If insurance is missing on either side
- Handle the scene as normal first.
Safety, police, photos and details — exactly as in any accident.
- Find out the insurance position.
Whether the other driver is uninsured changes your options.
- Check your own coverage.
Uninsured-motorist cover may step in when the other driver can't pay.
- Report it and see a doctor.
Tell your insurer, and get checked even if you feel okay.
- Be careful before signing anything.
Especially an informal cash deal at the scene.
"No insurance" covers two quite different situations: the other driver had none, or you had none. The steps overlap, but the options differ. This builds on what to do after a car accident.
An uninsured driver doesn't always mean an unrecoverable claim — your own policy is often the key.
If the other driver is uninsured
If the driver who hit you has no insurance, your own policy may carry the load through uninsured-motorist (UM) coverage, which is required or offered in many states and is designed for exactly this. Underinsured-motorist (UIM) coverage can help when the other driver has some, but not enough, cover. Check your policy and tell your insurer promptly.
- Document everything as you would in any accident
- Get the driver's details even without insurance
- Check your UM/UIM coverage with your insurer
- Be wary of accepting cash at the scene to "keep it quiet"
If you were uninsured
If you were driving without insurance, the situation is harder but not hopeless. You may still be able to pursue the at-fault driver for the harm they caused. However, driving uninsured carries its own penalties, and some states limit what an uninsured driver can recover — so the rules depend heavily on where you are. Be honest with yourself about the position, and get advice before making decisions.
Be careful with informal deals
Whichever side lacks insurance, be cautious about settling with cash at the scene or agreeing to "sort it privately". These arrangements often unravel, and they can leave you exposed if injuries or damage turn out to be worse than they first appeared.
Read nextNo-fault states explainedWhere you claim through your own insurer first, whatever the cause.→When it's worth talking to someone
Cases with no insurance on one side are exactly where free advice helps most — to understand how your own coverage should respond, or what your options are if you were uninsured.
- Handle the scene normally, then establish the insurance position.
- If the other driver is uninsured, your UM/UIM coverage may step in.
- If you were uninsured, you may still pursue the at-fault driver, but rules and penalties vary by state.
- Be cautious about informal cash settlements at the scene.
- Get free advice to understand how your coverage should respond.
Common questions
The other driver had no insurance — can I still claim?
What if I was the one without insurance?
Should I accept cash at the scene?
What is uninsured-motorist coverage?
Sources & how we keep this accurate
Written and edited by The Accident Advisory editorial team and checked against the sources below. Coverage requirements and penalties for driving uninsured vary by state. Last reviewed June 2026. (See our Editorial Policy.)
- Insurance Information Institute (III) — uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. iii.org (accessed June 2026).
- State departments of insurance — UM/UIM requirements and uninsured-driver rules (varies by state). (accessed June 2026).
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — what to do after a crash. nhtsa.gov (accessed June 2026).