How to Claim Car Insurance After an Accident UK 2026

Last reviewed: 25 April 2026

Step 1: Stop, stay safe, and call emergency services if needed

You are legally required to stop at the scene of any road traffic accident involving injury or damage to another vehicle, property, or animal under the Road Traffic Act 1988, section 170. Failing to stop is a criminal offence carrying up to six months' imprisonment and between five and ten penalty points.

If anyone is injured, call 999 immediately. Move vehicles to a safe position off the carriageway only if it is safe to do so and the vehicles are driveable, do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger. Switch on hazard lights, place a warning triangle if available (do not use on motorways), and stay visible to other road users.

If there are no injuries and vehicles can be moved, do so to avoid causing a secondary collision. On a motorway, move to the hard shoulder or emergency refuge area. Call 101 (non-emergency police) if the road is obstructed and cannot be cleared without police assistance.

Step 2: Exchange details at the scene

The Road Traffic Act 1988, section 170 requires every driver involved in an accident to give their name, address, and vehicle registration number to any other party with reasonable grounds for requiring it. If you cannot exchange details at the scene (for example because the other driver is injured), you must report the accident to the police as soon as reasonably practicable and in any case within 24 hours.

Collect and record at the scene: the other driver's full name and address; their vehicle registration number; their insurance company name and policy number (they are obliged to provide this); the make, model, and colour of all vehicles involved; the names and contact details of any witnesses; photographs of all vehicles showing damage, position, and registration plates; photographs of the road layout, any traffic signs, road markings, and weather conditions; and the location of the accident (street name, what3words location, or GPS coordinates from your phone).

Do not admit liability at the scene. Under motor insurance law, liability is determined by the insurer through a formal investigation. An admission of fault at the roadside can complicate the liability assessment and may not be accurate given the full facts.

Step 3: Photograph and document everything

Photographs taken at the scene are among the most valuable evidence in any motor insurance claim. Take a minimum of: four wide shots showing the full scene from each cardinal direction; close-up shots of all damage to each vehicle involved; photos showing tyre marks, debris, or any road features relevant to how the accident occurred; and clear photographs of each vehicle's registration plate.

If you have a dashcam, do not overwrite the footage. Most dashcams loop-record and will overwrite older footage unless specifically saved. Pull over safely and save the footage immediately to the SD card or upload to the dashcam's cloud storage if that feature is available.

Record the time and exact location of the accident. Note road conditions (wet, icy, dry), lighting (daylight, dusk, artificial), and any relevant traffic signals or signs.

Step 4: Report to police if required

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, section 170, you must report the accident to the police if you were unable to exchange details at the scene. This report must be made as soon as reasonably practicable and in any case within 24 hours. Take your driving licence, vehicle registration document (V5C), and proof of insurance to a police station to make the report.

You do not need to report to the police every accident. If you exchanged details at the scene and no one was injured, there is no mandatory police reporting obligation. However, if the accident involves an uninsured driver, a vehicle left at the scene with no driver, or significant road damage, contacting the police is advisable.

Step 5: Notify your insurer promptly

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours of the accident, and certainly within the notification period specified in your policy Terms and Conditions (typically between 24 hours and 7 days depending on the insurer). Late notification can be used by the insurer to reduce or refuse a claim in exceptional circumstances, though the FCA's Consumer Duty requires insurers to handle this proportionately.

When notifying the insurer, provide: the date, time, and location of the accident; a brief factual description of what happened (not an admission of liability); the details of the other party collected at the scene; details of any injuries reported; a description of the damage to your vehicle; reference to any witnesses; and your dashcam footage reference if available.

Your insurer will log the claim, issue a claim reference number, and begin the liability investigation process.

Step 6: Understand the claims process and your excess

Once the claim is logged, your insurer will: assess liability (whose fault was it, or is it shared?); appoint an approved repairer or loss adjuster to assess the vehicle damage; arrange a courtesy car if your policy includes this cover; and manage the third-party claim if the other driver's insurer is involved.

Your compulsory excess, set by the insurer and non-negotiable, plus any voluntary excess you selected will be payable before the insurer settles the repair cost. For example: if your total excess is £500 and the repair cost is £2,000, the insurer pays £1,500 and you pay £500.

If the accident was not your fault and the other driver's insurer accepts liability, your insurer will typically seek to recover the excess from the at-fault insurer as part of the subrogation process. If liability is accepted in full, your excess should be refunded. This process can take weeks or months depending on the complexity of the liability dispute.

Step 7: Use your insurer's approved repairer or understand your rights

Most Comprehensive policies include an approved repairer scheme, a network of garages the insurer has pre-negotiated rates with and whose work carries a workmanship guarantee. You are generally not obliged to use an approved repairer (you have the right to choose your own repairer under FCA rules) but using a non-approved repairer typically means the insurer will pay only the approved-repairer equivalent cost, leaving any excess to be paid by the policyholder.

For lease vehicles, the lease agreement may specify that repairs must be carried out to BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear standards. Check whether your insurer's approved repairer network is acceptable under the lease terms before authorising repairs.

Step 8: Escalate if the claim is disputed

If the insurer disputes the liability assessment or the settlement amount, you have formal rights under FCA supervision:

First, submit a formal complaint to the insurer's complaints team in writing. The insurer has eight weeks to investigate and respond with a Final Response letter.

If the Final Response is unsatisfactory or eight weeks pass without resolution, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service (financial-ombudsman.org.uk). The FOS is free for consumers and has the power to direct insurers to revise decisions and pay compensation.

The FOS resolved over 36,000 motor insurance complaints in its most recent annual report period, with a significant proportion relating to claims disputes.

The uninsured driver promise and Motor Insurers' Bureau

If the other driver in an accident is uninsured, your standard motor insurance claim process still applies. Report to your insurer in the normal way. Your insurer will handle the claim for your vehicle's repair or replacement and will pay out subject to your excess. For property damage and personal injury claims against the uninsured driver, the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) operates the Uninsured Drivers Agreement, which compensates victims of accidents involving uninsured drivers. Claims to the MIB are submitted via the MIB portal at mib.org.uk.

If you have uninsured driver cover as a policy add-on, your insurer will typically recover your excess from the MIB on your behalf and refund it once the recovery is successful. Without this add-on, you pay the excess and cannot recover it from an uninsured driver through your insurer -- though you can pursue the MIB directly.

The ABI reported that approximately 1 in 25 road traffic accidents in the UK involves an uninsured driver (ABI 2025). Having uninsured driver protection as a named policy add-on costs typically £20-£30 per annum and is one of the higher-value optional add-ons for the probability of use.

Key Figures

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to stop after a road traffic accident?

Yes. The Road Traffic Act 1988, section 170 requires every driver involved in an accident causing injury or property damage to stop at the scene. Failing to stop is a criminal offence.

When must I report a road accident to the police?

If you were unable to exchange details at the scene, you must report the accident to the police within 24 hours. If you exchanged details and no injuries occurred, police reporting is not mandatory.

Should I admit fault at the scene?

No. Do not make any admission of fault at the roadside. Liability is determined by the insurer through a formal investigation. A roadside admission may not reflect the full facts and can complicate the liability assessment.

How long do I have to notify my insurer?

Your policy Terms and Conditions specify the notification period, typically between 24 hours and seven days. Notify as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours.

What happens to my no-claims discount after a claim?

A fault claim will reduce your NCD at the next renewal unless you hold NCD protection. A non-fault claim where the other driver accepts full liability and the insurer recovers all costs typically does not reduce your NCD, though this is insurer-specific, confirm with your insurer.

Sources and Verification

• Road Traffic Act 1988 sections 143 and 170: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52
• ABI Motor Insurance Premium Tracker Q4 2025: https://www.abi.org.uk
• Financial Ombudsman Service: https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk
• FCA Consumer Duty (PS22/9): https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/policy/ps22-9.pdf
• BIBA: https://www.biba.org.uk
• gov.uk -- Motor insurance: https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance
• HMRC IPT: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/insurance-premium-tax

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always verify rates with official sources before making any financial decision.