60-second summary
Only got a minute? Here’s what you need to know if you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured driver:
If you have comprehensive car insurance, you can make a claim for the damage to your car from your own insurance provider, regardless of who was at fault.
If you don’t have comprehensive car insurance, you could make a claim through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), so long as you weren’t at fault.
If your policy includes an uninsured driver promise, your no claims discount should be protected and the excess waived, if you weren’t at fault.
You can check if the other driver is insured by searching on the Motor Insurance Database or by speaking to your insurance provider.
Report the incident to the police on 101 if a driver is refusing to give their details after an accident. Let your insurance provider know about the incident as soon as possible.
Looking for car insurance that includes financial protection from accidents with uninsured drivers? Compare with us and see if you could save.
What is an uninsured driver promise?
An uninsured driver promise is a guarantee from your car insurance provider to reinstate your no claims discount and reimburse your excess, if you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured driver that wasn’t your fault.
Many comprehensive policies include an uninsured driver promise, but not all. It’s worth checking to see whether this type of cover is included before you buy a car insurance policy.
The cost of uninsured drivers
Between 2005 and January 2020, more than two million uninsured vehicles were seized by UK police forces across the country. And the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) estimates that there are, on average, around 300,000 uninsured vehicles on UK roads every day.
The MIB also reported in 2020 that someone in the UK is injured by an uninsured driver every 20 minutes. This equates to around 26,000 injuries and nearly one in five road traffic casualties each year.
The MIB was established to help compensate the victims of uninsured and untraced drivers. In 2023 alone, it paid out more than £350 million in compensation claims to victims of uninsured driver collisions. Plus, it estimates that the cost to the UK economy is a further £2.4 billion a year to cover emergency services, medical care, loss of productivity and property damage.
Unfortunately, it’s honest, law-abiding motorists who have to cover these costs through their car insurance premiums. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), uninsured driving accounts for around 4% of the cost of every motor premium.
How can I tell if I’ve been hit by an uninsured driver?
If you have a smartphone, you can use the Motor Insurance Database (MID) to instantly check and confirm the insurance details of the other parties involved.
Once you’ve moved your car to a safe place, you can use the askMID service to check if the other car is insured. A one-off search costs £10 (correct as of January 2025).
If the other vehicle involved is on the database, you’ll see the owner’s insurance details, including their policy number, the name of their insurance provider and the claims contact details. That means you can quickly check if this matches what they’ve given you, making it easier to progress your claim.
If you can’t find the other driver’s details on the database – and you’ve made sure they’re correct – it’s likely that the driver is uninsured.
If you don’t have a smartphone, or don’t want to pay £10, call your insurance provider. They should also be able to check if the other driver is insured.
What happens if you’re hit by an uninsured driver?
If your car’s been hit by an uninsured driver, it’s important to gather as much information and evidence as possible after the accident. This includes:
The time and date of the accident
The other car’s registration number and details
The colour of the other vehicle and any other identifying modifications
The other driver’s name, address and contact details.
If you can, take videos and photographs of the scene, as well as any injuries, to back up your claim.
If the other driver is refusing to give their details, call the police on 101 from the scene. Likewise, if the other driver admits they’re uninsured, or a check of their details leads you to believe they’re driving uninsured, you must report this to the police.
You should also report the accident to your insurance provider as soon as possible, even if you don’t plan on making an insurance claim.
Top tip:
After an accident, your safety is the utmost concern. If the other driver is acting aggressively or trying to leave the scene without giving their details, avoid putting yourself at extra risk. Call the police and let them handle it.
What to do in the case of a ‘hit and run’
If the other driver isn’t insured, there’s a chance that they’ll drive away without leaving their details. This is considered a ‘hit and run’ or a ‘failure to stop’. Under UK law, this is a criminal offence.
If you’re hit by an uninsured driver who refuses to stop or give you their details, you must call the police on the non-emergency 101 number from the scene, even if the damage is minor. Refusing to give insurance information could actually carry more penalty points than driving without insurance.
You need to report any incidents to your insurance provider straight away, including ‘hit and run’ claims. That’s true even if you come back to your parked car to find out someone has hit it and not left a note. If you don’t report an incident, it could invalidate your car insurance policy.
Can you claim against an uninsured driver?
It depends on your own car insurance policy. Here’s how:
If you have comprehensive car insurance
Comprehensive car insurance covers you for damage to your own vehicle, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. So you should be able to make a claim through your insurance provider even if the other driver isn’t insured.
Claiming on your own insurance could mean losing your no claims discount and paying an excess. But if your policy includes an uninsured driver promise, you could get these back once your insurance provider has established that you weren’t at fault.
If you don’t have comprehensive cover
If you only have third-party or third-party, fire and theft cover, you won’t be able to make a claim through your insurance provider. However, you might be able to apply for compensation through the MIB.
The MIB aims to decide whether your claim is eligible for compensation within three months. If you are eligible, it can take additional time for them to decide how much to award you in compensation, based on the evidence.
Can an uninsured driver claim against me in the UK?
If the accident is your fault then, yes, an uninsured driver could make a claim against your insurance provider.
Your provider will have to pay out to cover the repairs to the uninsured vehicle. And unless you have comprehensive cover, you’ll have to pay for any repairs to your own car.
That doesn’t mean the uninsured driver will get away with the accident. At the very least, they can expect a fine and points on their licence. They may also face prosecution and their vehicle could be seized by the police.
If I’m involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, how much compensation can I expect?
If you have a comprehensive policy, you should be covered for damage to your car and injuries to yourself and your passengers. That’s regardless of who was at fault.
If your comprehensive policy also includes an uninsured driver promise, your no claims discount should be protected and any excess you pay reimbursed – as long as you weren’t at fault for the accident.
If you have third-party only, or third-party, fire and theft cover, you won’t be able to claim through your insurance provider. You can claim through the MIB, but how much compensation you get, if any, will depend on factors including:
What medical support and care you need
Lost earnings
Property damage
Medical expenses.
What are the penalties for driving without insurance?
The penalties for driving without insurance are severe. If you’re caught, you could be looking at:
A £300 fine
Six penalty points on your licence
Prosecution, with the prospect of an unlimited fine and disqualification from driving
Your car being seized and possibly destroyed by the police.
Compare and see if you could save
Car insurance can be expensive, but not having it could cost you a lot more.
Comprehensive cover could protect you from being left out of pocket if you’re hit by an uninsured driver.
Our price comparison service is a quick and easy way to search for car insurance. Once you have a list of quotes, you can check which policies offer you the right level of cover to protect against the costs of uninsured driver incidents.
In particular, look for an uninsured driver promise that could protect your no claims discount.
Compare car insurance with us today and see if you can save.
FAQs
Do I still need to insure my car if I’m not using it?
If you’re not using your car and it’s parked on a public road or public land, you must insure it. Otherwise, you’re breaking the law.
If you’re not using your car and it’s parked on private land – your driveway, for example – you can declare it off the road. In that case, you won’t need to taxe or insure it.
What’s an IAL?
An IAL is an Insurance Advisory Letter. If you receive one, it means that your car doesn’t appear on the Motor Insurance Database (MID). This could mean you’re not insured.
Can I sue an uninsured driver?
If you’re the victim of an uninsured or hit-and-run driver, contact the MIB. It will tell you what you can claim for and how to go about making a claim.
Can I make a no-win, no-fee claim against an uninsured driver?
Possibly. Many personal injury solicitors specialise in this kind of claim, so you’d have to contact one and explain your situation.
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With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
Karen’s areas of expertise include insurance products, such as car insurance, travel insurance and life insurance, as well as utilities such as energy comparison.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.
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