ARC (Broker)

Settle your account online with the Account Reconciliation Centre (ARC)

The Account Reconciliation Centre (ARC) lets you settle your account online quickly and easily and switch from paper statements to electronic delivery of your premiums.

Once you’ve registered, we’ll move your statement over to ARC and send you an email confirming that you can start accessing your account online.

Register and sign in to ARC

Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) (Broker)

What is the Motor Insurance Database (MID)?

The MID (Motor Insurance Database) contains the insurance policy details of all insured UK vehicles. It is accessed by different people, in different ways, for different purposes.

The Motor Insurance Database (MID) is the only centralised database of motor insurance policy information for all insured vehicles. Information is retained for 7 years.

All insurers who underwrite motor insurance for vehicles on UK roads are obliged to be members of the MIB and to submit the policy details of ALL vehicles to the MID.

The process of getting the information to the MID is managed by MIB but the data is loaded directly by insurers (i.e. ERS).

How can I access the Motor Insurance Database (MID)?

The database can be used by various public bodies such as the police, the DVLA and by insurers and the MIB itself.

Any driver may check that their vehicle is registered on the MID by using www.askmid.com

How do the Police use the Motor Insurance Database (MID)?

The police are the Motor Insurance Database's (MID) biggest user, making over 2 million enquiries every month.

The police have access to the database to assist in the identification of uninsured vehicles and to enhance their enforcement powers to remove them from our roads.

Is the MID linked to Automatic Number Plate Recognition (APNR) cameras?

The MIB, which runs the MID, provides British police forces with an extract of data showing potentially uninsured vehicles.

This data is used within Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras throughout the UK. This means that if a vehicle passes an ANPR camera it is likely to be stopped if it is not showing insured.

How does the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) help the police seize uninsured vehicles?

The police can seize any vehicle where they have reasonable grounds to believe it is uninsured. To support the police in the fight against uninsured driving, the MIB runs a dedicated Police Helpline. This Helpline supports difficult roadside situations where there is doubt over the validity of insurance cover.

What if there is an error on the Motor Insurance Database (MID)?

Review the query and ensure the policy information held is accurate and if still an issue then contact ERS by

Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) (Policyholder)

What is the Motor Insurance Database (MID)?

The MID (Motor Insurance Database) contains the insurance policy details of all insured UK vehicles. It is accessed by different people, in different ways, for different purposes.

The Motor Insurance Database (MID) is the only centralised database of motor insurance policy information for all insured vehicles. Information is retained for 7 years.

All insurers who underwrite motor insurance for vehicles on UK roads are obliged to be members of the MIB and to submit the policy details of ALL vehicles to the MID.

The process of getting the information to the MID is managed by MIB but the data is loaded directly by insurers (i.e. ERS).

How can I access the Motor Insurance Database (MID)?

The database can be used by various public bodies such as the police, the DVLA and by insurers and the MIB itself.

You may check that your vehicle is registered on the MID by using www.askmid.com

How do the Police use the Motor Insurance Database (MID)?

The police are the Motor Insurance Database's (MID) biggest user, making over 2 million enquiries every month.

The police have access to the database to assist in the identification of uninsured vehicles and to enhance their enforcement powers to remove them from our roads.

Is the MID linked to Automatic Number Plate Recognition (APNR) cameras?

The MIB, which runs the MID, provides British police forces with an extract of data showing potentially uninsured vehicles.

This data is used within Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras throughout the UK. This means that if a vehicle passes an ANPR camera it is likely to be stopped if it is not showing insured.

How does the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) help the police seize uninsured vehicles?

The police can seize any vehicle where they have reasonable grounds to believe it is uninsured. To support the police in the fight against uninsured driving, the MIB runs a dedicated Police Helpline. This Helpline supports difficult roadside situations where there is doubt over the validity of insurance cover.

What if there is an error on the Motor Insurance Database (MID)?

You need to contact your broker as soon as possible to resolve the matter.

Claims (Policyholder)

How do I make a claim?

If you’ve had an accident, please call us within 24 hours on 0330 123 5992. We’ll organise your car to be repaired and get you a replacement vehicle should you require one.

What should I do in the event of an accident?

Once everyone is safe, please call our 24-hour helpline immediately from the UK or EU on 0330 123 5992.

For windscreen claims call 0345 602 3378.

You can help speed up the claims process by collecting as much information about the incident as possible, for example:

• Name, contact details and insurance provider for all parties involved in the incident.
• Vehicle registration numbers or make and model.
• Photos of the areas of damage on the vehicles involved and positioning of the vehicles, if safe to do so.
• Details of any injuries to all parties.
• Location of the incident and a diagram showing what happened.
• Name and contact details of any witnesses, and police officers who attend.
• Back up any dashcam or phone video footage.

What happens when my car is taken for repair?

If your vehicle has been involved in an accident, we’ll collect it and deliver it to one of our approved network or repairers.

We’ll keep you updated through the claim (or pass the information to your motor insurance broker), so you know when your vehicle will be ready.

ERS only use original parts by default, so you know you’ll get exactly the right parts for your vehicle – unless you ask us not to. Once it’s repaired, it’ll be fully valeted and delivered back to you at home or work.

Who do ERS use as their approved repair network?

ERS works with the Innovation Group and their national network of approved repairers. Our repair network can look after pretty much any vehicle type, from a standard car or van to a Tesla, McLaren or Bentley and, as we only work with BS10125 accredited repairers, your customers’ vehicles are in safe hands. What’s more, we’ll provide your customers with a courtesy car and, once your vehicle is repaired, deliver it back to you at home or work valeted inside and out.

How to submit a good claim to ERS

To help our handlers and engineers progress your claim quickly, it's important you take good quality images and videos. Here are a few tips to help:

• Take a photo of the VIN and the vehicle registration plate
• Take shots of the interior of the vehicle including seats, dashboard (with mileage)
• Then, the outside of the vehicle, from each corner so we can see the front, sides, and rear
• It’s important to get a tight photo of the damage, so get a close shot
• Ensure you get a few photos from different angles, including underneath the vehicle. The more photos the better.

Once you’re done, send your photos/videos to us at claims@ers.com or to your broker who can submit them on your behalf.

Which vehicle classes and schemes do differential excesses apply to?

Early/late reporting excess applies to:

• Non-standard Car and Van
• Taxis
• Non-standard Taxis

Non approved repairer excess applies to:

• Private Car and Van
• Non-standard Car and Van
• Taxi’s
• Non-standard Taxi’s.

What do the differential excesses apply to?

Where applicable, the discounted early reporting excess, increased late reporting excess and non-approved repairer excess is applied to the AD element of an RTA claim only and will be paid in addition to any other excess on a claim. The excesses are cumulative.

Why do you have differential excesses to some products and for repairs not in your network?

A claim that is not reported to ERS quickly can typically cost over £1,000 more than a claim that is reported earlier. Ultimately increased costs can mean increased premiums for our customers, so we aim to reduce costs as much as possible to keep premiums low. The addition of a differential excess aims to encourage brokers and policy holders to report claims early, helping us manage the claim and keep costs low.

We have introduced a discounted excess for policy holders who report a claim within 1 day and a late reporting excess to claims reported in more than 2 days after the incident. These excesses apply to RTA claims where there is a third party road user involved (e.g. TP driver, TP passenger, cyclist, pedestrian, own passenger, motorcyclist).

Repairs where non-approved repairers are used cost ERS considerably more on average, hence the increased excess application to repairs when a non-approved repairer is being used.

What products are subject to the differential excesses?

Currently, Taxi, High Risk (Non-Standard) Car and Van are subject to differential excesses. Everyday Car and Van and Rural Car and Van products are subject to an excess if an ERS Approved Repairer is not utilised where the vehicle is repairable.

Do differential excess changes apply to all product Taxi, Car and Van wordings?

Currently, Taxi, High Risk (Non-Standard) Car and Van are subject to differential excesses. Everyday Car and Van and Rural Car and Van products are subject to an excess if an ERS Approved Repairer is not utilised where the vehicle is repairable.

However, these changes only apply to ERS’ own wordings. Brokers with their own policies do not need to change their terms.

What happens if the policy holder is unable to report the claim due to unforeseen circumstances?

Whilst we appreciate that there will always be exceptional circumstances, policy holders, named drivers or brokers are expected to notify ERS of a claim within the appropriate time frame unless they are unable to do so. In exceptional circumstances, such as the policy holder being seriously injured in the accident, we will apply our discretion as to whether the late reporting excess applies.

When can claims be notified to ERS?

A policy holder, named driver or broker can report a claim to ERS 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays.

When does the reporting window start for a claim?

The reporting window starts on the day of the accident. Rather than apply a strict 24/48 hour window. However, ERS provides some leeway in terms of timing. If the accident occurs at 9am on Sunday, Sunday is day 0, Monday is day 1, Tuesday is day 2 and Wednesday day 3. Therefore, if the accident is reported to us on Sunday or Monday, the insured will get the benefit of a reduced AD excess, if reported on Tuesday, they pay their standard excess but if on Wednesday or later, they will pay the additional excess.

Can a relative of the policy holder notify ERS of the claim initially?

We only accept notification of claims from the policyholder, a named driver on the policy or the policyholder's broker.

What happens if the ERS approved-repair network cannot accommodate the required vehicle repairs?

If our approved network of repairers cannot repair the vehicle, we will not penalise the insured with an increased excess, however it is at our discretion as to whether the vehicle can be suitably repaired. This would also apply where the insured is in a remote location where there is no approved repairer.

What happens if I’ve already invited a renewal on the previous terms?

We will honour any renewals invited on the old terms regardless of when the terms are accepted.

Do these changes apply to all product Taxi, Car and Van wordings?

Currently, Taxi, Everyday Car and Van, High Risk (Non-Standard) Car and Van and rural Car and Van products are subject to differential excesses.

However, these changes only apply to ERS’ own wordings. Brokers with their own policies do not need to change their terms.

What happens if we have our own claims department and Accident Management Company?

Whilst the claim notification may initially be made to an accident management company, all claims must be made to ERS within the specific time frame.

ERS provide a claims notification service 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure all brokers and policy holders can notify us of a claim within the specified time

Do I need to report an incident, even if I don't intent to claim?

Yes. The policy holder, broker or accident management company must report any incident to us within the specified time frame, even if there is no intention to claim against the motor insurance policy. This is because liability is not always clear and can be disputed. If the policyholder subsequently wishes to claim on their motor insurance, they will be liable for the increased late reporting excess.

Where can I check the employer’s liability register?

The Employers' Liability Register shows each ERS employer's liability policy which has been entered into, renewed or for which claims have been made on or after 1st April 2011.

The register also shows any ERS employers' liability policy for which claims have been made before 1st April 2011 and have not yet been settled.

You can view our current Employer's Liability Register here.

If you have any queries regarding any policy shown on this register, please email our Compliance Team on compliance@iquw.com or call 020 3824 5589.

Leaving the EU & Green Cards (Policyholder)

What is a Green Card?

The Green Card is an international Certificate of Insurance, providing visiting motorists have the minimum compulsory insurance cover required by law of the countries subject to the Green Card free circulation area, as currently permitted within ERS policy wordings (see Foreign Use section).

The policyholder is taking their vehicle into Europe and do they need a Green Card?

From the 2^nd August 2021 the UK and European Commission have agreed that UK drivers should no longer be required to carry a Green Card as proof of a valid motor insurance when driving in the EU and EEA states.

When is a Green Card needed when driving to countries in the EU?

You do not need to carry a green card when you drive in the EU (including Ireland), Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia, and Switzerland. Details can be found on www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/driving-abroad

For travel to Gibraltar, please refer to the specific question further down in these FAQs.

Do I need a Green Card to drive my vehicle in Gibraltar?

Under the EU Commission definition of Gibraltar, it is including under the United Kingdom as is the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. This means there is no issue with Green Cards or existing policy coverage offered under the foreign use section.

Do UK Citizen’s need to display a GB sticker on their vehicles when travelling outside the UK?

UK registered vehicles will need to display a GB sticker when driving in any of the EU countries, though you do not need to display a GB sticker to drive in the Republic of Ireland (as stated on the UK Government website).

What if the customer wishes to travel outside of EEA countries?

The Green Card Portal will only cover countries in the EEA, Andorra, Serbia and Switzerland as permitted currently within the ERS Policy (where applicable). If additional countries are required then a request will need to be made to your broker.

Does the Green Card need to be on Green Paper?

No, since 1st July 2020 the EU Commission agreed that the Green Card can be printed on either green or white paper with black ink and this was now acceptable by all participating countries.

Can a customer show a digital copy of their Green Card at the border?

No, a physical copy of a Green Card on plain A4 white or green paper is needed when travelling, as digital copies are not currently accepted. If customers arrive at the border without a physical Green Card on plain white or green paper, they will not be allowed to drive in that country. ERS are permitted to share a Green Card with policyholders in an electronic format, however, to be accepted at international borders they must be printed.

What is ERS’ process for issuing a Green Card?

Please contact your broker to attain a Green Card.