Am I Entitled to a Courtesy Car After an Accident in the UK?

If your car is in for repair after an accident, the first practical question is usually: am I entitled to a courtesy car? The answer depends on who was at fault, what your insurance policy says, and whether your repairer provides a courtesy vehicle as standard.

This guide answers the most common UK questions about courtesy cars, hire cars, and your rights after a crash.

Courtesy Car Rules in the UK: The Short Answer

• Not automatic. There is no legal right to a courtesy car simply because your car is damaged.
• Your policy may include one. Comprehensive cover often includes a small hatchback while the car is repaired by an approved repairer.
• Non-fault crash. If the other driver was to blame you can claim a like-for-like replacement vehicle at their insurer's cost, whatever your own policy says.
• Your repairer can provide one. This sits outside your insurance entirely, so it does not depend on your policy wording.
• You choose the repairer. Every UK policy lets you nominate your own bodyshop, which is often how people end up with a better vehicle than the insurer offered.

Free Courtesy Cars at Solution Repair Group

Every Solution Repair Group centre provides a free courtesy car while your vehicle is with us, subject to availability and driver eligibility, on both insurance and private repairs. If the accident was not your fault we arrange a like-for-like replacement recovered from the at-fault insurer, so you are not squeezed into a car that does not suit you. We also collect from home or work and deliver the car back cleaned, so most customers barely change their routine. Ask about a courtesy car when you book, or tell your insurer you want the repair carried out with us and we will handle the rest.

Am I Entitled to a Courtesy Car?

You are entitled to a courtesy car in two main situations.

1. Your bodyshop provides one. Many independent accident repair centres include a free courtesy car while your vehicle is being repaired. This is separate from your insurance and is usually a small hatchback such as a Vauxhall Corsa or Ford Fiesta class.

2. Your insurance policy includes courtesy car cover. Some insurers add this as standard, especially on comprehensive policies. Others sell it as an optional extra. The level of cover varies, so it is worth checking your policy documents before you need it.

If neither your bodyshop nor your policy provides a courtesy car, you may still be able to claim a like-for-like replacement vehicle through a credit hire company if the accident was not your fault.

Does Fault Matter for a Courtesy Car?

Yes. Fault is the single biggest factor in what you can claim.

If the accident was not your fault

You have a legal right to a replacement vehicle that is reasonably equivalent to your own. This is not a basic courtesy car. It is a like-for-like hire car funded by the at-fault driver’s insurer.

The law says you should be put back in the position you were in before the accident. If you drive a seven-seat family car, a two-door hatchback is not a fair replacement. The same applies if you use your vehicle for work, towing, or a disability adaptation.

Credit hire companies provide this service at no upfront cost to you. They recover the cost from the third-party insurer. Your repairer can usually arrange this for you.

If the accident was your fault

You only get a courtesy car if your own policy includes it or your chosen repairer provides one. You cannot claim against the other party’s insurance because there is no other party to claim from.

Some insurers offer a “guaranteed courtesy car” add-on that promises a replacement vehicle even on fault claims. This is the most reliable option if you want peace of mind.

What Does “Courtesy Car” Actually Mean on My Policy?

Insurance policy wording varies. Do not assume “courtesy car included” means you will get a suitable replacement.

Check the following details:

• Class of car. Is it a small hatchback, a similar-sized car, or a like-for-like vehicle?
• Number of seats. Does it cover the same number of passengers?
• Any-driver or named-driver only. Can your partner or a family member drive it?
• Insurance cover. Is it fully comprehensive or third-party only?
• Mileage limit. Are you restricted to a set number of miles?
• Fuel policy. Do you return it with the same fuel level?
• Duration. How long can you keep it? Only during the repair, or until the claim is settled?

If your policy promises a courtesy car but the insurer’s network repairer cannot supply one, ask your insurer to cover the cost of an independent hire. They may not volunteer this.

What If My Insurer Says No?

Insurers sometimes refuse a courtesy car or offer one that is clearly unsuitable. This is frustrating, but you have options.

Challenge the decision. Ask for the specific policy clause that excludes or limits your cover. If the wording is unclear, a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service can rule in your favour.

Use an independent repairer. You have the right to choose your own bodyshop. Many independent repairers, including the Solution Repair Group network, provide a courtesy car as part of their service even when your insurer does not.

Consider credit hire. If you are not at fault and the third-party insurer is delaying, a credit hire company can provide a replacement vehicle and chase the insurer for payment.

Do I Have to Pay a Deposit?

Most insurance courtesy cars and bodyshop courtesy cars do not require a deposit. Credit hire vehicles are usually provided without an upfront payment because the cost is recovered from the at-fault insurer.

Always confirm this before you take the keys. Some hire companies may ask for a fuel deposit or a card pre-authorisation for damage.

What Happens If I Damage the Courtesy Car?

Check the insurance cover before you drive. If the courtesy car is fully comprehensive, you are usually covered for damage, but you may still be liable for an excess.

At Solution Repair Group centres, our fleet courtesy cars are fully comprehensively insured with a clear excess amount. We explain this before you drive away so there are no surprises.

How Long Can I Keep the Courtesy Car?

With a bodyshop courtesy car, you keep it until your own vehicle is repaired and ready for collection. With an insurer-provided courtesy car, the duration depends on your policy. Some policies stop the courtesy car the moment the repair is approved, even if work has not finished.

Read the small print. If your repair is delayed by parts, the insurer should extend the courtesy car period if the policy covers it.

What Whaley Bridge Accident Repair Centre and the Solution Repair Group Network Include

Every insurance repair at our network centres includes a courtesy car as standard. We deliver it to your door and collect it when your car is ready. The vehicle is fully comprehensive, has no mileage cap, and is yours for the full duration of the repair.

If you were not at fault, we can also arrange a like-for-like credit hire vehicle so you are not downgraded while your car is off the road.

Frequently Asked Questions About Courtesy Cars

Am I automatically entitled to a courtesy car after an accident?

No. You are only entitled if your policy includes it, your repairer provides one, or the accident was not your fault and you claim a replacement vehicle from the third-party insurer.

Will my courtesy car be the same size as my car?

Only if you have guaranteed like-for-like cover or you are claiming from a not-at-fault third party. Standard courtesy cars are usually small hatchbacks.

Can I use a courtesy car for work?

It depends on the policy and the type of vehicle. If you need a commercial or large vehicle, ask your insurer or repairer about suitability before you accept the keys.

What if my car is written off?

Most courtesy car arrangements end when the insurer declares your car a total loss. If you are not at fault, you may still be entitled to a hire car for a reasonable period while you arrange a replacement.

Should I choose a repairer that offers a courtesy car?

If your insurer does not guarantee a suitable replacement, choosing a repairer that provides a free courtesy car can keep you mobile and reduce stress during the repair.

If you are unsure what you are entitled to, call your local Solution Repair Group centre. We will check your policy position, explain your options, and make sure you have a vehicle that keeps you moving.

Courtesy Car or Hire Car: What Is the Difference?

People use the two terms as if they mean the same thing. They do not, and the difference decides who pays and what you get.

How Long Can You Keep It?

There is no fixed number of days set in law. In practice you keep the vehicle for the length of the authorised repair. If parts are delayed, tell your repairer straight away so the arrangement is extended rather than quietly ended. On a non-fault claim the hire period should reasonably cover the repair, and after a total loss it usually runs for a short period after the settlement offer so you can buy a replacement.

If Your Insurer Says No: Four Steps That Work

1. Check your schedule of insurance, not the brochure. Look for the words courtesy car, guaranteed replacement vehicle, or hire car, and note any conditions such as using an approved repairer.
2. If the crash was not your fault, contact the other driver's insurer directly and ask for a like-for-like replacement. You do not need your own policy to include one.
3. Ask your repairer what they hold on site. Independent bodyshops often provide a free courtesy car even when the insurer will not.
4. If you are still without a vehicle, raise a formal complaint with your insurer. They have eight weeks to respond, after which you can take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service free of charge.

Watch Out for These Conditions

• Most courtesy cars require you to be aged 21 or over, sometimes 25, with a clean licence.
• You are normally covered by the provider's insurance, but there will be an excess. Ask what it is before you drive away.
• Fuel or charge is your responsibility, and the vehicle should come back in the same state you received it.
• Only named drivers on the agreement may drive the car. Adding a partner usually takes one phone call.

Every Solution Repair Group centre will tell you up front what vehicle is available, who insures it, and how long you can keep it, before your car comes in for repair.

Courtesy Car FAQs

Does a courtesy car cost me anything?

In most cases, no. If your policy includes a courtesy car, or your repairer provides one, the vehicle itself is free while your car is being repaired. You pay for fuel or charging, and you are responsible for the insurance excess on the courtesy car if you damage it. On a non-fault claim the at-fault driver's insurer picks up the cost of the replacement vehicle, so there is nothing for you to pay.

Am I entitled to a courtesy car if the accident was not my fault?

Yes. If another driver was to blame, you are entitled to a replacement vehicle at their insurer's expense, whether or not your own policy includes a courtesy car. It should be like for like, so a van owner gets a van and a seven-seat owner gets a seven-seater, not a small hatchback.

Will claiming a courtesy car affect my insurance premium?

Taking a courtesy car does not itself raise your premium. What affects your premium is the claim: a fault claim usually does, and a non-fault claim handled through the other driver's insurer normally does not, although it may still be recorded and can affect your no-claims discount if your insurer has to pay out first.

Do I get a courtesy car if my car is written off?

Usually only for a short period. Once your car is declared a total loss, most policies end the courtesy car when the settlement is agreed. On a non-fault claim the replacement vehicle normally continues for a reasonable time after the payout so you can buy a replacement car.

How long does a courtesy car take to arrange?

Where the vehicle is arranged through Solution Repair Group on a non-fault claim, we aim to have a like-for-like replacement with you within 24 hours. Through an insurer's own scheme it can take longer, particularly if liability has not yet been confirmed.

Can I use my own repairer and still get a courtesy car?

Often yes. You have the right to choose your repairer, and independent BS 10125 accredited bodyshops usually keep courtesy cars on site. Some policies only guarantee a courtesy car through an approved repairer, so check your schedule of insurance first, then ask your chosen bodyshop what they can provide.