I wouldn’t say you’re being too cautious either—honestly, it’s better safe than sorry. Here’s what I’d do if the other driver doesn’t have insurance: First, always call the police for a report, even if it feels like overkill. Next, snap photos of everything (cars, plates, scene). Then, notify your insurance ASAP and ask about uninsured motorist coverage. That coverage has saved my bacon once before when someone hit me and just… vanished. It’s a hassle, but it’s way less stressful than trying to chase someone down later.
Title: What to do when the other driver has no insurance
I’m actually in the middle of buying my first car insurance policy, so this topic’s been on my mind a lot. I’ve been reading through all the fine print and honestly, uninsured motorist coverage seemed like one of those “nice to have” things at first—until I started seeing stories like yours. It’s wild how often people just drive around without any insurance at all.
I haven’t been in an accident (knock on wood), but my cousin was rear-ended last year by someone who didn’t have coverage. She did exactly what you mentioned—called the police, took photos, and reported it right away. Her insurance handled most of it because she had uninsured motorist protection, but she still had to pay her deductible up front and wait a while for reimbursement. The process sounded stressful, but way better than if she’d had nothing.
One thing I’m still trying to figure out is whether it’s worth increasing the limits on that part of my policy. The default seems kind of low compared to potential medical bills or repairs. I guess it depends on where you live and how common uninsured drivers are? The stats for my state aren’t great... which makes me lean toward being extra cautious.
I do wonder if calling the police every single time is always necessary, though. Like, what if it’s just a tiny fender bender and nobody’s hurt? But then again, having an official report probably makes everything smoother with the insurance company. It’s just hard to know where to draw the line between being careful and overreacting.
Anyway, hearing real experiences definitely helps cut through all the confusing policy jargon. Makes me feel a bit less paranoid for wanting more coverage than the bare minimum.
I get where you’re coming from about wanting to up your uninsured motorist limits, especially if the stats in your state are sketchy. But honestly, I’ve seen people go a little overboard and end up paying for coverage they never use. Sometimes the default is enough if you’ve got decent health insurance and don’t drive super far or in high-risk areas. As for calling the cops every time—yeah, it helps with paperwork, but in tiny scrapes with no injuries, it can feel like overkill... sometimes it just slows everything down for everyone involved.
As for calling the cops every time—yeah, it helps with paperwork, but in tiny scrapes with no injuries, it can feel like overkill... sometimes it just slows everything down for everyone involved.
Honestly, I get that. Sometimes waiting around for a report when there’s barely a scratch just makes a bad day worse. Still, after seeing a friend get stuck with a bill because the other driver bailed later, I lean toward getting that police report, even for minor stuff. It’s not always fun, but it’s saved me headaches. And yeah, balancing coverage is tricky—default works for some, but I’d rather pay a bit extra than risk a big loss.
Yeah, I totally get where you’re coming from. It can feel like a hassle to wait for the police over a fender bender, but you never really know how things will play out later. I’ve seen claims get messy when there’s no official report—sometimes people change their story or just disappear. Even if it feels like overkill in the moment, that extra bit of documentation can make a huge difference if the other driver turns out to be uninsured or tries to dodge responsibility. It’s not always convenient, but it’s usually worth it in the long run.
