Replacement Car After An Accident
Replacement Car After An Accident
Drivers are entitled to a replacement car after an accident dependent upon two key elements, accident liability and insurance policy type.
Accident Liability
Let us begin with the topic of accident liability. If the accident was considered ‘non fault’ drivers are entitled to a replacement car after an accident and it can be obtained at no cost via multiple service providers. For example; the driver’s insurer, the at-fault driver’s insurer, vehicle repair centres, independent vehicle claim and courtesy car companies like ACC, and credit hire companies. If the accident was considered to be a ‘fault accident’ i.e the driver is liable for the accident, then a courtesy car is often only available from their insurer. This is further limited as often a courtesy car is only available if the vehicle is considered repairable.
Insurance policy type
Entitlement to a courtesy car after an accident can be defined by the insurance policy type. Insurance companies offer courtesy car provision included in most policies. Courtesy car entitlement for comprehensive policies usually offers a courtesy car in the event the vehicle is repairable. If the vehicle is written off provision is often only available if the accident was not the driver’s fault. For third party insured drivers, a courtesy car will usually be provided if the accident was non-fault, with vehicle repair of write off status not being a factor.
Courtesy Car Entitlement For All Drivers
An often unknown fact is that regardless of your car insurance cover type, i.e fully comprehensive or third party, all drivers are entitled to a cost-free courtesy hire car after an accident if it was not their fault. In the event of a non fault car accident which involved a correctly insured and traced ‘at fault’ driver, the ‘non fault’ driver is entitled to receive a like for like courtesy hire car. The entitlement proceeds from the date their vehicle is considered un-roadworthy due to the accident. The courtesy car entitlement then continues until their vehicle damage claim is settled.
Courtesy Car Entitlement Regardless Of Insurance Cover Type
All drivers involved in non fault car accidents are entitled to receive a courtesy hire car after the accident and until their vehicle claim is settled. This is a statutory entitlement claimed through the use of Tort law. The claim is directed to the negligent parties insurance company who is responsible to cover the cost of a temporary replacement vehicle during the claim process. The insurer is liable to provide or cover the cost of a vehicle of a comparable standard to that of your vehicle.
Insurance Courtesy Car After an Accident
The insurance courtesy car provided after an accident is available to any driver who has an accident with another correctly insured vehicle on a UK road. The negligent party, and more specifically their car insurer, will either provide or cover the cost of a temporary car after the accident. Drivers have open access to obtain a temporary vehicle via the use of a credit hire company or post non fault accident courtesy car services like ACC.
Who Pays For A Replacement Car After An Accident?
After car accidents, replacement cars are paid for by insurance companies. Establishing which insurance company will pay for the replacement car comes down to accident liability. In the event of a ‘fault’ accident, a temporary replacement car is paid for by the claiming against a comprehensive insurance policy. Usually, a policy excess is paid to access the temporary courtesy hire car service. Fault claims result in an unrecoverable loss to the insurer. In the event of a ‘non fault’ accident, the temporary replacement car costs are recovered by the means of a direct claim using Tort law. The claim is submitted to the liable parties insurance company, no excess is required to be paid due to it being a direct claim. The liable insurer is responsible to cover the cost of the temporary car until the associated non-fault vehicle damage claim is settled.
Car Replacement After A Write Off
When a car is written off, fully comprehensive drivers, or any driver involved in a non-fault car accident, can expect an insurer to replace their vehicle. A vehicle loss claim is submitted to either the comprehensive policy if the claim is a ‘fault claim’, or in the event of a non-fault accident, the claim is submitted to the negligent parties insurance company. The resulting replacement vehicle claim has 2 aspects. Firstly the claim can trigger the provision of a temporary replacement courtesy car, and secondly the claim for the replacement cost of the written-off vehicle. The provision of a temporary courtesy car or hire car keeps the driver on the road during the vehicle claim process. The vehicle claim process time frame is typically in the region of 14-21 days to complete. The process involves the inspection and detailed valuation of the damaged vehicle and assessment of the current market value. The objective being to enable the vehicle owner to replace their vehicle with a comparable vehicle without sustaining any financial loss.
ACC Can Help You Today
If you need a replacement car after an accident that was not your fault we can help you today. ACC provide a no-cost temporary ‘like for like’ vehicle until your vehicle claim is settled. We claim all costs directly from the at-fault driver’s insurance company and we can also process your vehicle damage claim should you not wish to claim via your insurance company. By claiming directly you have no excess to pay and you can also protect your claims history. Contact a member of your team for immediate assistance. For independent advice visit the Citizens Advice page in relation to car accident claims and replacements vehicles.