Being hit by a driver who has no insurance, or who drives off without stopping, is stressful and can feel deeply unfair. The good news is that there is a safety net. This guide explains what to do if you are hit by an uninsured or untraced driver, and how the Motor Insurers' Bureau can help.
How common are uninsured drivers?
Although the vast majority of drivers are insured, a minority are not, and they cause a significant number of incidents each year. Driving uninsured is illegal, but it still happens, which is why a safety net exists. Part of every honest driver's premium effectively contributes to covering claims caused by uninsured and untraced drivers, as touched on in our guide to why car insurance is so expensive.
What to do at the scene
If you are hit by another driver, follow the usual steps: stop, check everyone is safe, and call the emergency services if needed. Try to get the other vehicle's registration, make and colour, and the driver's details if they stop. Take photos, note the location and time, and gather details from any witnesses. This evidence is especially important if the other driver is uninsured or tries to leave the scene.
Report it to the police
If the other driver is uninsured, leaves the scene, or refuses to give details, report it to the police. For an untraced or hit-and-run driver, a police report is usually needed to support a later claim. Reporting also helps tackle uninsured driving more widely. Make a note of any crime or incident reference number you are given, as you may need it.
What the Motor Insurers' Bureau does
The Motor Insurers' Bureau, usually shortened to the MIB, exists to compensate victims of uninsured and untraced drivers. It is funded by insurers, and therefore indirectly by all insured motorists. If you cannot claim from the other driver because they have no insurance or cannot be identified, the MIB may step in to cover your losses, including injury and, in many cases, damage.
Uninsured driver claims
If the driver who hit you is identified but uninsured, you can make a claim to the MIB for your injuries and losses. You will need the evidence you gathered, including the other vehicle's details and any police reference. The MIB assesses the claim much as an insurer would. This route matters because, without it, you might otherwise have no way to recover costs from someone with no insurance and possibly no means to pay.
Untraced driver claims
If the driver cannot be identified, for example in a hit-and-run, the MIB also handles untraced driver claims. These rely heavily on the evidence available, which is why noting everything you can at the scene and reporting promptly to the police is so important. Compensation for untraced drivers can cover injury and, subject to conditions, damage, so it is well worth pursuing even when the other driver has vanished.
Claiming through your own policy instead
If you have comprehensive cover, you may be able to claim for the damage to your own car through your own insurer, which can be quicker than the MIB route. The catch is that, because the cost cannot be recovered from an uninsured or untraced driver, it may be treated as a fault claim and affect your no claims discount, as explained in our guide to the no claims discount. Some insurers waive this if you can identify the uninsured driver.
Which route to choose
Whether to claim through your own insurer or the MIB depends on your cover, the strength of your evidence, and whether the other driver is identified. If you have comprehensive cover and want a quick repair, your own insurer may be simplest. If you only have third party cover, or you are seeking compensation for injury, the MIB is likely to be the route. You can take advice, and our guide to making a car insurance claim covers the general process.
What you can claim for
Through the Motor Insurers' Bureau you can usually claim for personal injury and, in many cases, damage to your vehicle and other losses flowing from the incident. There can be conditions and, for property damage, sometimes an excess, so it is worth understanding the terms before you start. The aim is to put you, as far as money can, in the position you would have been in had an insured driver been responsible.
Time limits matter
Claims to the Motor Insurers' Bureau, and personal injury claims generally, are subject to time limits, and untraced driver claims in particular need to be reported reasonably promptly. The sooner you report to the police and begin the process, the stronger your position and the better the evidence. Do not assume you have unlimited time; if you have been hit by an uninsured or untraced driver, act without unnecessary delay.
Protecting yourself in advance
You cannot stop others driving uninsured, but you can reduce the impact on yourself. Holding comprehensive cover means you can usually get your own car repaired quickly even if the other driver is uninsured, and a dashcam can provide valuable evidence about what happened and who was at fault. These steps will not prevent an incident, but they make recovering your losses faster and more certain if one occurs.
Keeping the safety net in perspective
It is worth ending on a reassuring note. The overwhelming majority of drivers are properly insured, so being hit by an uninsured or untraced driver is the exception rather than the rule. The Motor Insurers' Bureau exists precisely so that, when it does happen, you are not left to bear the cost of someone else's wrongdoing. Knowing the safety net is there, gathering good evidence, and reporting promptly are the three things that turn a stressful situation into a recoverable one.
If the worst happens and an uninsured or untraced driver leaves you with the bill, remember that you have options and support. Gather what evidence you can, report it promptly, and choose between your own comprehensive cover and a claim to the Motor Insurers' Bureau based on your situation. You do not have to simply absorb the loss.
In short
If an uninsured or untraced driver hits you, stay safe, gather as much evidence as you can, and report it to the police. The Motor Insurers' Bureau can compensate victims of uninsured and untraced drivers for injury and often damage, funded by insurers. You may instead claim damage through your own comprehensive cover, though that can affect your no claims discount unless the other driver is identified.
Where to get help and next steps
See our guide to making a car insurance claim for the general process, and the no claims discount guide to understand the effect on your premium. For context on why uninsured drivers push up everyone's prices, read why car insurance is so expensive.