How long after an accident can I make a car insurance claim?





The terms of your particular insurance policy should state the time period in which you should make your accident claim, however it is generally advisable to report an accident repair claim within 7 days of the accident occurring.

If you are looking to pursue a compensation claim for an injury however, you can make a new claim up to 3 years after the accident occurred provided you haven’t made a claim for that accident previously.


Do I have to claim on my car insurance policy to get my vehicle repaired?

If you were at-fault for the accident you were involved in, the only option is to make a claim on your car insurance policy. But your car will only be covered for a repair if you have a fully comprehensive policy. If you have third party insurance, your policy will only cover repairs to the other driver’s vehicle.

However if you were not at-fault for the accident, you have the option of either making a claim on your own policy or making a claim independently of your insurer.

It’s up to you. If your policy provides the legal cover and the assistance you require and you are not concerned about the effect your claim may have on your future insurance costs – you may choose to claim on you own insurance policy.

However using our alternative claims assistance allows you to get your vehicle repaired, a suitable replacement and legal assistance all without potentially losing your no-claims bonus and increasing the future cost of your car insurance.

The advantages of an independent non-fault accident claim

We independently help motorists get the assistance that they need but without a claim on their own motor insurance policy.

When we deal with your claim, we provide all the services you would expect from a comprehensive car insurance policy - except you are not actually using your insurer.

We can do this because we act independently of any insurer and so we are not bound by their terms and conditions, consequently we can recover your accident related costs directly from the at-fault driver’s insurer on your behalf.

Making your accident claim in this way of course also means that you do not have to pay the excess on your own policy and the no-claims bonus on your policy should not be affected.

The services we provide with your claim include: -

  • A comparable replacement hire-vehicle if yours is un-roadworthy and/or being repaired

  • The replacement vehicle is delivered to your home or place of work typically within 3 hours (if your vehicle is un-drivable) of your claim being accepted

  • Your vehicle is repaired at an approved accident repair centre or at a repairing garage of your own choice

  • Legal assistance is arranged for issues such as lost earnings, expenses or a claim for a personal injury

  • 24 hour help and assistance with all your claim related queries

If you would like to find out more about our service, call us on 02392 484 244 and we will be happy to help.

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