When should I make a claim on my car insurance?



Making a claim on your car insurance may seem like the only option following a road traffic accident. However making a claim independently of your insurer can provide a cost effective alternative to a claim on your policy if you were not responsible for the accident you were involved in. Call us on 02392 484 244 to find out what options are available to you.


Making a claim on your own car insurance policy

If you caused or were ‘at-fault’ for the car accident you were involved in, your only option is to make a claim on your own car insurance policy. If you have comprehensive insurance the repairs to your vehicle should be covered, however if you have third party insurance you will probably have to pay for your vehicle repairs yourself.

If you were not responsible for the accident, you could claim on your own policy and get your vehicle repaired but you may initially have to pay your excess and your no-claims discount will almost certainly be affected.


Why make a car accident claim independently of your insurer?

We and our partners help thousands of customers every year make their non-fault accident claims independently of their own insurers.

The key advantages of making a claim in this way are:

  • It is not necessary to make a claim on your own policy

  • No excess to pay

  • Your no-claims discount should not be affected



In addition to this, our service enables you to:

  • Get your vehicle repaired at an approved accident repair centre or at a repair centre of your choice

  • Be provided with a quality comparable replacement vehicle to use if yours is unroadworthy and/or being repaired

  • Legal assistance is provided for the recovery of expenses, damaged or lost personal items and claims for personal injury

To find out how we can help with your motor accident claim, 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