Write Off, No Courtesy Car From Insurer?
Insurance Write Off No Courtesy Car
Drivers rely upon their vehicles to enable day to day life, with work commutes, school runs, family transportation and vehicles used for business purposes. Maintaining access to a suitable vehicle is often essential for most UK drivers. As a result, both car insurers and independent courtesy hire car companies to provide same day courtesy car services. Should the unfortunate happen and your vehicle is written off, drivers have immediate access to a temporary replacement car.
Below, you will find information around how to get a courtesy car, under which circumstances they’re available, and how long you can keep a courtesy car after a car is written off.
“Drivers have immediate access to a temporary replacement car“
Courtesy Car Entitlement After A Vehicle Is Written Off
When a car is written off by an insurer, a courtesy car is usually not provided once the vehicle is declared a write-off. If you’re considered to be at fault for the accident, or if the vehicle is written off as a result of theft, vandalism or a weather event, no courtesy car services are available. Some 80% of current UK car insurance policies offer no courtesy car provision under those circumstances. However, in contrast to this, should a car be declared a write off as a result of a non-fault car accident (which involved a correctly insured at-fault vehicle) we can assist. Non fault drivers are entitled, by law, to claim a temporary courtesy car following the accident. The entitlement begins from the date the vehicle was damaged. It then continues until the negligent parties insurance company settle the write-off claim.
How To Get A Courtesy Car If Your Car Is Written Off By An Insurance Company
When a car is written-off by an insurance company, getting a suitable temporary courtesy car is often a priority. UK insurance research data shows on average 386,000 vehicles are written off each year. This makes knowing how to get a courtesy car if your car is written off is essential information for all UK drivers.
Courtesy Car Rules And Entitlements
If your car has been written off by an insurance company you may be left without a courtesy car. Most insurers provide an ABI ‘Group A’ courtesy car when a vehicle is being repaired, but not when a vehicle is a total loss write off. A temporary courtesy car may be provided whilst the vehicle repair is being assessed. If the assessment confirms the vehicle is a write-off, you will be asked to return the vehicle. However, if the accident was not your fault you are entitled to a courtesy car by law. The temporary replacement courtesy car is paid for by the negligent parties insurance company. This means you can receive a courtesy car, regardless of your vehicle’s repair or write off status, until your vehicle claim is settled.
“If the accident was not your fault you are entitled to a courtesy car by law”
If you need a replacement courtesy car because your vehicle has been written off by an insurer contact ACC today. We provide ‘like for like’ courtesy cars after accidents. ACC keep drivers on the road in the right courtesy car until their vehicle write-off claim is settled.
Accident Courtesy Car Service
Accident Courtesy Car provides courtesy cars and vehicle claim services. If a car is written off due to a non fault road traffic accident, ACC provides temporary ‘like for like’ courtesy hire cars. In addition, ACC can process vehicle write off claims providing a cost-free courtesy car and vehicle claim solution.
Insurance Courtesy Car
Insurance companies can provide a courtesy car in the event a car is repairable or is written off. Insurer’s source courtesy cars from accident repair centres or car hire/credit hire companies. Insurance company courtesy car services are usually only available if a vehicle is repairable, or it’s written off due to a non fault accident. If a vehicle is written off due to theft, vandalism, or a weather event, no courtesy car is generally available.
Guaranteed Courtesy Car Policy
If a car is written off by an insurance company most insurers will not provide a courtesy car as standard. Courtesy car provision may be available for a limited time through the purchase of a ‘guaranteed courtesy car’ policy. These policies are usually sold as an additional service, they often provide courtesy cars for 7 – 14 days only. This does not ensure a courtesy car is available throughout the claim process. Most write off claims take on average 3 weeks to conclude so drivers can still be left without a vehicle. (Note. If the accident was a non fault accident, you’re entitled to a replacement courtesy car should an insurer requests the return of their courtesy car.)
Car Accident Repair Centres
Car accident repair centres will often provide a courtesy car for a limited period, usually until the vehicle is declared a write-off. Thereafter they will request the return of the courtesy car often leaving drivers with a problem. However, if the car is written off as a result of a non-fault car accident, you’re entitled to obtain a no-cost replacement courtesy hire car until your write off claim is settled. If you need assistance with a courtesy hire car contact ACC today.
Can You Get A Courtesy Car If The Accident Was Not Your Fault?
If the accident was not your fault you’re entitled to a courtesy car regardless of your vehicle write off / repair status. Contact ACC if you need a no-cost courtesy car because your vehicle is written off following a non fault car accident.
Can You Get A Courtesy Car If The Accident Is Your Fault?
For drivers with comprehensive car insurance, most insurers will initially provide a courtesy car regardless of whether the accident was your fault. However, a courtesy car is usually only available throughout the vehicle claim process if your vehicle is repairable. Fault accidents that result in a write-off, most insurers will not provide a courtesy vehicle for the entire claim period.
Do I Pay For A Courtesy Car?
Drivers With Fully Comprehensive Car Insurance: A courtesy vehicle should be available to you at no cost if your vehicle is repairable. Courtesy cars are also available if your car is written off due to a non-fault car accident. If your car was involved in a fault accident and written off, a courtesy car should be available for a limited number of days only.
Drivers With Third Party Car Insurance: A courtesy car will usually not be provided via your car insurance company. However, should your vehicle be damaged as a result of a non fault accident you’re entitled to a courtesy hire car. The car is also provided at no cost to you or your insurer. The repair of write off status of your vehicle does not affect your entitlement. In the event of a non-fault accident contact ACC for immediate assistance. We provide priority same-day courtesy hire car services throughout the UK. Should your vehicle be repairable following a fault accident many repair centres offer a free courtesy car.
Who Can Drive A Courtesy Car?
Each courtesy car provider will have its conditions relating to who can drive the courtesy car. At ACC, all courtesy cars are provided with fully comp insurance cover that mirrors the policy of your own vehicle. This means any named driver stated upon your policy can be covered on the courtesy cars policy.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Drive A Courtesy Car?
We provide courtesy cars to any driver aged 17 years (courtesy cars for young drivers page) and above. Drivers simply need to have 2 months of driving experience and a full driving licence. We have no maximum age limit.
How Long Can I Keep A Courtesy Car If My Car Is Written Off?
Non Fault Accident: If your car is written off (or repairable) you keep the courtesy car until your vehicle claim’s settled. The car is provided at no cost to you or your insurance company. If the accident was not your fault fully comp or third party insured drivers keep will their courtesy car throughout the claim process.
Fault Accident: If you are fully comp insured and your car is written off as a result of a fault accident, you will keep the courtesy car until your vehicle is confirmed a total loss write off. Thereafter insurers may offer the possibility of paying for the courtesy vehicle. (If your car is repairable you will keep the courtesy car until repairs are completed)
Courtesy Car After Write Off
Insurers provide a standard ‘Class A’ (ABI group S1) courtesy car whilst a vehicle is repaired, not when a vehicle is written off. Courtesy cars are offered whilst the repair cost is assessed, however once confirmed a write-off the car must be returned. In the event the vehicle is written off due to a non fault car accident, drivers are entitled to request a ‘replacement courtesy car. They can keep this courtesy car until the write off claim is settled. This is due to the at-fault insurance company being responsible to keep the non-fault party on the road in a suitable vehicle until the claim is settled. Should you find yourself in this situation contact ACC, we can help you today.