insurance expired and pulled

[mickishi]

i have just been pulled over an given a producer by a poice officer. on inspection at home i have just discovered my insurance expired at 11.59 pm last night. absolute nightmare. i have immediatly renewed my policy (with 16 hours of expiry!) but now have to hand in my documents as per producer rules. what do you think the likely penalty is? i have ayoung daughter and relyon my car for work and have never had any previous convicitons.

[dan no1]

i was pulled over a few months back, and had to produce my documents. at the time i only had a cover note for my insurance, and when i went to produce, my cover note had expired, and i hadn't realised. i was covered anyway, but the miserable cow behind the desk at my local cop shop said i'd probably have to go to court.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

you have just got to hope they start the cover from when the old one elapsed otherwise its 3 points and a fine i would think

[Grunty]

If you look closely at the certificate of insurance, you will probably see that it covers you for a period (typically 14 days) provided the policy is renewed consecutively, as it has been.

[JudgeJ]

As Grunty says, you may get away with this if, upon renewal, you continue your insurance without a break. Your insurers may provide a cover note which simply continues on from the time of expiry of the old one. You would have to check with them.

However, if they do not you will almost certainly be prosecuted for driving without insurance. If you are, my advice is to go to court, plead guilty (this will reduce your fine by a third) and explain your oversight. Also explain that you renewed your insurance immediately you had noticed your mistake. Unfortunately the magistrates are bound to award you six penalty points. As well as this you will be fined somewhere in the region of �150 (assuming you plead guilty).

[mickishi]

many thanks for all your help. i just feel aggrieved that i am genuinely honest and some pricks get away with driving like idiots for years and i get penalised for a genuinely honest mistake

[spaced]

dont most insurers send you a letter advising you of the upcoming renewal?? They also state that if you wih to renew...do nothing and the policy will continue.

I would check that.