Insurance claims · 7 min read
An accident management company handles a non-fault accident claim on your behalf. It typically arranges the repair, a replacement vehicle and the recovery of costs from the at-fault driver's insurer, so you may not need to go through your own policy. It is an alternative to claiming through your own insurer, and you can still have a say in who repairs your car.
For a driver after a non-fault accident who has been contacted by, or is considering, an accident management company and wants to understand the options.
What these companies do after a non-fault accident
When an accident was not your fault, the costs should ultimately fall on the other driver's insurer. An accident management company steps in to manage that process for you. In general terms it takes your details, arranges for the car to be assessed and repaired, may provide a replacement vehicle while yours is off the road, and then pursues the at-fault insurer for the costs.
Because the claim is made against the other side rather than your own policy, people often use these services to avoid paying an excess up front. How each company works, and what it asks you to sign, varies, so it pays to read the paperwork carefully.
Accident management, your own insurer or credit hire
| Accident management company | Your own insurer | Credit hire | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who arranges the repair | The company, often with a repairer you can have a say in | Your insurer, though you can choose your own repairer | Not the main role; credit hire covers the replacement vehicle |
| The replacement vehicle | Often arranged as part of the service | Depends on your policy and any courtesy car cover | A hire vehicle provided on credit, with costs claimed from the at-fault insurer |
| Who you deal with | The company handling your claim | Your insurer's claims team | The credit hire provider |
| Your own policy | Usually not claimed on for a non-fault accident | Claimed on, then recovered if not your fault | Usually not claimed on |
What credit hire means
Credit hire is a way of getting a replacement vehicle after a non-fault accident without paying for it yourself at the time. The hire is provided on credit, and the provider recovers the cost from the at-fault driver's insurer. Some accident management companies provide credit hire as part of their service, and some credit hire providers work on their own. Our guide to courtesy cars and accident repairs explains how a replacement vehicle differs from a courtesy car under your own policy.
Questions to ask before signing anything
- Who will repair my car, and can I choose the body shop?
- What type of replacement vehicle will I get, and for how long?
- What happens if fault is disputed, or the other side's insurer does not pay?
- Could I be liable for any costs at the end of the claim, and in what circumstances?
- Do I need to tell my own insurer, and will this affect my policy?
- Can I take the paperwork away to read before I sign?
You can still choose your repairer
Whichever route you take, it is worth asking who will carry out the repair. You have the right to choose your own repairer when you claim through your insurer, and many accident management arrangements allow you to name a body shop too. Our guide on choosing your own body shop explains how to ask for it.
How repairs are arranged with us
Whether the repair comes through an insurer, a non-fault claim or you pay privately, we assess the whole vehicle, record the damage in a digital estimate and repair it to the same standard. We are BS10125 certified and an RAC Approved Repairer. Our accident repairs page sets out the options for non-fault claims, and our guides to non-fault accident repairs and the insurance accident repair process explain each step.
Questions people ask us
- Is an accident management company the same as my insurer?
- No. Your insurer provides your policy. An accident management company is a separate business that manages a non-fault claim against the at-fault driver's insurer on your behalf.
- Do I have to use the company that contacted me?
- No. You can choose how to handle your claim, including going through your own insurer. Take time to compare options before agreeing to anything.
- What is credit hire?
- A replacement vehicle provided after a non-fault accident on credit, with the cost recovered from the at-fault driver's insurer rather than paid by you at the time.
- Can I choose my own body shop through accident management?
- Ask the company directly. Many arrangements let you name a repairer, and when you claim through your own insurer you have the right to choose your own repairer.
- What should I check before signing?
- Who repairs the car, what replacement vehicle you get, what happens if fault is disputed and whether you could be liable for any costs. Ask to read the paperwork before you sign.
Want your car repaired with us?
Call us or send photos on WhatsApp. We repair insurance, non-fault and private work, and estimates are free with no obligation.
Key points
- Accident management companies handle non-fault claims against the other side.
- Credit hire is a replacement vehicle provided on credit.
- Read the paperwork, and ask who will repair your car.
Related guides
Non-fault accident repairs
Non-fault accident repairs
What is a courtesy car?
What is a courtesy car?
The insurance accident repair process
The insurance accident repair process
Choosing your own body shop
Choosing your own body shop