Hit by an Uninsured Driver? What to Do as a PCO Driver

The other driver caused the accident. They have no insurance, or they drove off. Your car is damaged and you can't work.

There may still be a route. Here's how it works.

The MIB: Who They Are

The Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) is a UK body funded by the motor insurance industry. It exists for exactly this situation: when there is no insurer on the other side because the driver was uninsured or can't be traced.

Subject to the terms of the relevant MIB agreement, the MIB can pay for:

• Vehicle repair, recovery and storage
• Replacement vehicle hire
• Documented earnings lost while the vehicle was off the road

Two Types of MIB Case

Uninsured Drivers' Agreement. The other driver is identified but has no valid insurance.

Untraced Drivers' Agreement. The other driver drove off (hit-and-run) and can't be identified. The rules are stricter. The police generally need to be told within 5 days where there is property damage. Property damage is only covered in limited circumstances on untraced cases.

If the other driver was identified but uninsured, the MIB may pay the vehicle losses under its rules. If the driver cannot be traced, it often will not, so speak to us before taking a hire vehicle.

What to Do at the Scene

If the driver is identified but uninsured:

• Get their details anyway: name, address, vehicle registration
• Photograph their vehicle (especially the registration plate)
• Take down witness contact details
• Note the time and exact location

If it's a hit-and-run:

• Report it to the police straight away on 101. If anyone is hurt, call 999.
• Get a crime reference number
• Look for CCTV nearby (shops, petrol stations, council cameras)
• Save your dash cam footage

Without a crime reference number, the MIB is likely to refuse an untraced case.

Timelines That Matter

These deadlines are strict:

• Hit-and-run with property damage: report to the police within 5 days
• Applications to the MIB: within the time limit in the relevant agreement. For untraced property damage this is much shorter than the general three-year period, so don't wait

Check the current MIB agreements on the MIB website for the exact rules. The police report has to come from you at the time.

What the MIB Pays For

For a PCO driver, the items usually put to the MIB are:

• Repair costs
• Replacement vehicle hire
• Recovery and storage charges
• Documented earnings lost while the vehicle was off the road

Each item has to be evidenced, and the MIB reviews the costs. On untraced cases where property damage is covered, a £300 excess applies under the agreement.

What We Do

MIB cases are usually slower than insurer-to-insurer cases, often 6 to 12 months. As your repair, recovery and hire provider, we:

• Recover and store your vehicle
• Repair it in our own bodyshop
• Provide a replacement vehicle while you wait (on credit-hire terms, see below)
• Submit our charges to the MIB with the supporting evidence The replacement vehicle is provided on credit hire: you pay nothing up front and the charges are claimed from the MIB, but you sign a hire agreement and may be liable for the charges if they aren't recovered.

Your loss of earnings is your own claim.

Before You Call Us

Have ready:

• Photos of the damage and the scene
• The other driver's details (if known)
• Police crime reference number
• Witness contact details
• Your Uber/Bolt earnings statements (last 3 months)

Tell your insurer about the accident as your policy requires. Questions about your policy are for your insurer.

Key Takeaway

If the other driver was identified but uninsured, the MIB may pay the vehicle losses under its rules. If the driver cannot be traced, it often will not, so speak to us before taking a hire vehicle.

Call us as soon as it happens. Evidence gathered in the first 24 hours often matters more than anything that comes later.

This article is general information, not legal advice. The MIB agreements set out the full conditions. If anyone is hurt, call 999.