To drive a vehicle on the road in the UK the vehicle needs to be insured. It is difficult to get insurance on an unregistered vehicle as most insurers require a UK registration number to provide a quote. We can offer a solution to this problem by providing temporary chassis insurance (also known as VIN number insurance). Our 28 day Third Party Only Policy can aid you getting the vehicle registered in the UK. This may be because you have to submit proof of Insurance to the DVLA or drive the vehicle to a prebooked appointment to have work or inspection carried out to make the vehicle UK compliant.

There are a few reasons you may need to insure a vehicle on its chassis number rather than its registration plate.

It’s becoming more and more common for people to import a car from outside the UK.

If you’re repatriating back to the UK from abroad and wish to register your vehicle here, it won’t be registered with the DVLA right away. This can create a difficult situation when trying to obtain car insurance.

If you're building your own kit car, you may encounter the same challenge with registration and insurance.

In certain cases, the DVLA requires proof of insurance before they can complete your vehicle registration.

As well as registering your car with its chassis number, you may also be required to have the car inspected to ensure it is roadworthy and meets UK emissions standards. This is called an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection. It can take the form of a simple visual check or a more detailed mechanical check, depending on the car's background, and there is generally a cost involved. Remember, that once the vehicle has been registered and insured on its chassis number, you can only drive it for the purposes of gaining its full UK registration, for example to attend an approved centre to obtain an IVA, until the registration is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Yes, but only for specific purposes. Chassis insurance allows you to legally drive the vehicle to pre‑booked inspections (like an IVA), MOT stations, or to complete the UK registration process. Once the vehicle is fully registered with the DVLA, you’ll need a standard motor policy.

Chassis number insurance (also called VIN number insurance) is a specialist, temporary insurance policy that covers a vehicle using its chassis/VIN number instead of a UK registration plate. It’s used when a vehicle isn’t yet registered with the DVLA and therefore can’t get standard motor insurance.

You might need it if you’re:

Importing a car, and it has no UK registration number yet,
Bringing a vehicle back from abroad and need to register it here,
Building or assembling a kit car that’s not yet registered,
Required by the DVLA to show proof of insurance before registration can be completed.

Generally, you’ll need:

The vehicle’s chassis/VIN number (this is the unique identity code assigned at manufacture),
Proof of ownership or purchase, and
Your valid UK driving licence and ID/address evidence.

This lets an insurer assess the risk and quote for temporary cover.

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