MIB CLAIMS. DEADLINES CAN BE MONTHS, NOT YEARS.
Hit by an Uninsured or Untraced Driver? You Can Still Claim
It feels like the end of the matter. It usually is not. The Motor Insurers’ Bureau exists precisely for this situation — it is funded by a levy on every insurance policy sold in the UK, so that people hit by drivers who broke the law are not simply left to absorb the cost. The route is different from an ordinary claim, and the deadlines are tighter. That is the part people get caught out by.
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What Are the Time Limits for an MIB Claim?
The deadlines are shorter than the ordinary three-year limitation period, and missing one can end an otherwise good claim.
An application must generally be made within three years of the accident.
The window is substantially shorter, generally around nine months. This is the deadline people miss most often.
The ordinary limitation period applies, but the MIB must also be given proper notice at the right stage of the process. Failing to notify correctly can defeat the claim even inside the limitation period.
Different rules apply, as with other claims.
There is also a practical deadline that is not written anywhere: report it to the police. For untraced driver claims the incident normally has to have been reported to the police, and there is an expectation that this was done promptly. Get the incident reference number and keep it.
What Is the Motor Insurers’ Bureau
The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) is the body that compensates people injured or caused loss by uninsured and untraced drivers in the UK. It is funded by insurers, who in turn recover the cost through the premiums paid by every insured motorist.
Where the driver who caused the accident is identified, but had no valid insurance.
Where the driver cannot be identified at all. This is the hit-and-run route.
It operates two separate schemes:
The two work differently, carry different evidential requirements, and — critically — carry different deadlines.
What Should I Do If the Other Driver Has No Insurance or Drives Off?
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01
Call the police.
Driving without insurance and failing to stop are both criminal offences. Report it, and get the incident reference number — you will need it.
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02
Record everything you can.
The registration if you got it, even partially. Make, model, colour. Direction of travel. Time and exact location. Write it down immediately; memory degrades faster than people expect.
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03
Look for witnesses.
Take names and phone numbers before people leave. In a hit-and-run, an independent witness can be the difference between a claim and no claim.
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04
Look for cameras.
Dashcams in other vehicles, shop and business CCTV, doorbell cameras on nearby houses, bus and taxi cameras. Most CCTV is overwritten within days or weeks — asking on the same day matters enormously.
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05
Photograph the scene.
Damage to your vehicle, debris, skid marks, road layout, signage, and the final positions if it is safe to do so.
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06
Check your own policy.
Some comprehensive policies include uninsured driver cover that protects your excess and no-claims discount in exactly this situation.
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07
Call us.
The earlier we start, the more evidence still exists to gather.
What Can I Claim Through the MIB?
Broadly, the same categories of loss as an ordinary claim, though the schemes apply their own rules and, for untraced claims, certain limitations.
Replacement vehicle arrangements work differently where the MIB is involved, because there is no at-fault insurer to invoice in the usual way. We will explain what is realistically available in your case at the outset rather than putting you in a vehicle and working it out afterwards. See courtesy car and credit hire.
Talk to us today
Call us now — our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you've been in an accident that wasn't your fault, we can help.
0800 820 3860
Free, no obligation
Frequently Asked Questions
Still unsure? Here are the questions we're asked most often.
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Yes. The Untraced Drivers Agreement exists for exactly that scenario. Police reporting and evidence gathering become more important, but an unidentified driver does not automatically end a claim.
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You are not claiming on your own policy for the MIB route, so there is no claim against your discount from it. Check whether your policy includes uninsured driver protection — many comprehensive policies do.
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That is a common situation and it falls under the Uninsured Drivers Agreement. Keep whatever details they gave you, even if they proved false — it can help identify the driver.
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Generally longer than a standard claim, because the MIB investigates independently and untraced claims require additional enquiries. We will give you a realistic timeframe once we have seen the file.
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We will explain the funding arrangement before you commit to anything, in writing, with no obligation to proceed.
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There are separate arrangements for accidents involving foreign-registered vehicles. Tell us on the first call — the route differs and so do the deadlines.
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Often yes, though certain exclusions apply — particularly where a passenger knew the vehicle was uninsured. It is fact-specific and worth a conversation. See NJS Law: passenger accident claims.