A gap between policies means there is a period when the vehicle is not covered by either contract. If the vehicle remains in use, that creates an obvious insurance problem; if it is kept off the road, separate legal requirements such as continuous insurance enforcement and SORN can become relevant.

How insurers commonly treat this

• The expiry time of the old policy and start time of the new policy are both relevant, not just the dates.
• A one-day gap is still a gap in cover.
• The new insurer can confirm the available start time before the replacement policy is purchased.

What the quotation may ask for

Quotation forms use the information supplied to determine which insurers can offer cover and on what terms. Where the available answer does not accurately describe the circumstances, the insurer or comparison provider can clarify how that information is recorded.