Questions & answers · Car insurance
The other driver had no insurance. Who pays for my car repairs?
Car insuranceWho paysChecked Nov 5, 2026
From K.Actuary, founded by Sangmin Kwon, ASA · sources checked 2026-11-05 · Source: Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) · Accident not your fault? Here's how to deal with the other driver's insurance. · section "Use your insurance" View original ↗
In short
- If the other driver has no insurance, your own policy may pay.
- Check if you have collision or uninsured motorist cover.
- Read page one of your policy. Tell your insurer soon.
What this means
Your question does not name a state, and the rules differ by state. This answer uses Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) pages as an example. TDI says your next step is a claim with your own car insurance [1]. Collision coverage pays your repair costs [1]. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage pays if the at-fault driver had no insurance, or not enough [1].
TDI says this coverage pays for car repairs. It also pays for a rental car if you need one [2]. The deductible is $250. The deductible for collision is likely much higher [2]. TDI says insurers must offer uninsured motorist coverage when you buy auto insurance. If you do not want it, you must say no in writing [2]. So your policy may or may not have it.
The first page of your policy is the declaration page. It shows your coverages, dollar limits, and deductibles [3]. TDI says to tell your company about the accident as soon as possible [4]. The sources do not say if you can make the uninsured driver pay you directly.
Your next step
Read the first page of your own policy to see whether you have collision coverage or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and what the deductibles are. Then tell your insurer about the accident as soon as possible. The sources give no deadline for this claim. If you have questions, TDI's number on its page is 800-252-3439.
Check it yourself
Open the TDI page "What is uninsured motorist coverage, and do I really need it?" and read "What coverages do I get?". Your own declaration page shows what you bought. The sources do not say what other states require — "Don't know yet".
Where this comes from (4)
[1] Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) · Accident not your fault? Here's how to deal with the other driver's insurance. · section "Use your insurance" · checked 2026-11-05
Use your insurance Your next option is to file a claim with your own car insurance. If you have collision coverage, it will pay your repair costs. If you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, it will pay if the at-fault driver didn’t have insurance or enough insurance to pay your car repairs. … Questions? Call us at 800-252-3439.
[2] Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) · What is uninsured motorist coverage, and do I really need it? · sections "What coverages do I get?" and "Who needs uninsur · checked 2026-11-05
Uninsured/underinsured coverage pays for: Car repairs and to replace the property in your car. A rental car if you need it. … The deductible for uninsured/underinsured coverage is $250. The deductible if you use your collision is likely much higher. … Insurance companies must offer uninsured motorist coverage when you buy auto insurance. If you don’t want it, you have to turn it down in writing.
[3] Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) · Auto insurance guide · section "Deductibles and dollar limits" · checked 2026-11-05
The first page of your policy is the declaration page. It has a summary of your policy, including your coverages, dollar limits, and deductibles.
[4] Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) · Auto insurance guide · sections "Auto claims" and "Deductibles and dollar limits" · checked 2026-11-05
Tell your company about the accident as soon as possible. Most companies have deadlines for filing claims.
How we found this
We matched your question to 4 official sources, quoted the exact lines, and re-checked each quote against its source on 2026-11-05.
What we don’t know yet
Your own plan or notice may say something different. If your letter cites another rule, send it and we will look again.
Every answer is checked against the official rule it quotes.
Information only — not legal advice. Your plan, insurer or agency decides.
This answer quotes the official sources listed above, with the date we checked them. Your own policy, notice and state rules control. We are not your lawyer or your insurer. We don’t file, argue or negotiate claims for you — you send any letter or form yourself.
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Answer id CQ3102. Spotted an error? Tell us.