Do uninsured drivers really have no action taken against them?

Posted by StationFar6396@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 103 comments

My mum was driving last night, her car was hit from the side by a large van. The van had Romanian plates and was driven by a Romanian man who claimed to not speak English and wasn't cooperating. Luckily a passerby stepped in to help (my parents are in their 70s and were shaken up by the accident). They called the police. The police didn't come out, but put a translator on, who got the guys details eventually. Turns out he doesn't have insurance and probably gave false details. So my parents insurance have now written off their car, not giving them a courtesy car (Because its not being repaired) and given them a small payment because its not economical to repair it. But the driver just gets away with this? No action taken? Nothing? Is that really how it works? What the fuck is the point of paying for insurance if there is zero consequence of not having it? I would have at least expected his van to be impounded and even sold to pay for the insurance costs etc.