Car accident claims | What is a credit hire car?




If you have been involved in an accident that was not your fault, under UK law you should be placed in similar position to the one you were in before the accident occurred – at the expense of the at-fault driver’s insurer.

Basically ‘Credit hire’ means the provider of your replacement hire vehicle is bearing the cost of that vehicle for you, until you no longer need it and they will recover these costs directly from the at fault drivers insurance company.

Car Call and its partners provide independent claims assistance for anyone who was is not responsible for the accident they were involved in.


Don’t just get a courtesy car, get the comparable replacement you are entitled to

Finding a car accident repairer who can guarantee that you will have a courtesy car can sometimes be difficult. Even if you have a courtesy car (or replacement vehicle) available on your insurance policy you may not be offered a vehicle that is a suitable replacement for your own.

Because we and our partners recover your accident related costs directly from the at-fault driver’s insurer, we can organise a quality comparable replacement hire vehicle that is appropriate for your needs. Being independent of any insurer means you will not need to make a claim on your own insurance policy.

In addition to this you will also have the option of choosing your own repairer, rather than having to use the one your insurer specifies. However, if you would like us to find a repairer for you - we can. We have a network of approved repairers across the UK - chosen based on the quality of their repairs and superior customer service.

Our service also includes legal support to help you with the recovery of accident related expenses or help to pursue an injury compensation claim if you need it.

Thousands of people every year choose to use our independent claims service every year. This enables them to get the level of service they are entitled to, without having to pay their excess or having to put up with an increase in their car insurance premiums.

If you would like to find out more about our services just give us a call on 02392 484 244 and one of our experienced claims advisors will be happy to assist you.

Any policyholder can use this service, and it is your legal right to choose who repairs your vehicle. All assistance offered and information given on this page is provided by Car Call and its partners , no association or affiliation to any particular insurer is intended in any way, and your statutory rights are unaffected.


No need to claim on your insurance

Anyone who has been involved in a road accident has the right to choose who repairs their vehicle. If you were responsible for the accident you were involved in, the company that insures your vehicle would normally deal with your accident claim.

However if you were not at-fault for the accident, you can choose to either claim on your own insurance policy or make a claim independently of your insurer. To find out more call 02392 484 244 and we will be happy to help.

We and our partners help thousands of people make independent accident claims. Our service enables motorists to get the help and assistance they need to resolve their accident related issues, with the costs being recovered directly from the at-fault driver on your behalf.

No excess to pay

Unfortunately even if an accident was not your fault, your insurer will almost certainly require you to pay your excess before any repair is started on your car.

This money should of course be recovered by an insurer at a later date, but with our service - you do not have to pay it at all.

By using our independent claims service, you are not making a claim on your insurance policy and so you will have no excess to pay.

Receive a comparable replacement hire vehicle

Not all insurance policies will include a replacement hire-car for you to use if yours is damaged and unroadworthy. In fact it is typically an 'optional extra' on your policy.

Other policies may offer a 'courtesy car' but this is often just a 'basic' saloon or hatchback which may not be suitable for your needs.

Car Call and its partners will provide a comparable replacement vehicle as part of our service. This means we will endeavour to supply a hire-vehicle that similar to your own in terms of its type, make and engine size.

So whether you drive a small hatchback or a prestige sports car, we will look to provide a similar hire-vehicle that suits your needs.

Manufacturer approved vehicle repairs

If you have been involved in a car accident, the last thing you want to have to worry about is the quality of the repairs to your car. We have a UK wide network of partner approved Accident Repair Centres available to all of our customers.

Many of our accident repair centres are have manufacturer approvals for specific brands, so if you require a manufacturer approved repair centre, simply tell your personal claim handler and they will ensure your vehicle goes to an approved repairer.

Want you vehicle repaired by a specific garage? No problem, we can alternatively use a repairer that you specify.

Legal Assistance

Our partner solicitors provide legal assistance as part of our service. They specialise in motor claims related issues, so you can be assured of the best possible advice and assistance.

They issues they can assist you with include:

  • Recovery of the cost of the replacement hire-vehicle
  • Recovery of the cost of uplifting your damaged vehicle
  • Recovery of all repair costs
  • Recovery of the cost of damaged of personal items
  • Seeking financial compensation for an injury