Storage and recovery costs after an accident




If you have been involved in a road traffic accident and your vehicle is not safe to drive because of the damage, you (or the police may do this for you) will have to arrange for it to be collected using a recovery vehicle and stored in a compound temporarily until the accident inspection/repairs have been organised.

Depending on the circumstances of the accident, your vehicle may be stored in the compound for days or weeks after the collision, before it is taken to the garage for repair.

If you have comprehensive car insurance and you are at-fault for the accident, you would normally claim on your policy and your insurer should cover these costs for you. Unfortunately, if you only have third party car insurance, you will have to cover these costs yourself.


The disadvantages of making a non-fault claim on your car insurance

If you were not at-fault and choose to make a car accident claim with your insurer to recover your accident costs, you will almost certainly still have to pay the excess on your policy and also your insurance premium will probably increase as a result of your non-fault claim.


The advantages of making a non-fault claim using our independent claims service

We independently help thousands of motorists every year get their vehicles recovered and repaired without them having to claim on their car insurance.

Because we and our partners recover the costs associated with your accident directly from the insurer of the at-fault driver’s insurer, it means that you will not need to make a claim on your own insurance policy.

As you don't claim on your own policy this also means that you will not have to pay the excess and your policy renewal premium should not be affected.


Is recovery and repair all you do

We provide everything you need to resolve your accident. From arranging the recovery of your vehicle to getting compensation for lost earnings or a personal injury.

A summary of our services is shown below: -

  • We arrange for a comparable replacement vehicle to be delivered to you, typically within 3 hours (if your vehicle is un-drivable) of starting your claim

  • We will arrange for your damaged vehicle to be repaired at one of our approved accident repair centres or at a repair centre of your own choice

  • Storage or recovery costs are recovered as part of your non-fault claim

  • The solicitors we work with can also look to assist you with issues regarding injury compensation and the recovery of lost earnings

  • You will have 24/7 access to our claims team if you have any questions or queries



Remember – we provide all these services without you having to claim on your own insurance.

To find out more about our service, just call us on 02392 484 244 or complete the enquiry form on this page and we will get back to 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