard of them refusing home-printed documents. As a large proportion of policies are dealt with electronically now, I don't think they bother so much. I just used to say it was printers "at the broker's office"; as I work at a broker's (kind of) it wasn't a lie as such, it just wasn't the issuing broker's/insurer's office. Bloody daft question anyway, as all insurers and brokers will be using laser printers anyway.
If you get it electronically and print the certificate it should be fine.
I used to get asked if the certificate "was printed from a laser printer?" whenever I taxed a vehicle, and heard of them refusing home-printed documents. As a large proportion of policies are dealt with electronically now, I don't think they bother so much. I just used to say it was printers "at the broker's office"; as I work at a broker's (kind of) it wasn't a lie as such, it just wasn't the issuing broker's/insurer's office. Bloody daft question anyway, as all insurers and brokers will be using laser printers anyway.
xRIEx said:
I used to get asked if the certificate "was printed from a laser printer?" whenever I taxed a vehicle, and heard of them refusing home-printed documents. As a large proportion of policies are dealt with electronically now, I don't think they bother so much. I just used to say it was printers "at the broker's office"; as I work at a broker's (kind of) it wasn't a lie as such, it just wasn't the issuing broker's/insurer's office. Bloody daft question anyway, as all insurers and brokers will be using laser printers anyway.
The law was changed in April 2010 to permit the production of a legible printed copy of an electronic certificate for RFL & police producer purposes.eltax91 said:
Get it insured, tax it online and print out the confirmation in case you get stopped.
Worth bearing in mind that the disc would be delivered to the RK's address (ie the previous keeper) and that the 5 day exemption from displaying a disc would not apply, albeit that it would take a bit of a jobsworth to issue an FPN in such circumstances..xRIEx said:
I think the legal requirement is within 14 days, although I would guess insurers probably do it in less than that; still not going to help you much. I don't think the Post Office will accept an MID search anyway (it could potentially be showing an old policy that has been cancelled in the last two weeks).
If you get it electronically and print the certificate it should be fine.
I used to get asked if the certificate "was printed from a laser printer?" whenever I taxed a vehicle, and heard of them refusing home-printed documents. As a large proportion of policies are dealt with electronically now, I don't think they bother so much. I just used to say it was printers "at the broker's office"; as I work at a broker's (kind of) it wasn't a lie as such, it just wasn't the issuing broker's/insurer's office. Bloody daft question anyway, as all insurers and brokers will be using laser printers anyway.
MID requirements are now 7 daysIf you get it electronically and print the certificate it should be fine.
I used to get asked if the certificate "was printed from a laser printer?" whenever I taxed a vehicle, and heard of them refusing home-printed documents. As a large proportion of policies are dealt with electronically now, I don't think they bother so much. I just used to say it was printers "at the broker's office"; as I work at a broker's (kind of) it wasn't a lie as such, it just wasn't the issuing broker's/insurer's office. Bloody daft question anyway, as all insurers and brokers will be using laser printers anyway.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff