Will a non-fault accident affect my car insurance?

Key takeaways

• Non-fault claims are when you make a claim on your car insurance policy for an accident that wasn’t your fault - normally when there is a liable party to blame

• In these cases your provider may be able to recover the entire cost of the claim from the liable party

• If there isn’t a liable party (for example, if they’re unidentified or if the accident was caused by an animal) you’ll be liable because your insurer can’t recover costs

What is a non-fault car insurance claim?

A non-fault car insurance claim is when you have been involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault and your insurance provider is ideally able to recover all the costs from the other driver’s insurer.

Unfortunately, if there is no responsible third party - for example, if the accident involved an animal, or it was a hit-and-run - then you will be liable because your insurer isn’t able to recover costs.

How do I know who is at fault for a car accident?

Your insurer will generally decide who is at fault by conducting their own investigation, using evidence such as:

• Camera footage. This could be from CCTVs, dashcams, witnesses with mobile phones or even speed cameras

• Your own evidence, including any photos you take of the scene

• Witness statements

• Medical reports

• Police reports

If you disagree with their decision you can make a formal complaint through your insurer, and if you still aren’t happy with the result you can go to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). You’ll need a final response letter from your insurer before the FOS get involved.

Will a non-fault accident affect my car insurance?

Yes, even a non-fault claim is likely to increase your car insurance premiums. This is because it will be recorded on your claims history and insurers are likely to view you as at higher risk of an accident.

Will I lose my no-claims bonus if I have a non-fault accident?

No, you won’t lose your no-claims bonus (also known as a no-claims discount or NCD) if you have a non-fault accident, provided your insurer can recover the costs.

Your no-claims bonus may be temporarily affected while your insurance provider investigates the claim but once your claim has been settled as non-fault your no-claims bonus should be restored.

Does my level of car insurance affect my non-fault claim?

Yes, the level of car insurance you have affects whether you claim on your insurance for a non-fault accident or claim on the at-fault driver’s insurance:

• If you have fully comprehensive cover: You should claim on your own policy. You’ll likely have to pay excess when you claim but your provider will try to recover this from the third party. If they don’t, however, you might lose your excess and your no-claims bonus. If you’re deemed to be at fault for the accident, you might be able to claim compensation through a fully comprehensive policy

• If you have third-party cover: You should claim on the other driver’s insurance, and if they agree you weren’t at fault they should cover the cost of repairs, compensation and even a courtesy car. You should inform your insurer of the claim, although they shouldn’t need to get involved. However if the other driver is uninsured then you won’t be able to claim - so you should try to seek compensation via the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB)

📣 Did you know? There are 335,000 uninsured vehicles on UK roads on any given day, according to the MIB.

Do I need to declare a non-fault accident?

Yes, you need to declare any accident you’re involved in, even if it wasn’t your fault. In fact, most insurers have clauses in their policies that require you to inform them of any accidents you’ve been involved in for the last five years. If you don’t inform them then your cover may be invalidated.

Is it worth making a claim if the accident wasn’t my fault?

If the accident wasn’t your fault, you need to establish whether you can get the other party to pay for the damage. Ideally, the liable party will cover the cost of repairs to your vehicle. But if they are uninsured, you will have to decide whether to claim on your own insurer.

If the damages are minor, you might decide it's not worth making a claim. This could be due to potential increases in your insurance premium or because the excess you have to pay is close to the cost of the repairs.

Do I pay excess for a non-fault accident?

Yes, you usually pay excess even for a non-fault accident. But your insurer should refund you once it’s been established that you were not at fault.

What if someone makes a claim on my car insurance premium?

If someone makes a claim against your car insurance, it's likely to increase your premiums, although a non-fault claim will generally have a lesser impact than an at-fault claim. Your insurer will handle the claim process, but it's important to provide them with all the necessary information and cooperate fully to ensure the best outcome.

How can I compare car insurance quotes?

Finding cheaper car insurance is quick and easy by comparing providers at MoneySuperMarket. Just tell us a bit about yourself, your driving history, and the vehicle you want to insure. We’ll return a list of quotes tailored to meet your needs.