Insurance Courtesy Cars
Insurance courtesy cars, companies provide courtesy cars when a drivers own vehicle is off the road due to accident damage.
Courtesy cars are available in the event of both fault accidents and non fault accidents. The liability status of an accident influences the type of courtesy vehicle provided. Below you will find details of available courtesy car services for both drivers involved in fault and non fault car accidents.
The circumstances of a car accident, and specifically liability are the deciding factors in relation to insurance company courtesy car provision.
Insurance Courtesy Car After An Accident
Insurance courtesy cars after accidents are governed by different entitlement rules to when a vehicle is stolen or off the road due to mechanical fault. If a driver is involved in a car accident they will find courtesy car entitlement is defined by 3 key elements; accident liability, vehicle repair status, and insurance product type. ACC can provide a courtesy vehicle after any non fault vehicle accident involving a traced and correctly insured at-fault driver.
Insurance Courtesy Cars For Fault Accidents
If a driver is at fault for an accident, they will only be entitled to a standard ‘group A’ (small car) courtesy car. They will only be provided with the car in the event their vehicle is repairable, once the insurer’s assessment of the damaged vehicle states it as a write off the courtesy car must be returned or paid for at an agreed daily rate.
Fault Accident Courtesy Car Providers:
- Your Car Insurance Company (Fully Comp Only)
- Vehicle Accident Repair Centre
Insurance Courtesy Cars For Non Fault Accidents
If the driver was not at fault for the accident they’re entitled by law to receive a like for like courtesy car. The courtesy car entitlement continues from the point a vehicle is made un-roadworthy due to the accident damage sustained. The entitlement remains until either the accident damaged vehicle is fully repaired, or its write off value is paid out.
Drivers have no obligation to use an insurance companies preferred service provider and should not be pressured into doing so. As a consumer of an insurer having suffered damage to their property, you have the right to appoint any repair/claim service and at no cost to you. This is because the claim is made directly to that at-fault driver’s car insurance company, therefore drivers can select any suitable service provider and not be charged for the service. The focus should be upon ensuring; your vehicle is repaired to the correct manufacturer standard. The write off valuation accurately reflects the current market replacement value. A like for like temporary courtesy car is provided at no cost.
“Drivers have no obligation to use an insurance companies preferred service provider”
If you need an independent insurance courtesy car service contact ACC
Non Fault Accident Courtesy Car Providers:
- Non Fault Accident Courtesy Car Service
- Independent Vehicle Claim Service
- Credit Hire Companies
- Insurance Appointed Accident Repair Centres
Courtesy Car Entitlement Defined By Car Repair Status
Courtesy cars are often available after car accidents but are subject to your vehicles repair status. For example, if your vehicle is repairable, courtesy cars are often available from your insurance company, vehicle accident repair centres, independent vehicle claims companies, credit hire providers and even the at-fault drivers insurance company. In the event of your vehicle being written off, a courtesy car is often only available if the accident was not your fault.
Insurance Courtesy Car Like For Like Entitlement
Insurance courtesy car and like for like replacement vehicles are available to drivers who are not at fault for the accident. As the non-fault party in the accident drivers can claim the cost of a like for like courtesy car directly from the at-fault parties insurance company. The temporary vehicle should be of a comparable type to your vehicle, meaning a vehicle of the same size, standard and specification as that of your own vehicle.
Vehicle Claims And Courtesy Car
If you need a courtesy car or vehicle claim service after an accident contact ACC. We provide a full nationwide service that’s open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Independent Advice
For independent advice about courtesy cars, credit hire and car accident claim service visit the UK government Citizens Advice Page. This page explains in detail the options drivers have after non-fault car accidents and which services are available to them.