Isn’t car registration number enough to catch a hit & run driver?

Muk13

I had a hit & run accident last Sunday. The driver hit me from my back & run away. There was no fault from my side. I managed to take her the registration number of that car. There is no camera on that spot.

However, my insurance company (Diamond Insurance- part of Admiral Group) is telling me that as I could not provide them enough information and they could not find out the 3rd party so everything will go from my policy. They are going to write off the car (as it is not economical to repair) and deduct the excess £400 (voluntary + mandatory) from the car’s value.

My understanding is- my insurer should find out the third party as I managed to give them the registration number of the car. I have done insurance comparison with that registration number (just to check) and the car details come up on the comparison site, which matches with the one that hit my car. That means it’s a valid registration number, but I could not find the car on Motor Insurance (MID) Database. This has made me so confused.

However, Diamond Insurance told me that they could not find the car with the details I provided them and they are waiting for information from DVLA about third party. They have also pushing me to make a decision ASAP (regarding writing off the car from my insurance) as it is incurring charge on a daily basis to keep the car at garage/ scrap yard.
Should I take the claim from my insurance now? If so, and they don’t find the third party later on (it seems to me that they are not very serious about finding the third party), then my premium will go very high in future. FYI: this is my first year of driving. I don’t have any NCB or NCB protection.
Furthermore, I have spoken to a ‘No win no fee’ solicitor and he is interested to take the case.

Can anyone suggest me what should I do?

forgotmyname

The plates may have been false, cloned from a similar vehicle.

Maybe the real cars been exported or delcared as exported and not actually taken abroad?

A no win no fee solicitor is willing to take the case when there is nobody to claim from? You may need to double check that.

notbritishgas

Surely you reported this to the police? They should have found the person responsible.

dacouch

try https://www.askmid.com

GwylimT

What did the police say?

A number plate can identify the vehicle, it can't however reveal who is driving it unless proof is in place or th person admits when they discover the vehicle has been tracked down.

Retrogamer

GwylimT wrote: »

What did the police say?

A number plate can identify the vehicle, it can't however reveal who is driving it unless proof is in place or th person admits when they discover the vehicle has been tracked down.

If the police have the registration they can send a letter to the registered keeper asking them to name the driver at X date and X time.
The registered keeper as a legal obligation to do so.

agrinnall

dacouch wrote: »

try www.askmid.com

Already checked according to the OP.

If the registration is not found on askmid then that would suggest it is currently uninsured. If it's uninsured then it should also be SORNed, which the DVLA would be able to tell your insurer.

You may be able to get some more details on the vehicle from the DVLA tax check website

https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax

I really think you should have gone to the police with this, and you probably should do so now.

Double_V

What did police say ?
And don't rush. Lets find the culprit.
I hate people like this. :@

HappyMJ

Muk13 wrote: »

I had a hit & run accident last Sunday. The driver hit me from my back & run away. There was no fault from my side. I managed to take her the registration number of that car. There is no camera on that spot.

However, my insurance company (Diamond Insurance- part of Admiral Group) is telling me that as I could not provide them enough information and they could not find out the 3rd party so everything will go from my policy. They are going to write off the car (as it is not economical to repair) and deduct the excess £400 (voluntary + mandatory) from the car’s value.

My understanding is- my insurer should find out the third party as I managed to give them the registration number of the car. I have done insurance comparison with that registration number (just to check) and the car details come up on the comparison site, which matches with the one that hit my car. That means it’s a valid registration number, but I could not find the car on Motor Insurance (MID) Database. This has made me so confused.

However, Diamond Insurance told me that they could not find the car with the details I provided them and they are waiting for information from DVLA about third party. They have also pushing me to make a decision ASAP (regarding writing off the car from my insurance) as it is incurring charge on a daily basis to keep the car at garage/ scrap yard.
Should I take the claim from my insurance now? If so, and they don’t find the third party later on (it seems to me that they are not very serious about finding the third party), then my premium will go very high in future. FYI: this is my first year of driving. I don’t have any NCB or NCB protection.
Furthermore, I have spoken to a ‘No win no fee’ solicitor and he is interested to take the case.

Can anyone suggest me what should I do?

I'd get the car back, scrap it and not claim.

Muk13

Thanks everyone.

I reported it to police immediately after the accident and they said they don't have enough manpower to deal with this. however they would involve in it if there any injury/ casualty. They will just send a routine letter to the registered keeper and ask- whether the keeper was involved with the accident ! That's it from them.
The vehicle is not on the motor insurance database. The vehicle was insured until 23rd of October.
Therefore, I had to agree to take the claim from my insurance. If my insurance company able to track the culprit and get the compensation from the third party in future (usually takes 3 to 5 months to settle everything) then I will get my "No claim bonus" back.
I'l contact with MIB soon and will try to get my access back (which has been deducted by my insurer from my claim).

Muk13

Here is the final outcome of the incident:-

Police provided me the details of the registered keeper of that uninsured car; but my insurance company failed to get the claimed money/ compensation (The market value of my car minus the access amount that they have already paid me from my claim) from the registered keeper/ driver of that car. However, the good thing is- I have got back my "No claim bonus" back as their accident expert confirmed that I was not in fault for the accident. I have also received the 'access' (which was deducted from my claim by my insurance company as they could not get hold of any 3rd party) amount from Motor Insurance Bureau.