Car hit by driver with unregistered numberplate

[TinaMummy]

Evening all. It's been a rough day! I was stuck in several hours of crawling traffic this evening and was rear ended by a lorry. We were only going around 10mph and I was breaking at the time. He causes damage to my bumper. I took the numberplate which is a private plate but the insurer was unable to trace the plate. Apparently that now means that if I want to claim I have to accept it as my fault and pay the excess. I have the details of the haulage company so have asked DH to call tomorrow to see if we can get the real plate number but I doubt they will cooperate. It just seems so unfair. Any suggestions or advice of what else I could do would be much appreciated!

Did the other driver provide his name, address and Insurance Company as required by law?

Sorry I'm not much help and think you may well end up just paying for the damage yourself. However, I'd definitely be reporting the company!

He didn't know the insurance company as he was driving a work lorry so just provided me with the details for his boss who owns the company including name and phone number.

Report to?..the police?

Go to the haulage company and see if you can see the truck and get the correct licence plate?
I'd do this quickly and before I contact them so they don't have time to move any 'evidence'

Forgot to mention that I did take a photo of the front of the lorry showing the numberplate.

I imagine he would still be provided with the certificate- I have my company one as a driver.

Your insurance should be able to speak to the haulier and ask which vehicle was on that road at that time. Likely they have tracking and can get this easily.

This one that can't be found? That should also go against them. Plates have to be displayed.

Contact the police in the morning. Look the haulage company up on Companies House (hopefully they are a limited company) and give the police their name and the names of the Directors. If they are driving around with false plates im sure the police will be interested.

Like actual plates. Not just made up ones.

That sounds like a cop out by the insurance company. Even if the number plate was wrong you gave them the company details.

If you've got a photo of the number plate have you checked it online yourself. If it's not coming up I'd be reporting the accident to the police incase the company are using an unregistered number plate

Sounds dodgy

Yes, I just took a photo of the front of the lorry. To be honest I was a little shaken so didn't really think at the time that the plate looked odd but now looking it I can see it looks wrong.

Yes I googled the plates and nothing came up. Just such a hassle and expense that I really don't need right now.

Hassle yes but it shouldn't be expense. You've hit a company, not some random who is now untraceable.

The plate could be an identifier for the lorry. One company has CUN T5 for example. Usually it's on the trailer but it still could help once you've spoken to insurance or haulier.

This is your insurance companies job. They will have to pay if they don't find the other company to charge. It's in their interest. Don't go through an accident management company. Who is your insurer? Who is the haulier?

Similar happened to me. Was a doppelgänger lorry. The tell one was 250 miles away and provable. Cost me a fortune. Our insurance system sucks.

The real one, not tell one!

What are these lorries doing?

Now you mention it, the plate does spell out the name of the company owner so could well be an identifier. Wish I had gone round to the back to check that plate but didn't think of it at the time. I'm with LV who have said they can try and talk to the company if I want them to but they will have to then open a claim and if they don't get a response, it will go down as my fault claim. I don't want to mention the name of the company in case its outing but it is a UK based company who have a website and are on companies house.

LV are really good.

I work with hauliers. Feel free to message me to see if it’s one I talk to. No pressure. They usually have plates that align to the company name if private.

definitely doesn’t come up on MOT check? Not a possible dodgy digit to look like another?

how bad is the damage? You’ve reported it now so your premium will go up next year anyway so you may as well claim. Open a claim, get them to do their job and you do the due diligence too trying to get info. Used to work in insurance and now with hauliers so happy to offer any help.

Ah thank you. I'm going to see how DH gets on tomorrow morning. He's usually a rather charming persuasive man so I'm hoping he can get the information I need. LV said its just been documented as a note on my file and a claim hasn't been opened. I will definitely get in touch if I need more help. Thanks again.

If its a fake plate on a lorry then thats big big trouble so I suggest that there has been a misreading somewhere or damage to the plate.

I'm afraid not. The photo I took is as clear as day and shows the numberplate fully and undamaged.

Interesting

Show it to The Police

Could they have tampered with the plate to make it read the name? Using a well-placed screw to turn an O to an 8 or similar? If you play around with the numberplate online something might show up.

Now it’s on file you’ll have to declare it as an accident at renewal even if you don’t claim.