What to Do If Someone Hits Your Car UK 2026

Last reviewed: 26 April 2026

Your immediate legal rights at the scene

The Road Traffic Act 1988, section 170 requires any driver involved in an accident that causes damage to another vehicle, person, or property to stop, remain at the scene for a reasonable period, and provide their name, address, and vehicle registration to anyone with reasonable grounds to require it. If the driver is not the vehicle's owner, they must also provide the owner's name and address. Failure to stop or exchange details after an accident is a criminal offence under section 170, carrying a fine, penalty points, and potential disqualification.

If the driver who hits your car attempts to leave without providing details, note the vehicle registration immediately. You are legally entitled to ask for the information; the other driver is legally obliged to provide it. If they leave before you can record the registration, the incident becomes a hit-and-run for the purposes of the Motor Insurers' Bureau's claims process.

Police attendance is not required for all road traffic incidents. Minor collisions without injury are typically reported by the drivers to their insurers without police involvement. However, if the driver did not provide insurance details at the scene, you must report the incident to a police station within 24 hours (Road Traffic Act 1988, section 170). Obtain the police incident reference number.

What to collect at the scene

Evidence gathered immediately after the incident has a timeliness and quality that cannot be replicated later. Collect at minimum: the other driver's full name, home address, vehicle registration number, insurer name, and policy number if they provide it. Photograph both vehicles from multiple angles, capturing damage to each, the relative positions on the road, road markings, road signs, any skid marks or debris, and the general scene environment.

If witnesses are present, pedestrians, other drivers who stopped, passengers in other vehicles, obtain their names and contact numbers. Independent witness evidence from parties with no interest in the outcome carries substantially greater weight in liability determinations than the accounts of the drivers directly involved.

Photograph the other driver's licence plate from close range and at distance to capture road context. If the other driver appears impaired, do not make accusations directly, note your observation and report it to the police promptly.

How to identify the other driver's insurer

If the other driver provides their insurer's name and policy number, contact that insurer directly to register a third-party claim. If insurance details are not provided or you doubt their accuracy, use the Motor Insurers' Bureau's AskMID service at askMID.com. AskMID allows you to check whether the other vehicle is recorded as insured on the Motor Insurance Database (MID), operated by the MIB.

If the vehicle is not recorded as insured on MID, the driver may be uninsured. The MIB's Uninsured Drivers Agreement provides compensation for victims of accidents caused by identified uninsured drivers. Report the incident to the police and contact the MIB at mib.org.uk to begin the uninsured driver compensation process.

Notifying your own insurer and managing the claim

Notify your own insurer of the incident promptly, most motor policies require notification within 24 hours or as soon as reasonably practicable. Notify even if you intend to pursue the other driver's insurer directly and even if you are entirely satisfied the fault lies with the other driver. Failure to notify within the required period can affect your policy validity and may breach policy conditions.

When notifying, state clearly that you believe the other driver was at fault and provide all evidence gathered at the scene. Your insurer may offer to manage the third-party claim through subrogation, or may assist with a hire vehicle or courtesy car while your vehicle is repaired. Confirm whether pursuing the claim through your insurer's process will affect your no-claims discount, in a genuine no-fault outcome, it should not.

For direct third-party claims against the at-fault driver's insurer, provide: photographs, witness details, your incident account, repair estimates, and documentation of any uninsured losses such as hire vehicle costs or medical expenses. Under FCA ICOBS, the at-fault insurer must handle the claim promptly and fairly.

What happens if the other driver flees (hit-and-run)

If the driver who hit your vehicle leaves the scene without stopping or exchanging details, note the vehicle registration if possible, call the police immediately, and report to a police station within 24 hours. Where the other driver cannot be identified, the Motor Insurers' Bureau's Untraced Drivers Agreement provides compensation for personal injury and property damage caused by an untraced driver.

Applications under the Untraced Drivers Agreement are made directly to the MIB at mib.org.uk. A police report is required. Property damage claims under the Untraced Drivers Agreement require that the damage exceeds the agreement's current threshold amount, confirm the applicable threshold at mib.org.uk at the time of claim, as amounts are updated periodically.

Key Figures

Motor legal protection and uninsured loss recovery

When another driver hits your car and is confirmed at fault, uninsured losses, costs not covered by either party's insurance policy, are recoverable from the at-fault driver or their insurer. Common uninsured losses include: your compulsory and voluntary policy excess amounts, vehicle hire costs above the courtesy car provision, lost earnings, medical costs, and other documented out-of-pocket expenses caused by the incident.

Motor legal protection, a paid add-on on most Comprehensive motor policies, covers the legal costs of pursuing uninsured loss recovery from an at-fault third party. The product typically operates on a no-win-no-fee basis, with a 51 percent prospects-of-success threshold for the legal expenses insurer to fund proceedings. Without motor legal protection, pursuing uninsured losses requires self-funding legal costs, which for smaller amounts may be disproportionate relative to the potential recovery.

For personal injury claims arising from a road traffic accident where another driver is at fault, the Official Injury Claim portal (officialinjuryclaim.org.uk) provides a formal online process for claims valued below £5,000, introduced under the Civil Liability Act 2018. The portal is designed for unrepresented claimants and enables direct submission without requiring legal representation, though obtaining independent legal advice on higher-value claims remains advisable.

The FCA's role in motor claims handling standards

All FCA-authorised motor insurers are subject to the Insurance Conduct of Business Sourcebook (ICOBS), which sets minimum standards for claims handling. Under ICOBS, insurers must acknowledge claims promptly, investigate and settle or decline within a reasonable timeframe, communicate clearly about claim progress, and not apply unreasonable or unexplained delays. Where an insurer fails to meet these standards, the policyholder can raise a formal complaint. If unresolved within eight weeks, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) at financial-ombudsman.org.uk at no charge. FOS can direct an insurer to settle a claim, increase an inadequate offer, or otherwise remedy a complaint.

Frequently asked questions

Is the other driver legally required to give me their details?

Yes. The Road Traffic Act 1988, section 170 requires any driver involved in a damage-causing accident to stop and provide their name, address, and vehicle registration to anyone with reasonable grounds to require it. Failing to do so is a criminal offence.

What if the other driver drives away?

Note the vehicle registration if possible, call the police, and report to a police station within 24 hours. If the driver cannot be identified, apply to the Motor Insurers' Bureau's Untraced Drivers Agreement at mib.org.uk.

Can I claim against the other driver if they are uninsured?

Yes. The MIB's Uninsured Drivers Agreement covers compensation claims against identified but uninsured drivers. Report to the police and contact the MIB at mib.org.uk.

Will claiming if someone hits my car affect my no-claims discount?

A confirmed no-fault claim, where the at-fault driver's insurer recovers costs, should not reduce your no-claims discount. Confirm your insurer's no-fault NCD position in writing when you notify them of the incident.

Do I need to involve my own insurer?

You must notify your own insurer of any incident as required by your policy, even if you claim directly against the other driver's insurer. Failure to notify within the required period can affect your policy conditions.

Sources & Verification

• Road Traffic Act 1988, sections 143 and 170: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52
• Motor Insurers' Bureau: https://www.mib.org.uk
• AskMID: https://www.askmid.com
• ABI Motor Insurance Premium Tracker Q4 2025: https://www.abi.org.uk
• gov.uk, Driving without insurance: https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/penalty-for-driving-without-insurance
• HMRC Insurance Premium Tax: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/insurance-premium-tax
• Financial Ombudsman Service: https://www.financial-ombudsman.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.