Uber driver hit by an uninsured driver in the UK: what to do

Bottom line: if you're a UK PCO driver and you've been hit by an uninsured (or untraced) driver, our repair, recovery and hire charges can usually be recovered through the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB), even though the at-fault driver isn't insured. Your loss of earnings is your own claim. If you want, the evidence can be passed, with our charges, to the solicitors who handle recovery. They will explain their terms and any fee to you before acting for you.

What "uninsured driver" means here

There are two scenarios the MIB covers:

• Uninsured driver: the other driver is identified, but they have no valid insurance (lapsed cover, fronting, never insured).
• Untraced driver (hit-and-run): the other driver leaves the scene and can't be identified afterwards.

Both are dealt with by the MIB under the Uninsured Drivers' Agreement 2015 and the Untraced Drivers' Agreement.

Step 1: At the scene (the first 30 minutes matter)

The MIB process is paperwork-heavy, so the evidence you gather at the scene matters. In order:

1. Call the police on 101 (or 999 if anyone is hurt) and get a Crime Reference Number. The MIB generally won't progress an untraced case without a police report, and there are strict reporting deadlines.
2. Photograph everything: the other vehicle's plate, your damage, the scene wide-angle, any debris, road signs, weather. Time-stamped on your phone is fine.
3. Get witness details: name, mobile, a brief account of what they saw. A 30-second voice memo is fine.
4. Note CCTV. If there's a TfL camera, a bus camera, a shopfront camera or a passing dashcam, write down what you remember.
5. Don't discuss blame. Say "I'll pass on my details. Please speak to my insurer."
6. Think carefully about cash offers. If the other driver offers to "sort it without insurance", that's often because they're uninsured. A small sum may not cover repairs, hire and time off the road, and accepting it may affect what can be recovered later.

Step 2: Within 24 hours

PCO drivers can't afford to be off the road. Within the first day:

• Tell your insurer about the accident as your policy requires. Questions about your policy are for your insurer.
• Contact a repair and replacement vehicle provider (us, or another provider) that understands TfL compliance.
• Get a TfL-compliant replacement vehicle so you can keep working. In uninsured cases the replacement can be provided on credit hire: you pay nothing up front and the hire charges are claimed from the MIB. You sign a hire agreement, and you may be liable for the charges if they aren't recovered.

If you're reading this with damage right now, get a repair and hire quote. We aim to arrange recovery quickly and a replacement usually within 24 hours.

Step 3: The MIB timeline

MIB cases are usually slower than insurer-to-insurer cases. A typical timeline (every case is different):

• Week 1: our charges submitted, MIB acknowledges
• Weeks 2 to 6: evidence gathering (police reports, CCTV, witness statements)
• Weeks 6 to 12: the MIB considers liability
• Weeks 12 to 26: the MIB reviews the costs (repair, hire, recovery and storage)
• Weeks 26+: payment

With a credit-hire replacement vehicle you can usually keep working while this runs. The MIB sometimes makes interim payments. We do not lend or advance money.

What is put to the MIB

Subject to evidence and the terms of the relevant MIB agreement (on untraced cases, property damage is only covered in limited circumstances and a £300 excess applies):

• Vehicle repair: our bodyshop charges for the repair.
• Replacement vehicle (credit hire): a TfL-compliant car, kept until your vehicle is back on the road.
• Recovery and storage: picking your vehicle up from the scene and storing it until the repair is authorised.
• Lost earnings: this is your own claim, not ours, evidenced by bank statements, platform statements or tax returns. If you want, the evidence can be passed, with our charges, to the solicitors who handle recovery. They will explain their terms and any fee to you before acting for you.

Common mistakes PCO drivers make

1. Accepting £200 cash from the other driver. It sounds fine at the scene. It doesn't cover the repair, the hire car or the days off the road.
2. Not reporting to the police in time. Without a police report, an untraced case is likely to be refused.
3. Driving the damaged vehicle home anyway. If it's undriveable, get recovery. Driving it can be unsafe and may cause further damage.
4. Waiting more than a few days. Memory fades, CCTV gets overwritten, witnesses become unreachable. Report within 24 hours.

Why use us for repair and hire after an uninsured driver

• MIB paperwork is heavy: we prepare the evidence for our own charges.
• Repairs in our own bodyshop: no waiting for an outside garage to fit you in.
• Replacement vehicle, usually from day one: you don't pay for a hire car up front while the MIB reviews the case (credit-hire terms apply).

FAQ

Q: How are lost earnings worked out? A: From your evidence: usually your net earnings after running costs, for the days the vehicle was off the road. Use our loss of earnings calculator for a rough estimate.

Q: What if the other driver is identified but uninsured? A: The Uninsured Drivers' Agreement applies, subject to its conditions. The MIB may then pursue the uninsured driver itself.

Q: I think they had insurance but it might have lapsed. How do I check? A: Check the askMID database with the registration. If it returns "no record", the vehicle may be uninsured. The database isn't always fully up to date, so treat it as an indication rather than proof.

Q: How quickly can I get a replacement vehicle? A: Usually within 24 hours in London, subject to availability. Request a replacement.

What to do right now

If your accident happened in the last 7 days and the other driver was uninsured or drove off, get a repair and hire quote. We aim to get a replacement vehicle to you within 24 hours. No upfront cost when the other driver was at fault (credit-hire terms apply). Call 0208 090 8872 if you'd rather speak to someone.

For more on the MIB, see our uninsured driver page.

This article is general information, not legal advice. If anyone is hurt, call 999.