Motor insurers usually issue three documents:

The Certificate of Insurance - this is evidence of insurance as required by the Road Traffic Act.

A Cover Note - acts as a temporary policy and also as a temporary certificate of insurance for the purposes of the Road Traffic Act.

The Policy Document - sets out in full the terms and conditions of your policy.

You should read all your policy documents carefully - new laws mean that there should be no small print or difficult language in modern insurance policy booklets.