When is my car insurance due?

Key takeaways

• Your exact car insurance expiry date should be shown in your policy documents or your insurer's online account

• If you bought your policy through MoneySuperMarket, it should appear in your Policy Hub where you can check its start and end dates

• The MIB's Check Your Vehicle service can tell you whether your vehicle currently shows as insured, but it does not give you your policy expiry date

How to Check Your Car Insurance Expiry Date

This video information is available as a Text Transcript

How can I find my car insurance expiry date?

You should check your policy documents or insurer account first, as these should give you the exact date your current cover ends. You can try:

1. Your policy documents: Look for the policy end date, expiry date or period of insurance

2. Your insurer's app or online account: Your current policy details may include its start and end dates

3. MoneySuperMarket Policy Hub: If you bought cover through MoneySuperMarket, your Policy Hub will show your start and end date

4. Your renewal notice: Your insurer should contact you ahead of renewal with information about your next policy period

5. Your insurer: Contact your insurer directly if you still cannot find your expiry date

Don't rely on the date you paid for your insurance as the exact expiry date - your payment and policy dates may be different.

Can MoneySuperMarket tell me when my insurance expires?

Not from this guide alone, because we can't see your individual policy details here - but if you bought your policy through MoneySuperMarket and it appears in your Policy Hub, you can sign in to see information including:

• Your insurer

• Your policy details

• Your policy start date and end date

Not every provider currently appears in your Policy Hub, and new purchases can take time to show - some new policies can take up to 60 days to appear.

Can the MIB tell me when my car insurance expires?

No, the MIB's Check Your Vehicle service can tell you whether your vehicle currently shows as having a live insurance policy, but it does not give you your personal expiry date. The service can still be useful if you want to confirm whether your vehicle currently appears as insured.

Is my renewal date the same as my expiry date?

No - they are closely connected, but they describe different points in your insurance. Your expiry or end date is when your current policy finishes, while your renewal date is when a renewed policy would normally begin after the existing policy ends.

You should check the exact dates and times shown in your policy documents rather than assuming when one policy ends and another begins.

Will my car insurance renew automatically?

It might, but you should not assume that it will. Insurers must tell you whether your policy is set to renew automatically or whether you need to take action to accept a renewal offer - so check your:

• Renewal notice

• Insurer account

• Policy documents

• Payment details

Even if your policy is set to auto-renew, make sure the insurer has your correct details and a valid payment method. the MIB has warned that not all policies renew automatically and problems such as an expired payment card can leave drivers unintentionally uninsured.

What happens when my car insurance expires?

You must have new valid cover in place before driving once your existing policy has ended - remember, it's illegal to drive on a road or in a public place without at least third-party motor insurance.

If you're switching insurer, check the exact time your existing policy ends, as well as the date and time your new policy begins and that there is no gap between the two policies. Don't assume your old policy will continue because you haven't received a reminder or because it renewed automatically in previous years.

When should I renew my car insurance policy? 

The best time to renew your car insurance policy is usually between 20-29 days before your policy expires. Prices tend to rise sharply closer to the renewal date.

Our research shows that the cheapest car insurance deals are most likely to be found 26^{^} days before renewal. The most expensive time to renew is usually the day your current insurance ends.

MoneySuperMarket can take the work out of switching car insurance. We'll show you multiple deals to choose from, and give you extra rewards from our Super Save Club.

How can I avoid forgetting my car insurance expiry date?

You should save or note down your expiry date somewhere you'll see it before your policy ends - you could:

• Add a calendar reminder a few weeks before the expiry date

• Keep your policy documents somewhere easy to find

• Check that your insurer has your current email address and contact details

• Check whether your policy is set to auto-renew

• Check your Policy Hub if your MoneySuperMarket policy is available there

Give yourself time to compare your renewal offer with other policies rather than leaving it until your existing cover is about to end.

How can I compare car insurance before my policy expires?

Once you know when your current policy ends, you can compare your renewal quote with offers from other insurers - be sure to compare prices alongside:

• The level of cover you get

• Your compulsory and voluntary excess

• Any optional extras

• Any policy exclusions

• Your payment terms

Make sure any new policy starts when your existing insurance ends, so you're not left with gap in cover. With MoneySuperMarket, you can compare car insurance quotes from different providers across the market before your current policy expires.