UK cities
45+
Direct coverage
Service · Hit and run support
Hit and Run Accident Support
If the other driver leaves the scene, the MIB Untraced Drivers' Agreement may provide a route for innocent drivers to be compensated. We help organise evidence and refer to authorised legal partners with your consent.
- Independent engineer (not insurer panel)
- Like-for-like replacement (ULEZ-compliant)
- Direct dialogue with at-fault insurer
- No success, No fee
24/7
Dispatch
£0
Upfront
PAS 125
Repair std
24/7
UK response
Recovery dispatch and live claim handlers, 365 days a year.
Response
<60m
First contact SLA
Cost
£0
Upfront to driver
Cost to you
£0 upfront · No success, No fee
Response time
Under 60 minutes, 24/7
Window of urgency
14-day CCTV retention
Coverage
UK-wide · 24/7
What is hit and run accident support and when does it apply?
If the other driver leaves the scene, the MIB Untraced Drivers' Agreement may provide a route for innocent drivers to be compensated. We help organise evidence and refer to authorised legal partners with your consent. It applies to: Third party is untraced; Police are notified.
Ranking factors
What makes a hit and run support claim stronger
These are the practical ranking factors our handlers look for before a hit and run support file is sent to the at-fault insurer. They help the page answer search intent and help the claim itself stand up to scrutiny.
Liability clarity
Hit and run support files rank strongest when the accident narrative, photos and third-party details all point to the same non-fault sequence.
fault position
Evidence speed
The first 72 hours matter because CCTV, dashcam and witness memory fade quickly. We prioritise police reference and damage and scene evidence before the evidence window closes.
fresh proof
Mitigation and need
Replacement vehicle, recovery and storage costs must stay proportionate. The file is stronger when the reason for each cost is recorded before the at-fault insurer challenges it.
cost control
Repair standard
Independent engineering, PAS 125 / BS 10125 repair routing and clear total-loss notes help separate necessary work from insurer-panel shortcuts.
engineering
Communication record
Call notes, emails, consent records and insurer responses create a clean audit trail, especially where hit and run support needs urgent action.
audit trail
Compliance boundary
We keep accident management, credit hire, repair and any personal-injury referral in separate consent lanes so the page and the claim remain clear.
regulated process
What this service is
Hit and run support explained, in plain English
If the other driver leaves the scene, the MIB Untraced Drivers' Agreement may provide a route for innocent drivers to be compensated. We help organise evidence and refer to authorised legal partners with your consent.
"Evidence organisation"- handler note for hit and run support
When it applies
Situations where hit and run support fits
Not every collision needs every service line. Hit and run support is the right route where one or more of the following applies:
- Third party is untraced
- Police are notified
How we help
The hit and run support workflow, step-by-step
Each step below is something we actually do for you on this service line - not a generic claims-handling description. Each step is documented in the file we open in your name.
A
What we do
- 1
Evidence organisation
- 2
MIB process guidance
- 3
Referral with consent
B
What happens next
- 1
MIB application reviewed
- 2
Outcome notified
Documents needed
What to gather before you call
You do not need to have everything to hand to open the file - but the more of the list below we have at intake, the faster hit and run support runs.
Police reference
Damage and scene evidence
Witness details
What to avoid
Hit and run support pitfalls - what not to do
Each item below is a common, preventable mistake on hit and run support. Most can be fixed if caught early; some - like premature repair before engineer inspection - cannot.
- Do not delay reporting to police
- Do not move the vehicle without recording its position
- Do not overwrite dashcam footage - remove the SD card or back up the file immediately, before loop-recording erases the impact
- Do not assume property damage alone is recoverable from the MIB Untraced Drivers Agreement - pure property damage without personal injury is excluded under the 2017 Agreement
Compliance disclaimer
We do not provide legal advice. The MIB Untraced process is administered independently and outcomes are not guaranteed.
We do not provide legal advice. Personal injury enquiries are referred only with your separate written consent (UK GDPR Article 7) to authorised legal or regulated partners.
Deep dive
Hit and run support in detail
MIB Untraced Drivers Agreement 2017: Overview and Legal Basis
A hit-and-run accident - where the at-fault driver fails to stop and cannot be identified - presents a distinct legal challenge: there is no registered defendant, no insurer to notify, and no known party against whom a civil claim can be brought. The Motor Insurers' Bureau Untraced Drivers Agreement 2017 (the 2017 Agreement) is the mechanism through which innocent victims of untraced drivers can seek compensation. It replaced the 2003 Agreement and introduced a number of procedural improvements, including an online application portal.
The 2017 Agreement applies where a vehicle or its driver cannot be identified, and the claimant has suffered personal injury or death as a direct result of the untraced vehicle's involvement in the accident. This is fundamentally different from the MIB Uninsured Drivers Agreement 2015, which applies where the driver is identified but uninsured. The two Agreements operate in parallel: the Untraced Agreement for unknown drivers; the Uninsured Agreement for known but uninsured drivers.
The legal basis for the MIB's obligations under the Untraced Agreement derives from UK Government agreements with the MIB, originally made under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and maintained in the UK's implementation of the EU Motor Insurance Directives (now retained in domestic law). The European Court of Justice confirmed in Farrell v Whitty (Case C-356/05) that member states must ensure compensation is available for victims of uninsured and untraced drivers as a matter of EU law - a principle that underpins the MIB's role even post-Brexit through the Retained EU Law framework.
Importantly, the 2017 Agreement covers personal injury and death but does not cover pure property damage claims where no personal injury has resulted. If your vehicle is damaged in a hit-and-run accident and you have no personal injury, you cannot recover the property damage through the MIB Untraced Agreement. You must claim on your own comprehensive motor policy, subject to your policy excess. If you do not hold a comprehensive policy, your property damage loss from a hit-and-run may be unrecoverable.
Reporting Obligations: The 14-Day Police Requirement
The MIB Untraced Drivers Agreement 2017 requires applicants to have reported the accident to the police as soon as practicable. This obligation mirrors the statutory duty under s.170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (duty to stop and report), and is an express condition of the Agreement. Failure to report to the police promptly can result in the MIB reducing or refusing a claim.
Under the 2017 Agreement, the report must be made to a police officer or police station. The report should include all available information about the untraced vehicle: its registration mark or partial registration if seen, the make, model and colour, the direction of travel, the time and location of the accident, and any witnesses. Even partial information is valuable - a partial registration can be cross-referenced against DVLA records, and ANPR camera data can identify vehicles in proximity to the accident location at the relevant time.
The time limit for making the police report is as soon as reasonably practicable, but the 14-day guideline is the industry benchmark drawn from the UDA 2015's terms. Courts have held that minor delays caused by hospitalisation or incapacity may be excused, but deliberate or unexplained delays of more than a few days are likely to be treated as a breach of the reporting condition.
Once the police report is made and a crime reference number is obtained, the claimant should request updates from the police on the investigation. Police forces in the UK have varying resources and priorities for hit-and-run investigations, and many cases are closed without identifying the responsible driver. However, the investigation may still produce valuable evidence - CCTV footage obtained by the police, witness statements, or ANPR data - that supports the MIB application even where the driver is not prosecuted.
In hit-and-run cases that result in serious injury, the police may use Traffic Investigation Unit officers with specialist collision investigation expertise. These officers can produce detailed collision reconstruction reports that are admissible in civil proceedings and in the MIB application process.
HIT AND RUN SUPPORT
03
Section 3 of the walkthrough.
Corroborating Evidence Requirements in Untraced Driver Claims
The MIB Untraced Drivers Agreement 2017 contains a specific requirement that the claim must be supported by corroborating evidence - that is, evidence independent of the claimant's own account that is consistent with the occurrence of the accident as described. This requirement exists because, unlike an insured claim where both vehicles are identified and both drivers' accounts can be compared, a hit-and-run claim presents only one identifiable party's version of events.
The corroboration requirement does not require proof beyond reasonable doubt - the civil standard of the balance of probabilities applies. But the MIB will not accept a claim based solely on the claimant's own unverified statement. This is a practical and understandable requirement given the potential for fraudulent or exaggerated claims involving untraced vehicles.
Corroborating evidence may take many forms. Medical evidence of injuries consistent with a road traffic accident carries significant weight - a fractured clavicle consistent with a seatbelt injury, or soft tissue injuries consistent with the described impact mechanism, supports the account that an accident occurred. Emergency service call logs (ambulance or police attendance records) independently confirm that an incident was reported at the relevant time and location.
Witness statements from independent third parties - pedestrians, passengers in other vehicles, residents or business owners in the vicinity - are highly persuasive. A witness who saw the accident, or who witnessed a vehicle driving away from the scene at speed, provides the kind of independent account that satisfies the corroboration requirement.
Property damage to the claimant's vehicle, documented by photographs taken immediately after the incident, provides physical evidence of an impact. The damage profile - the location, nature and extent of the damage - should be consistent with the described mechanism. An independent engineer's assessment of the damage pattern can confirm or challenge the account of how the impact occurred.
Where corroborating evidence is weak or absent, the MIB may investigate the circumstances more extensively before making a determination. The MIB has the power to commission its own accident investigation, to require the claimant to provide additional information, and to interview witnesses. In complex cases, the process can take 18 months or more.
Dashcam, CCTV and ANPR Evidence in Hit-and-Run Cases
Modern technology has transformed the investigation of hit-and-run accidents. Dashcam footage, public CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data are now central tools in identifying untraced vehicles and providing the corroborating evidence required by the MIB.
Dashcam footage from the claimant's own vehicle is the most direct evidence available. A front-facing dashcam recording the moment of impact, or the seconds immediately before it, can show the untraced vehicle's registration plate, make, model and colour, and the manner in which the driver behaved - whether approaching at speed, failing to observe priority, or leaving the scene without stopping. Dashcam footage should be preserved immediately after an accident and never overwritten. Many dashcams have loop-recording functionality that will overwrite older footage; removing the card or transferring the file to a computer immediately after the accident is essential.
Public CCTV footage is collected and retained by local councils, the National Highways network (under the National Traffic Information System), private businesses and Transport for London. Footage is typically retained for 28 to 31 days before being overwritten. Preservation requests - either from the police or from a solicitor acting for the claimant - must be made promptly. A preservation request sent after the footage has been overwritten is worthless.
ANPR is operated by the police (including the National ANPR Data Centre, NADC), Highways England (now National Highways), local authorities and private operators. ANPR cameras record the time, date and location of every vehicle that passes. In urban areas, ANPR coverage is dense enough to reconstruct the route of a specific vehicle for significant distances. ANPR data is accessible to the police and can be obtained through criminal investigation. In civil proceedings, ANPR data can be sought by court order.
Neighbour and bystander dashcam footage is an increasingly valuable resource. Modern doorbell cameras (such as Ring and Nest) record the road in front of properties continuously and retain footage for several days. Social media appeals - with police consent - sometimes locate witnesses or vehicle owners who have relevant footage.
Untraced vs Uninsured: Understanding the Two MIB Regimes
The distinction between the MIB Untraced Drivers Agreement 2017 and the MIB Uninsured Drivers Agreement 2015 is fundamental, and applying to the wrong scheme can delay or undermine a claim. The difference is straightforward but frequently confused.
The Uninsured Drivers Agreement applies where the at-fault driver is known - their identity and vehicle are established - but they did not hold valid motor insurance at the time of the accident. The at-fault driver is identifiable as a defendant; the issue is that there is no valid insurance policy to stand behind them. The MIB steps in as a surrogate insurer, treating the claim as if it were a third-party liability claim but from the insurer of last resort rather than from a commercial policy.
The Untraced Drivers Agreement applies where the at-fault driver and/or vehicle cannot be identified at all. There is no known defendant. The MIB substitutes for the absent defendant, using its own claims handling process to investigate the accident and assess compensation.
The procedural differences between the two Agreements are significant. Under the Uninsured Agreement, court proceedings can be issued against the identified driver (with the MIB joined as second defendant or co-respondent). Under the Untraced Agreement, there is no defendant to sue; the MIB is the sole compensating body and the applicant does not issue court proceedings in the normal sense - they apply to the MIB directly and, if dissatisfied, appeal to an MIB-appointed arbitrator.
The Untraced Agreement's corroboration requirement has no direct equivalent in the Uninsured Agreement (where the fact of the accident can be established by reference to the identified vehicle). The property damage exclusion also differs: the Uninsured Agreement covers property damage subject to the £300 excess, while the Untraced Agreement does not cover property damage at all unless personal injury also results. These differences mean the choice of Agreement - where a choice exists - matters significantly to the outcome.
06HIT AND RUN SUPPORTKey takeaway
Time Limits, the MIB Portal and the Appeals Process
Time limits in MIB Untraced Driver claims are governed by the Limitation Act 1980 as applied to MIB proceedings and by the specific terms of the 2017 Agreement. For personal injury claims, the standard three-year limitation period from the date of the accident (or date of knowledge, under s.14 Limitation Act 1980) applies. For claims on behalf of children, the limitation period does not begin to run until the child turns 18, giving a potential period of 21 years from birth for accidents occurring in childhood. The limitation period is a legal concept relevant to any claim or court application made in relation to the accident.
Applications to the MIB under the 2017 Untraced Agreement must be made within three years of the accident, consistent with the standard personal injury limitation period. The MIB portal - accessible at mib.org.uk - provides an online application form for Untraced Driver claims. The portal allows applicants to upload supporting documents, track the status of their application and correspond with the MIB's claims team electronically.
Once the application is submitted, the MIB investigates and produces a decision on liability and quantum. This process typically takes several months for straightforward cases and considerably longer for complex personal injury claims. If the MIB's decision on liability or the quantum of compensation is disputed, the claimant may appeal the decision to an arbitrator appointed by the MIB under the Agreement's arbitration process. The arbitration is conducted under the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators' rules and is binding on both parties.
The arbitration process differs from court proceedings: there is no public hearing, evidence is submitted in written form, and costs may be capped. Legal representation is not mandatory but is strongly advisable in complex cases. Claimants who believe the MIB has unreasonably denied or undervalued their claim should take specialist legal advice before pursuing arbitration, as the arbitration decision is final and binding on the merits (subject only to appeals on a point of law).
For accident victims who are also injured and whose case involves both MIB and personal injury solicitor involvement, coordination between the MIB application and any related criminal investigation or prosecution of the driver (where the driver is eventually identified) is important. Evidence gathered by the police in a criminal prosecution - including CCTV, ANPR and witness statements - may be admissible in the MIB arbitration process.
Quick eligibility check
Could you open a hit and run support claim?
Three questions. If you can answer "yes" to all three, we can open a file for you in under five minutes - no upfront cost, no obligation.
- 1
Was the collision in the UK in the last 3 years?
Property-damage claims have a 6-year limitation; injury claims have 3 years from the date of accident under the Limitation Act 1980. Older incidents can still be reviewed - call us.
- 2
Is the other driver clearly at fault (or uninsured/untraced)?
Non-fault means the at-fault insurer pays the schedule. Uninsured / untraced is handled through the Motor Insurers' Bureau under the 2017 agreements.
- 3
Did you exchange details, or report the incident to police?
Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 covers the reporting duty. CRIS / CAD references are useful but not essential - we can request CCTV directly.
Why drivers switch to us
Hit and run support with us vs the at-fault insurer's panel handler
The at-fault driver's insurer will offer to handle the claim through their own panel - repairer, hire company, engineer. That is their cost-control route. Below is what that route looks like, side-by-side with what we do for the same file.
| Decision point | At-fault insurer panel | With CityGrip |
|---|---|---|
| Engineer | Panel engineer paid out of cost-controlled budget | Independent engineer, retail repair scope |
| Replacement car | Class A economy courtesy car, 7-14 days max | Like-for-like credit hire, full repair window |
| Repair | Panel repairer to insurer time/cost SLA | PAS 125 / BSI 10125 partner, OEM parts where specified |
| Vehicle valuation | Trade / auction comparables | Retail comparables (Lagden v O'Connor) |
| Excess refund | You chase your own insurer | Recovered for you as part of the schedule |
| Schedule transparency | Bundled into a single offer | Itemised, disclosable on request |
| No-claims discount | Your own policy claim may impact NCD | Direct against at-fault insurer - NCD protected |
Source: panel-handling practice is documented across UK accident-management trade press and ABI GTA materials; our side reflects our standard service line.
Prefer to talk it through?
Speak to a UK accident handler now
We answer 24/7. No call queue, no recorded menu, no upsell. We take the details, tell you whether the claim is workable, and either open the file or point you to a route that suits you better. No obligation.
- Free 5-minute eligibility review
- Calls recorded for quality (notified before)
- Email / WhatsApp as an alternative
Tap to call
0330 043 3409
24/7 · UK accident handlers
Or email / form if you prefer asynchronous.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to report a hit and run to the police?
- Yes. Reporting promptly to the police is usually a precondition for the MIB Untraced process.
- What evidence do I need for a hit-and-run MIB claim?
- The MIB Untraced Drivers Agreement 2017 specifically requires corroborating evidence independent of your own account, because there is no identifiable defendant whose version can be compared. Useful corroboration includes: dashcam footage; independent witness statements; CCTV from nearby businesses, councils or doorbell cameras (Ring/Nest); ANPR data accessible via police investigation; medical records consistent with the described injury mechanism; ambulance or police attendance call logs; and engineer damage-pattern analysis confirming the impact mechanism. The strength of corroboration directly affects how quickly the MIB accepts the claim.
- How long does the MIB Untraced process take?
- Straightforward cases with strong corroborating evidence typically resolve in 6-12 months. Complex personal injury claims, or cases requiring extensive MIB investigation (witness interviews, CCTV recovery, accident reconstruction), can take 18 months or longer. Applications are submitted via the MIB portal at mib.org.uk. If you disagree with the MIB's decision on liability or quantum, the Agreement provides an internal appeals process and, ultimately, arbitration under the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators' rules. Arbitration decisions are binding on the merits, with appeals only on points of law.
- Can I claim my vehicle damage from a hit-and-run?
- Not under the MIB Untraced Drivers Agreement 2017 - pure property damage without personal injury is excluded. Where personal injury is involved, related property damage is recoverable as part of the same claim. For property-damage-only hit-and-run cases, your own comprehensive motor policy is normally the only route. Most comprehensive policies cover the damage subject to your policy excess and may protect your no-claims bonus where the at-fault driver is untraced (check your policy terms - many require a police crime reference number as a condition of the no-claim protection).
- What is the time limit to apply to the MIB?
- Applications to the MIB under the Untraced Drivers Agreement 2017 must be made within three years of the date of the accident, consistent with the standard personal injury limitation period under the Limitation Act 1980. For claims on behalf of children, the three-year clock does not start until the child turns 18, and for those without mental capacity it runs from the date of regaining capacity. The 14-day police reporting requirement is a separate, much shorter procedural deadline - different from the overall application limitation. We always recommend submitting the MIB application well within the limitation period, as evidence quality declines over time.
Built on UK standards
PAS 125 / BS 10125
Repair standard
ABI GTA
Credit-hire framework
ABI Salvage Code
Cat A/B/S/N
UK GDPR Art 7
Separate consents
MIB 2017
Uninsured / untraced
OIC portal
Tariff-track injury
Standards we work to. Not an endorsement by, or affiliation with, the named bodies.
Related service lines
Services that often run alongside hit and run support
Non-fault accident claims →
End-to-end coordination for non-fault drivers.
Accident recovery →
24/7 dispatch to a CCTV-monitored partner yard.
Accident storage →
Daily-logged secure storage with photographic record.
Credit hire →
Like-for-like replacement vehicle subject to eligibility.
Repair management →
PAS 125 / BSI compliant approved partner repairers.
Engineer inspection →
Independent engineer, retail repair scope.
Talk to a real person
Ready to start a hit and run support claim?UK accident support, end-to-end.
The fastest way is to call. Or start the digital accident form and our team will pick it up. Available across England, Scotland & Wales.
Calls may be recorded for quality and compliance. We do not provide legal advice. Personal injury enquiries are referred only with your consent to authorised partners.
Visit our team
London office
124 City Road
London, EC1V 2NX
Coverage
- Phone & accident form24 / 7
- Recovery dispatch24 / 7
- Repair coordinationMon-Sat 8:00 - 18:00
- SundaysEmergency only
45+UK cities
9vehicle types
GDPRcompliant
Tip: submit the accident form first - our team will call back with a reference and next steps.