If you forget to renew your car insurance or choose not to do so, your coverage will lapse and you’ll no longer have insurance protection. While it isn’t illegal to not have comprehensive or third party insurance, being uninsured leaves you financially vulnerable in case of accidents or damages, so it's crucial to renew your car insurance policy on time if you wish to maintain continuous coverage.
However, some insurers may offer a ‘grace period’ of up to a month afterwards where you can still be covered even if you’re yet to buy your policy. This may only be the case for those who pay for their insurance manually and isn’t offered by all insurers, so it’s important to check whether such a period may apply to you.