Passengers — you have a straightforward claim
If you were injured or your belongings damaged as a passenger, you claim against the driver's hire-and-reward insurance. Fault between the driver and any third party doesn't matter to you — the passenger is almost always non-fault.
Recoverable:
- Personal injury compensation
- Medical bills and lost earnings
- Damaged personal items (phone, laptop, luggage)
- Alternative transport home / to work
Report immediately to the taxi firm or Uber (in-app), and keep the booking receipt.
Private-hire drivers — loss of earnings matters
If you drive commercially and are off the road because of a non-fault accident, your loss of earnings claim is critical. Recoverable:
- Vehicle repairs or total loss settlement at the correct hire-and-reward value
- Loss of earnings — proven by tax returns, Uber/Bolt earnings statements, or PCO licence records
- Like-for-like PCO-plated replacement vehicle so you can keep working
- Excess reimbursement
- Personal injury
The specific type of replacement vehicle matters: a private-hire driver needs a PCO-plated (in London) or licensed hire vehicle to continue trading. Standard hire cars usually won't do.
Being hit by an Uber or taxi
Same rules as any other collision. Identify the driver, their vehicle and the operator (Uber, Bolt, local firm). The operator's insurance sits alongside the driver's — either may respond.
Insurance issues to watch
- Hire-and-reward disclosure — a private-hire driver on a private policy is uninsured for that journey; passengers can still claim through the MIB.
- App-only cover — some Uber/Bolt policies apply only during 'on trip' periods; between fares different cover applies.
- PCO vehicle valuations — often higher than a standard example of the same car because of preparation, PCO test and equipment.
How VIP Claims helps
We arrange PCO-plated replacement vehicles across London and licensed equivalents nationally, so professional drivers keep earning while the claim runs.
Talking to VIP Claims is free and puts you under no obligation. We are an independent, UK-based accident management company — not an insurer. If your accident wasn't your fault, we can arrange a like-for-like replacement vehicle, manage repairs at an approved bodyshop, and recover all costs from the at-fault driver's insurer, protecting your no-claims bonus and keeping your excess in your pocket. Speak to a specialist or start your claim online.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim as an Uber passenger?
How does an Uber driver claim loss of earnings?
Do I need a PCO replacement vehicle?
What if the driver's insurance wasn't valid?
Does the taxi firm's insurance cover me as a passenger?
Will my Uber account be affected?
Can I claim damaged property (phone, laptop)?
Is a hackney carriage the same as a private-hire vehicle?
Talk to a specialist — free, no obligation
VIP Claims is an independent UK accident management company. We help drivers get a like-for-like replacement vehicle, choose their own repairer and protect their no-claims bonus after a non-fault accident.
Related guides
If someone else caused your accident, you don't have to go through your own insurer — and doing so can cost you your excess and your no-claims bonus. Here's what to do instead.
What a 'courtesy car' really is, when you're entitled to a like-for-like replacement, credit hire explained, and how to avoid the common traps.
Types of injury covered, the claims process, the OIC portal for whiplash under £5,000, and what a full personal injury claim covers.
For sole traders, small fleets and haulage: how to protect trading during a claim, replacement vans, loss of earnings and specialist commercial repair.
How insurers decide fault, why split-liability outcomes happen, common scenarios, and what a 50/50 verdict really means for your claim.
Realistic timelines for repair claims, total losses, and injury claims — plus what causes delays and how to speed things up.
How to claim directly against the at-fault driver's insurance, what you can recover, and why this route protects your NCB and excess.
The step-by-step actions every UK driver should take at the scene of an accident — legally required and practically essential.