Incidents and accidents involving uninsured vehicles are becoming a huge problem on our roads. Many drivers of new and used cars find themselves unable to make an insurance claim for an accident that wasn’t their fault, all because the other driver involved had no insurance. Hit and run incidents, in which a driver leaves the scene of the accident are also worryingly common. With no driver details or registration number, it is almost impossible to get an insurance claim under way.
This means that many law abiding drivers who have paid for insurance, including all those drivers on trade plates covered by a motor trade insurance policy, can face the expense and inconvenience of repairs without a pay-out. Drivers with fully comprehensive insurance should be able to still make a claim, but those with third party cover could end up paying for an accident that wasn’t their fault.
The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) is one organisation that can help you make a claim if you become the victim of an incident involving an uninsured driver, or a hit and run. Founded in 1946, the MIB works with the government to protect the rights of insured drivers and ensure they receive the correct payment. All motor trade insurers in the UK are required to take out membership of the MIB, who maintain the Motor Insurance Database (MID) which lists every insured vehicle in the UK. By sharing the data with the police and DVLA, the MIB help tackle the issue of uninsured vehicles on our roads.
The MIB can help with three different types of road incident:
The ‘uninsured driver’s scheme’ helps motorists who have been in an accident with an uninsured driver to claim compensation, in which the other driver was at fault. The process is carried out in the same way as an insurance claim between two insured drivers. In these cases, the other vehicle and driver involved can help be traced.
They also assist with hit and run incidents under its ‘untraced driver’s agreement scheme’, in which the driver at fault leaves the scene. Victims of hit and run accidents can claim for damage to their vehicle, as well as personal injury.
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Finally, the ‘green card scheme’ helps drivers involved in an accident with a foreign driver. If the other driver is at fault, the MIB can assist with the claim, taking on the process of dealing with an insurance company in another country.
Where does the money come from?
A percentage of the premium we all pay for our motor insurance policy goes towards the fund used by the MIB, and every single insured motorist helps to pay for the uninsured minority. Although this may seem to be an unfair burden, it’s good to know there’s a scheme in place, as you never know when you might need it.
To find out whether you’re eligible, or if you need help with and insurance claim, visit the Motor Insurers’ Bureau website at www.mib.org.uk
