How to Claim Without Other Driver Details UK 2026

Last reviewed: 26 April 2026

Step 1: Stop, document the scene, and gather everything possible

Immediately after the incident, your first priority is evidence. Even without the other driver's details, physical evidence from the scene forms the basis of any subsequent claim, to your own insurer, to the police, and to the Motor Insurers' Bureau.

Photograph: both vehicles from multiple angles capturing all visible damage; your vehicle's position on the road with road markings and lane boundaries visible; any debris, skid marks, or paint transfers on the road surface that indicate contact; the general scene environment including road signs, junction layout, CCTV cameras mounted on buildings or infrastructure, and dashcam systems on parked vehicles nearby. Note the exact time, date, and location including road name and junction reference.

If the other vehicle is still present or has not fully departed, note the registration plate, even a partial plate is useful for police and MIB purposes. Photograph the registration plate if possible. Note the vehicle make, model, colour, and any distinguishing features including damage already present on the vehicle before the incident, which may assist police identification.

Witnesses are critical in no-details scenarios. If any bystanders, other drivers, or pedestrians witnessed the incident, obtain their names and contact numbers immediately. Witness accounts from non-involved parties carry substantially greater weight with the MIB and insurers than the account of the claimant alone. Note the contact details of any CCTV operator whose system may have captured the incident, local authority cameras, petrol station forecourt cameras, or private premises cameras.

If anyone is injured, call emergency services immediately and obtain the police attendance reference on the day.

Step 2: Report to the police within 24 hours

The Road Traffic Act 1988, section 170 imposes an obligation on the driver who caused the accident to stop and exchange details. Where they fail to do so, the claimant must report the incident to the police within 24 hours. This report is required whether or not injuries occurred.

Attend a police station in person or report online depending on the force's accepted reporting method. Provide the full account of the incident, all evidence gathered at the scene, the other vehicle's description and any partial registration, and details of any witnesses. Request the police incident reference number, this is mandatory for a Motor Insurers' Bureau Untraced Drivers Agreement application.

The police may be able to identify the vehicle from ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) camera data, local authority CCTV, or the partial registration you noted. If the vehicle is identified and the driver is subsequently identified as uninsured, the claim migrates from the Untraced Drivers Agreement to the Uninsured Drivers Agreement, which provides broader compensation including property damage without the minimum threshold that the Untraced Agreement applies.

Report the incident to the police even if you believe the vehicle cannot be identified. The police report is a prerequisite for an MIB application regardless of whether the vehicle is ultimately traced.

Step 3: Notify your own insurer

Most motor policies require notification of any incident within 24 hours or as soon as reasonably practicable. Notify your own insurer of the hit-and-run even if you intend to pursue the MIB route rather than making a claim under your own policy. Failure to notify within the required period can breach policy conditions.

When notifying, explain that the other driver left without providing details, that you have reported the incident to police, and that you intend to make an MIB application. Your insurer may offer assistance with the MIB application process or may have their own claims team's experience with MIB procedures.

If you have Comprehensive cover and prefer to claim under your own policy for the vehicle damage, paying your excess, your insurer can handle the repair and subsequently seek recovery from the MIB or the identified driver's insurer. This route produces faster vehicle repair but requires payment of your excess upfront. Whether your excess is ultimately reimbursed depends on the MIB recovery outcome.

Under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, provide accurate and complete information when notifying your insurer, including all scene evidence and the police incident reference number.

Step 4: Submit a Motor Insurers' Bureau application

The Motor Insurers' Bureau operates the Untraced Drivers Agreement, which provides compensation for personal injury and, subject to conditions, property damage caused by an untraced driver. Applications are made directly to the MIB at mib.org.uk.

The Untraced Drivers Agreement requires: a police report (the incident reference number is essential); your own account of the incident with all supporting evidence; details of any witnesses; medical evidence for personal injury claims; and documentation of property damage losses.

Property damage claims under the Untraced Drivers Agreement are subject to a minimum damage threshold, the MIB publishes the current threshold at mib.org.uk. Claims below the threshold are not compensated under the Agreement for property damage, though personal injury compensation is not subject to the same minimum. Confirm the current threshold at the time of application.

The MIB aims to complete investigations and issue a decision within a defined period; complex cases involving disputed evidence may take longer. The MIB's decision can be appealed through an arbitration process if the claimant disagrees with the outcome.

Step 5: Pursue uninsured loss recovery

Where the MIB's compensation does not cover all losses, for example, where the excess is not recovered, or where losses above the MIB's compensation scale remain, uninsured loss recovery may be available through motor legal protection.

Motor legal protection, a paid add-on on most Comprehensive policies, funds the legal costs of pursuing uninsured losses from an identifiable at-fault party or through applicable compensation schemes. For genuine untraced driver cases, motor legal protection may assist with pursuing the MIB process through a legal expenses insurer's panel solicitors, maximising the claim under the Agreement.

Where the vehicle is subsequently identified and the driver found to be uninsured, moving the case from Untraced to Uninsured Drivers Agreement, the compensation framework broadens. The Uninsured Drivers Agreement (mib.org.uk) covers property damage without the minimum threshold that applies to the Untraced Agreement, and typically produces more complete compensation for all documented losses.

Key Figures

How BIBA-registered brokers and DVLA records support untraced claims

A BIBA-registered specialist broker (biba.org.uk/find-insurance/) with experience in motor claims can assist in navigating the MIB application process, particularly for complex untraced driver cases involving disputed evidence or cross-border incidents. BIBA-registered brokers are FCA-authorised and operate under ICOBS conduct requirements.

The DVLA holds the definitive record of all UK vehicle registrations, including vehicles that may have been reported to police. Where a partial registration was noted at the scene, DVLA records accessed through police channels can narrow the field of potential vehicles. The police report submitted within 24 hours of the incident is the mechanism through which DVLA and ANPR data is formally accessed as part of the investigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim if the other driver fled the scene?

Yes. The Motor Insurers' Bureau's Untraced Drivers Agreement provides compensation for personal injury and, subject to conditions, property damage caused by an unidentified driver. You must report to the police within 24 hours and apply to the MIB directly at mib.org.uk.

Do I need a police report to make an MIB claim?

Yes. A police incident reference number is a mandatory requirement for an MIB Untraced Drivers Agreement application. Report the incident to the police within 24 hours even if you believe the other vehicle cannot be identified.

Does my own insurance excess apply if I claim for a hit-and-run?

If you claim under your own Comprehensive policy for the vehicle damage, your excess applies. Whether the excess is subsequently reimbursed depends on the MIB recovery outcome. Alternatively, you can pursue the MIB directly without claiming under your own policy, preserving your NCD.

What is the difference between the MIB Untraced and Uninsured Drivers Agreements?

The Untraced Drivers Agreement covers incidents where the at-fault driver cannot be identified, including property damage above a minimum threshold. If the driver is subsequently identified but proves to be uninsured, the claim migrates to the Uninsured Drivers Agreement, which has broader property damage coverage without the minimum threshold.

What if a CCTV camera captured the incident?

Any CCTV footage that may identify the vehicle or confirm your account of the incident should be noted at the scene and reported to the police immediately. Police can apply for CCTV disclosure; local authority cameras retain footage for a limited period, typically 30 days. Request disclosure as urgently as possible.

Sources & Verification

• Road Traffic Act 1988, sections 143 and 170: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52
• Motor Insurers' Bureau, Untraced and Uninsured Drivers Agreements: https://www.mib.org.uk
• Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/6
• ABI Motor Insurance data: https://www.abi.org.uk
• HMRC Insurance Premium Tax: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/insurance-premium-tax
• gov.uk, Driving without insurance: https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/penalty-for-driving-without-insurance
• FCA ICOBS sourcebook: https://www.fca.org.uk

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