Help & FAQs
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About Your Insurance
When does my insurance cover start?
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Once you have purchased your insurance policy, we will send you an email with your Certificate of Motor Insurance attached. The Certificate of Motor Insurance will state your insurance policy’s start date/time and end date/time. It also details your Policy Number.
Your Certificate of Motor insurance and other Policy Documents are also available in your customer portal.
How do I know I’m insured?
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The Certificate of Motor Insurance is the document that proves that you have insurance. It details your Policy Number and it lists details of your cover (such as start and end date/time and limitations of use).
When you purchase your insurance policy, we will email your Certificate of Motor Insurance (and other policy documents) to you.
Your Policy Documents are also available in your customer portal.
If you are stopped by the Police, then your Certificate of Motor Insurance is the document they will want to see as it shows that you are insured to drive that vehicle.
How much will the excess be?
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The impound insurance policies we sell have no excess as they provide third-party only cover.
The standard excess on the short-term (up to 28 days) insurance policies we sell is £500.
There may be an additional excess to be paid of £100 depending on your vehicle details. If applicable, you will be advised of this prior to completing your purchase.
If you are insuring a refrigerated vehicle then there is an additional excess of £100.
Your excess will be shown as part of your online quote. If you purchase an insurance policy from us, your excess will be shown on your Policy Schedule (which we will email to you when you have completed your purchase). You policy documents are also accessible from our customer portal.
What is third-party only cover?
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Third-party only cover means that you are insured for injury and damage that your vehicle may cause to other people and/or their property (up to £20m).
However, your vehicle is not insured for theft, fire or damage (unless caused by a third-party).
The impound insurance policies we sell are third-party only cover.
What is comprehensive cover?
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Comprehensive cover means that your insurance policy includes third party cover and that your vehicle is insured for theft, fire or damage regardless of fault.
Our short-term (up to 28 days) insurance policies are comprehensive cover.
For what durations (1 day, 1 week) etc. can I purchase a policy for?
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The impound insurance policies we sell are 30 days in duration.
The short term (up to 28 days) car and van policies we sell are for between 1 hour and 28 days in duration. During the quote process you can enter a start date/time and a duration of cover.
How far in advance can I purchase a policy?
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You can purchase a short-term policy up to 30 days in advance of the start date.
You can purchase an impound policy up to 14 days in advance of the start date.
Where can I see details of my cover?
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Details of cover can be viewed in Documents.
- A summary of cover can be viewed in the IPID (Insurance Product Information Document).
- The Policy Booklet provides more detail.
If you have purchased a policy:
- Your Certificate of Motor Insurance lists the limitations of use.
- The Policy schedule lists any additional endorsements (an endorsement is a restriction or additional requirement under your policy).
We will email your policy documents to you after you have purchased a policy.
You can also access policy documents in our customer portal.
Do your policies provide cover to drive in Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney?
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You must be resident in the UK Mainland (not Northern Ireland) to be eligible to purchase a policy from us.
However, the short-term (up to 28 day) policies we sell do provide comprehensive cover for UK residents to drive in Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney (but you cannot purchase a policy if you are resident in those areas).
The impound policies we sell are third-party only cover for UK including Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney (but you cannot purchase a policy if you are resident in those areas).
You are covered to drive in any EU/EEA country or Switzerland but the insurance cover is third-party only (or the minimum cover mandated by that country). Note, journeys must start and end in the UK (i.e., you cannot use our insurance to permanently export a vehicle from the UK).
Who is the underwriter?
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Briefly is the broker between you and the insurance underwriter. Briefly arrange and sell insurance policies while the underwriter provides the insurance.
All Briefly policies are underwritten by Haven Insurance Company Ltd who have been providing temporary insurance cover since 2009.
If you have an accident, you need to contact Haven Claims who manage the claims process on behalf of Haven. You can notify Haven Claims of an accident/incident on 0345 092 0700 or text “CLAIM” to 83118.
How quickly can I be on the road?
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We will ask you for the start date and time of your policy (or you can start cover immediately).
If you choose ‘Start Now’ then once you have completed your purchase and made payment, you will be insured to drive that vehicle.
Do you provide a No Claims Discount Certificate?
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No. ‘No Claims Discount’ cannot be earned with the short-term policies we sell.
Is windscreen cover included?
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No. The policies do not cover any claim for damage to your vehicle’s windscreen, windows, sunroof, detachable hard-top or panoramic roof panels whether glass or plastic.
Will I get a courtesy vehicle?
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No. The policy does not cover the cost of alternative transport (including hire car costs) or compensation for you being unable to use your vehicle.
Can I get rolling monthly insurance?
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We don’t sell rolling monthly insurance, but in advance of your current policy expiring, you can requote and purchase a new policy that starts as your current policy ends.
Note that over the course of 12 months it is likely to be more expensive to purchase monthly insurance than buying an annual policy.
If I have business cover, are the goods in my van insured?
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No. If you have purchased Business cover (for carriage of own goods), the goods in your vehicle are not insured by the policy.
If you would like your goods to be insured, you will need to purchase a separate insurance policy for goods in transit from a different provider.
Get a Quote
What address should I use?
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Use your current UK home address.
I can’t get a quote - can you help?
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Sometimes we are unable to provide a quote as the application fails to meet the insurer’s eligibility criteria or your application has not passed security checks.
Some of the insurer’s eligibility requirements are listed on the Briefly home page for each product.
We won’t be able to provide an insurance quote for your vehicle if we cannot look up the vehicle details via its registration number or if we do not recognise your UK driver licence number.
If you need help then please contact us via our online web chat (during office hours). If you are a policyholder you can contact us via our online form.
Can I get a quote and purchase a policy by telephone or email?
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No. We only sell insurance policies online via this website.
What is my driver licence number? Where do I find it?
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You must have a full UK driving licence to purchase an insurance policy from us. The driver licence number is on the front of the licence, section 5. It is 16 digits long (it does not include the two digits to the right of this number).
Why don’t you accept my driver licence number?
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You will need a Full UK driving licence to receive a quote.
We rely on third-party databases to check your driver licence number and if we cannot find a match, we will be unable to provide you with a quote.
Please double check your driver licence number. The licence may have expired (see section 4b on your licence for the expiry date).
Why do you ask for my driver licence number?
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We use your driver licence number (DLN) to check your driving record (for convictions, penalty points and disqualifications). We use a product called MyLicence to conduct the search, which is managed by the DVLA and MIB (Motor Insurers Bureau).
Your driving history is a factor in evaluating the risk of you having an accident. This information helps us provide you with a fair quote.
A driver licence check additionally helps prevent fraud.
My vehicle is not found in the registration lookup – can I get a quote?
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We can only provide a quote to you if we can identify your vehicle via its registration number. If we cannot find your vehicle, then we cannot provide you with a quote.
How long is a quote valid for?
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A quote is valid for 24hours. After which point, you will need to obtain new quote.
Can I add an additional driver to the policy?
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The policy is for a single driver only.
However, an additional driver can purchase a separate short term policy from us on the same vehicle at the same time.
Amendments, cancellations, refunds and renewals
Can I change or amend the driver/vehicle/dates once purchased?
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Sorry, but we do not allow any amendments to the insurance policy after purchase. Please check your quote carefully prior to purchasing to make sure start dates, duration, vehicle and driver details are correct.
If you think you have given us an incorrect email address then please contact us via web chat or our contact form.
Can I change the email address I gave you?
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We use your email address to email your policy documents to you. If you have not received an email from us after purchase, then please check your junk folder.
If you still cannot find the email with your documents or you think you may have provided us with a wrong email address, then please contact us via our online web chat (during office hours) or send us a message via our contact form.
Can I cancel the policy once purchased?
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You can cancel your policy by contacting us via our online web chat or by submitting a request on our contact form.
Please note that we don’t offer refunds or partial refunds on cancelled policies – even if there are several days of the policy remaining, so please make sure you are purchasing insurance that matches your requirements.
Can I get a refund on a policy?
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We don’t offer any refunds or partial refunds on policies. Please check your quote carefully prior to purchasing to make sure start dates, duration, vehicle and driver details are correct and match your requirements.
Can I extend / add extra days to the policy?
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You are unable to extend a policy.
However, it’s very quick to purchase a new policy.
What can I use the vehicle for?
What restrictions are there on vehicle use?
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All insurance policies we sell permit social, domestic and pleasure use and commuting.
The terms limit commuting use to 4 hours a day and commuting is not permitted outside of the UK.
If you purchase a short term van policy for ‘carriage of own goods’ then you will additionally be insured to carry your own goods as part of your business.
You cannot use the vehicle for any other use. We specifically highlight that hire and reward, racing, pace-making, speed-testing, carrying hazardous goods or use in connection with the motor trade are prohibited.
More details are available in the Policy Booklet in documents.
Can I insure a SORN vehicle?
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SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification. This means that the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) have been notified that the vehicle will not be parked or driven on a public road.
The insurance policies we sell provide cover to drive a SORN vehicle to and from a pre-booked MOT appointment (or other testing appointment) only.
You can remove your vehicle’s SORN status by taxing it. You require a valid MOT to tax a vehicle (if it is over 3 years since first registration).
Can I tow a vehicle or trailer?
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Yes, the cover permits the insured driver to tow a trailer (or another vehicle).
The trailer is not covered by the insurance.
The Policy booklet (in documents) contains more details on what is and isn’t covered when towing a trailer.
General guidance and information about towing a vehicle or trailer can be viewed at:
Can I buy road tax with temporary insurance?
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You are not required to show proof of insurance to purchase road tax.
To tax your vehicle you only need your V5C logbook (or V5C/2 if you’ve just purchased the vehicle) or V11 (reminder letter from the DVLA to purchase road tax) and a valid MOT (vehicles do not require an MOT for their first 3 years from registration date).
If your vehicle is parked or driven on a public road then your vehicle must be insured. We can provide short-term insurance until you purchase annual insurance. Please note that over the course of 12 months it is likely to be more expensive to purchase short-term insurance than buying an annual policy.
If your vehicle is not taxed and does not have a valid MOT then you are permitted to drive the vehicle solely to and from a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointment. You will require insurance for this journey, and we can provide that.
Can I drive an untaxed vehicle to an MOT centre for an MOT test?
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Yes, the policies we sell provide cover for you to drive your untaxed vehicle to and from a pre-booked MOT appointment.
Can I use the car or van for business/work?
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No. Our insurance covers commuting, social, domestic and pleasure use only.
Commuting means you can use the vehicle to travel to and from your designated place of work but not use the vehicle for other business use cases (such as carrying goods; visiting customers; or travelling to other office locations or suppliers etc.)
The terms limit commuting use to 4 hours a day and commuting is not permitted outside of the UK.
The vehicle must not be used for hire and reward, racing, pace-making, speed-testing, carrying hazardous goods or use in connection with the motor trade.
Can I drive the vehicle in Europe?
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Yes, the insurance policies permit you to drive in any EU/EEA country and Switzerland. A full list of countries is provided in the Policy Booklet.
Note, outside of the UK we will only provide third-party cover (or the minimum cover mandated by that country) and journeys must start and end in the UK (i.e. you cannot use our insurance to permanently export a vehicle from the UK).
Documents & MID (Motor Insurance Database)
How do I get my policy documents?
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The email will also include a link to our customer portal where you can access and download your documents.
I haven’t received my policy documents.
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When you purchase your insurance policy, we will email your policy documents to the email address you provided in the quote process.
The email will also include a link to our customer portal where you can access and download your documents.
If you have not received this ‘welcome email’ from us, then please check your junk folder.
If you still cannot find the ‘welcome email’ or you think you may have provided us with the wrong email address, then please contact us via web chat (during office hours) or send us a message via our contact form.
Will I get policy documents in the post?
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We don’t automatically send your policy documents in the post.
On the quote page you can opt-in to having your policy documents posted to your address. Please note this will take between 3-5 working days.
When will my insurance details appear on MID?
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We will upload a record of insured vehicles once a day.
If your policy has cover starting on the same day as purchase, then details of your insurance policy may not be loaded to MID for up to 24 hours. You are still insured from the start time, there is just a delay in uploading your policy details to MID.
Please make sure you have a copy of your Certificate of Motor Insurance available in case you are stopped by the Police.
What do I need to do if stopped by the police?
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If you are stopped by the police, then you will need to show them your Certificate of Motor Insurance to prove that you are insured to drive the vehicle.
The police check that a vehicle is insured via a database called MID (Motor Insurance Database), which is a central record of all insured vehicles in the UK. If your policy has cover starting on the same day as purchase, then details of your insurance policy may not be loaded to MID for up to 24 hours. You are still insured from the start time, there is just a delay in uploading your policy details to MID.
Payments
How can I pay for insurance? (what cards are accepted?)
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We accept Visa and Mastercard debit or credit cards. We do not accept Paypal.
You can pay by entering card details or via Apple pay or Google Pay.
Do you accept Paypal?
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No – we only accept Visa and Mastercard debit or credit cards.
Why has my debit/credit card not been accepted?
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Card payments are processed by a third-party vendor. We do not have any control over what card payments are accepted or rejected. We can only recommend trying a different card if you have a different card that you can use.
Your card may be refused if it fails security checks.
Report an Accident / Make a Claim
What should I do if I am involved in an accident?
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Visit our ‘Had an accident?‘ page for more information what to do if you’ve had an accident. Information can also be found in your Policy Booklet (see Documents).
How do I make a claim?
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Visit our make a claim page for more information on how make a claim.
Will a claim affect my no claims discount?
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If you have an annual policy with a no claims discount, it is unlikely that a claim on a short-term policy will affect this no claims discount.
If you do make a claim on a short-term policy then when you purchase your next vehicle insurance policy (annual or short-term) then you must disclose details of that claim. The claim may affect the premium.
Your Eligibility
Can I get cover to drive a vehicle that does not belong to me?
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Yes, the short-term (up to 28 days) insurance policies we sell can insure you to drive any vehicle that meets the eligibility criteria, whether or not it is a vehicle that you own/are the registered keeper of.
You must have the permission of the owner/registered keeper to drive the vehicle.
Note: we cannot insure a rental/hire vehicle.
The impound product is exclusively for the owner/registered keeper of the vehicle.
Can I get insurance if I have penalty points on my driving licence?
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Yes. For the short term policies we sell, you must have had fewer than 4 penalty points on your licence in the last 5 years.
For the impound product that we we sell, you must have had fewer than 10 penalty points on your licence in the last 5 years.
Please note, other eligibility factors may mean that we may not be able to provide you with a quote.
You can see how many penalty points you have on your licence at www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence. Please note, some penalty points are not shown after 4 years, but are still relevant for your policy if incurred within the last 5 years.
Can I get insured if I have been disqualified from driving?
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Yes, but you must have been disqualified from driving more than 5 years ago.
Please note, other eligibility factors may mean that we may not be able to provide you with a quote
You can see convictions on your licence at www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence.
Do you accept provisional/EU/NI/EEA/International licences?
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No. To receive a quote you must have a Full UK driving licence and be resident in the UK Mainland (not Northern Ireland).
Can I get cover with a Northern Irish driving licence?
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No. To get a quote and cover you must have a Full UK licence and be resident in the UK Mainland (not Northern Ireland).
Can I get cover with a provisional licence?
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No. To get a quote and cover you must have a Full UK licence and be resident in the UK Mainland (not Northern Ireland).
What is the acceptable minimum and maximum age of the driver?
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The Short term (1 hour to 28 days) car and van policies we sell require drivers to be between the ages of 26 and 70.
The impound policies we sell require drivers to be between the ages of 24 and 69.
Can I insure a car if I’m not a UK resident?
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No, you must be resident in the UK mainland (not Northern Ireland).
Can I purchase a policy if I have an unspent criminal conviction?
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No. You are not eligible to purchase a policy from Briefly if you have an unspent criminal conviction.
Vehicle Eligibility
What commercial vehicle/van body types are eligible for cover?
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The commercial vehicle must be under 7.5 tonnes (which excludes HGVs etc.)
A campervan is considered a car rather than a commercial vehicle/van.
The following commercial vehicle types are eligible for a quote:
Van; Pickup; Box van; Luton van; Refrigerated/Insulated van; Motor caravan; Flat bed; Dropside; Tipper; Panel van.
The following commercial vehicle types are not eligible for a quote
Minibus; Hot food dispenser; Ice cream van; Taxi; Dust cart; Livestock carrier; Milk float; Mobile shop; Refuse vehicle; Road sweeper; Skip carrier; Vehicle transporter.
Can I Insure a vehicle with a foreign registration number?
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No, we can only provide cover for vehicles with a UK registration number.
Briefly is a trading name of Acorn Insurance. Acorn Insurance can insure vehicles that either do not have a registration number or have a non-UK registration number.
This insurance is called ‘chassis insurance’ as the car is identified by its unique chassis or VIN (Vehicle Identification number). You can see the VIN number in the bottom corner of your vehicle’s front windscreen.
Please visit https://www.acorninsure.co.uk/car-insurance/chassis-number-insurance/ or call 01704 339925.
Can I insure my campervan?
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Yes, a campervan is considered a car rather than a commercial vehicle / van.
Please note that not all campervans are in the vehicle registration lookup database. If we can’t identify your vehicle by its registration then we won’t be able to provide you with a quote.
Can I insure my vehicle if it has modifications?
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No, the insurer’s eligibility criteria do not permit the sale of a policy for a vehicle if it has had any modifications, unless the modifications support driver/passenger mobility.
Can I insure a vehicle that was purchased on Hire Purchase (HP) or PCP (Personal-Contract-Plan)?
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Yes, cars that are purchased on HP or PCP are eligible for cover.
What’s the maximum weight of vehicle that can be insured?
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The maximum weight for a car is 3.5 tonnes.
The maximum weight for a van (commercial vehicle) is 7.5 tonnes. For Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, the driver must be 25 years old or over and have held the appropriate UK driving licence for 5 years or more.
Can I insure a hire or rental vehicle?
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No, the insurer’s eligibility criteria do not permit cover for a hire or rental car (or vehicle from a Vehicle Leasing company).
What’s the minimum and maximum value of vehicle that can be insured?
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For short term car policies your car must be valued between £500 and £50,000.
For short term van policies your van must be valued between £1,000 and £40,000.
For impound policies your vehicle must be valued between £500 and £50,000.
Can I insure an imported or left-hand drive vehicle?
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No – the vehicle must not be imported and must be right-hand drive.
How many seats can the vehicle have?
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The vehicle must have 7 or fewer seats.
Can I insure a vehicle if there is already an annual policy on the vehicle?
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Yes. However, for short-term (up to 28 days) policies, the policyholder must not be the policyholder or named driver on the main/annual policy (on the same vehicle).
Contact Us
How can I contact you?
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During office hours (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm), please contact us on web chat.
If you are a policyholder you can contact us about your policy via our contact form.
More details are on the Contact us page.
How do I make a complaint?
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Details on how to make a complaint can be found on the how to make a complaint page.
How do I contact you about how you are using my personal data?
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Details on how we use your personal data can be found in our Privacy Notice.
Impound
Can I use Briefly to have my vehicle released from a police compound?
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Yes, the impound insurance we sell is explicitly for release of your vehicle from a police compound.
The short-term (up to 28 day) product we sell does not permit release of your vehicle from a Police compound.
Can I take out impound cover for less than 30 days?
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No. The impound policies we sell are fixed at 30 days in duration.
What document proves that I have impound insurance?
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The Certificate of Motor Insurance shows that your vehicle insurance permits your vehicle to be released from a Police compound (by not listing it as a limitation of use. A non-impound policy will stipulate on the certificate of motor insurance that the insurance does not permit the vehicle to be released from a Police compound).
Your Policy Schedule will include an endorsement specifying that the insurance policy permits release from a Police compound.
What does my impound policy permit me to do?
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Apart from permit a single release from a Police compound in the thirty day period, your policy permits you to use your vehicle for social, domestic and pleasure purposes as well as commuting (for up to 4 hours a day).
You are not permitted to use the vehicle for business/work.
Please note, the impound policy is third-party only cover.
More details can be found in the Policy Booklet in Documents.
How do I release my vehicle from a police compound if I am disqualified from driving?
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To purchase a Briefly impound policy you must not be disqualified from driving. If you are disqualified from driving then you will need to purchase an impound policy that allows you to add a secondary named driver (not available from Briefly).