If you change your name, address or occupation you need to tell your insurer and the DVLA. If you don't, your insurance policy could be invalidated and you may even face a fine. Here's what you need to know.
Key takeaways
- You can change most details on your policy mid-term. That includes your name, address, car, and named drivers
- Your insurer must be told about any changes that affect your risk. Failing to update can invalidate your cover
- Address changes matter more than you might think! Insurers price on postcode-level risk and care about where your car is kept overnight, not just where you receive post
- There's usually an admin fee for making changes, typically £15–£50, though online changes often cost less than calling
- If you want to switch providers entirely rather than amend your policy, that's a car insurance cancellation
What changes do I need to tell my car insurance company about?
Some common changes that your insurance company needs to know about include:
- Changing your name when you get married
- Change of address
- Change of main driver or adding an additional driver
- Change in occupation
- Any accidents or driving convictions
- Change of car itself or modifications
You should report to your insurer anything that might affect your car insurance policy. The DVLA should be informed of any changes made to your personal details too.
If you’re wondering what changes you need to tell your car insurance company about, the general rule is to let them know about anything that could affect your level of risk. If it’s relevant and you don’t inform them, you could risk driving without proper cover.
Can I make changes to my car insurance policy mid-term?
Yes, you can normally make a change to your car insurance policy, known as a mid-term adjustment (MTA). If you’re changing car insurance mid-policy, you may have to pay a small fee to make the change, something we'll go into a bit more detail about below.
Don't worry, you don't need specialist mid-term adjustment insurance, you'll still have your existing policy. The only difference will be that the changes you made will be applied to your policy going forward.
Do I need to change my car insurance if I get a new car?
Yes, transferring insurance from one car to another is usually possible! Your insurance company should be able to amend your policy to cover the change of car, but the price is likely to change.
This is because the price you pay for your insurance is largely down to the car you’re driving. The more powerful and expensive the car - and the more attractive it is to thieves - the more you can expect to pay.
How do I change the address on my car insurance?
Insurers use your postcode to work out the cost of your premium. When you change address on car insurance, your premium may move up or down.
If you’re looking to change the address on car insurance, you can log on to your insurer's online portal or call their customer service number. You'll need:
- Your policy number
- Your vehicle registration
- The date of your move
Insurers care about where the car is actually kept overnight, which can differ from your correspondence address. For example, if you're a student whose car stays at their parents' house while you're at university.
But the address you give to your insurer must be your main address. If the car spends more time at your university address, your policy will need to reflect that.
Failing to update your postcode risks your policy being invalidated, so it's crucial you keep your details current. Depending on timing, you may also be liable for the backdated premium difference between what you paid and what the correct address would have cost.
You'll likely need to change the address on your driving licence too.
Will I be charged a fee for changing my car insurance details?
There's usually an administration fee to pay, depending on the kind of change you want to make. If you need to make a change to your policy, you can do this online or call your insurer. They can tell you whether your policy needs to be amended and how much it costs.
If you’re looking at a car insurance switch, like moving to a different provider, you should check whether making a policy change or changing insurers would be the most cost-effective option.
The standard amendment fee is usually set out in your policy’s T&Cs. The fee varies by insurer, but it’s usually between £20 and £50.
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Will changing my details affect my insurance price?
This ultimately depends on what you're changing. Minor changes, such as your name, shouldn't impact on your insurance costs.
But if the change increases the risk of you claiming, your insurance price might rise. This is based on how car insurance is calculated.
Let's say you’ve moved to a house that doesn’t have secure parking or to a location with a higher level of car crime. This increases your risk of making a theft claim, so your insurance costs are likely to go up.
Your excess may also change if you update your policy. Your excess is the amount you agree to pay towards the cost of a claim. If your premium changes after making an amendment, it’s worth checking whether your compulsory or voluntary excess has also changed.
Is cancelling my car insurance a better option?
If you're wondering how to switch car insurance altogether, rather than just amending your current policy, that's a slightly different process to a mid-term adjustment.
In some cases, it could be more cost-effective to pay a cancellation fee and switch insurance providers where the policy price is lower.
The cost of cover could increase dramatically if you’re amending your policy - for example, if you add a young, inexperienced driver to your policy. If this is the case, it's worth comparing car insurance quotes to see which option suits your budget.
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