What is an uninsured driver promise?

Find out what kind of protection you may have if you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver.

Published: 17 Apr 2025

It’s the law in the UK that drivers must have car insurance to drive a vehicle, but there are always some people who don’t have insurance. And that may open up a can of worms if they are involved in an accident.

That’s why many insurers have an uninsured driver promise. But what does that mean?

When you’re involved in a car accident, it’s someone’s fault. If it’s you and you have comprehensive car insurance, your insurer will meet the cost of your claim, provided no exclusions apply.

That’s where an uninsured driver promise comes in.

Benefits of an uninsured driver promise

The promise aims to make sure you’re not unfairly penalised if you’re involved in an accident with someone who doesn’t have car insurance.

If the accident is the fault of the uninsured driver and your insurer has an uninsured driver promise, it shouldn't affect your no claim discount. You will need to prove the accident was not your fault for this to apply. Additionally, some insurers extend their uninsured driver promise to refund any excess you have paid as part of your claim. Again, you will need to prove the accident wasn’t your fault for this to apply and provide details of the other driver to your insurer.

Please check your policy document to see if the 'uninsured driver promise' applies to you.

How can I tell if I've been hit by an uninsured driver?

The other driver should tell you, but if they don’t, you can call your insurer from the roadside and they will be able to check if the other driver is insured.

You can also report them to the police. It is illegal to drive without insurance, so the police have the power to seize the vehicle and the driver could face prosecution.

Steps to take if you're hit by an uninsured driver

You should treat an accident where you’re hit by an uninsured driver as you would any other accident:

Get the other driver’s details – Ask for their name, contact details and take a photo or make a note of their registration number, plus the make and model of their vehicle.
Take photos at the scene – As well as taking a picture of the registration number and the car, take pictures of the accident and the location as it could be useful evidence for your claim.
Contact your insurer – Tell them about the accident as soon as you can to make sure you don’t invalidate your car insurance policy.