Skip to content
Live vehicle checks open very soon: we are connecting the official DVLA and DVSA data. See a sample report
vettly.

Car insurance

Know what it will cost to insure before you buy

The insurance group, the write-off history and the car's value all move the price of cover. Check them first, then get quotes.

Check a car first

Free MOT, tax and mileage. Insurance group in the full check.

Insurance group check

Groups run from 1 to 50. A low group usually means cheaper cover for the same driver.

How it works

Is it insured? (askMID)

The Motor Insurance Database is checked through the Motor Insurance Bureau's own askMID service.

Open askMID

Write-off history

Insurers ask about it, and a repaired write-off can cost more to cover. Know before you buy.

Write-off check

Before you get quotes

Have these ready

  • The registration (quotes use the exact model)
  • Your licence details and any claims or convictions
  • Where the car is kept overnight
  • A realistic yearly mileage
  • Any modifications, including alloy wheels and tints

Buying soon? Read the used car buying checklist.

How do I find a car's insurance group?
The full history check shows the insurance group from 1 (cheapest) to 50 where our supplier holds it. Insurers use the group as a starting point for the price.
How can I check whether a car is insured?
The Motor Insurance Bureau runs the official askMID vehicle check for vehicles you own or are responsible for. It shows whether a policy is recorded on the Motor Insurance Database.
Does insurance transfer when I buy a used car?
No. Insurance covers a person driving a specific car, so you need your own policy in place before you drive it away, even from the seller's driveway.
Does a write-off affect insurance?
Often. Some insurers charge more for a repaired Category S or N car, or decline to cover it. Tell your insurer about any write-off history: the write-off check shows it.
What makes a premium go up?
The car (insurance group, value, security, modifications), the driver (age, experience, claims and convictions), where it is kept overnight, the yearly mileage and how it is used (commuting or business use costs more than social use).