Can I Claim as a Passenger?
You were not driving, so you were not at fault. Passengers have one of the clearest routes to a claim - including where the driver was a friend or family member.
Yes. As a passenger you are almost never at fault, which makes your position one of the strongest there is.
You can claim whoever was to blame - the other driver, the driver of the car you were in, or both. And it is the insurance that pays, not your friend or relative personally.
The part that stops most people
By some distance the most common worry we hear is: "I do not want to make a claim against my friend."
You would not be. Motor insurance exists precisely so that the insurer meets the claim, not the individual. Your friend does not pay out of their own pocket.
It is worth being straight about one thing: where the driver of the car you were in was at fault, it will normally count as a fault claim on their policy, and may affect their premium. That is exactly what the cover is for - but it is better discussed openly than discovered later.
What a passenger can usually claim for
Injury
Whiplash, soft tissue injuries, fractures and psychological effects.
Loss of earnings
Time off work, including a reduced ability to work afterwards.
Treatment costs
Physiotherapy, prescriptions and travel to appointments.
Personal property
Phones, glasses, laptops and clothing damaged in the collision.
What to do
Get checked over
See a doctor even if you feel able to carry on. Soft tissue injuries commonly worsen over the first two days, and a medical record from early on matters.
Record what you can
Registrations, insurers, the other driver’s details, photographs, and anyone who saw it happen.
Get advice before agreeing anything
Insurers frequently approach passengers early with a quick offer. Do not accept before you know what the claim is worth.
Not sure where you stand?
Tell us what happened. We will explain your options honestly, including if we think you do not need us.
Time limits apply. For injury claims it is generally three years from the date of the accident, with different rules for under-18s. Leaving it late narrows your options considerably.
Common questions
Yes. The claim is met by their motor insurance, which is what it exists for. They do not pay personally.
The same principle applies. Commercial operators carry insurance for exactly this, and passengers are rarely at fault.
The Motor Insurers’ Bureau exists for untraced and uninsured drivers. The process differs and has strict deadlines, so get advice quickly.
It can reduce what you recover, on the basis that you contributed to your own injuries. It rarely prevents a claim entirely. Be upfront about it - it is far worse discovered later.
Each passenger can bring their own claim. They are handled individually.
Terms and conditions apply to all services described on this page. Free recovery, storage and replacement vehicles are provided on the basis that the charges are recovered from the at-fault party’s insurer. We will explain the terms in plain English before anything is arranged.
Before we act for you we are required to verify your identity and to carry out fraud and anti-money laundering checks. This may include checks with credit reference and fraud prevention agencies, which will leave a record on your file.
Where fraud is suspected, information may be shared with fraud prevention agencies, insurers and law enforcement. Providing false or misleading information in support of a claim may mean your claim is refused, and can be a criminal offence.