If you’re involved in an accident and your automobile has to go in for repairs, you most likely will not want to be forking out for taxis or relying on public transport while your motor is off the road.
But can you be certain your completely complete policy will provide you with a courtesy car? Or does your policy need you to pay added on best of your premium to make certain you get a replacement automobile?
Policy specifics
As with all factors insurance, the provision of a courtesy automobile varies from insurer to insurer, with it is essential to check your policy to make positive you have exactly the cover you are following – and there are no nasty surprises lurking in the wings when you have an accident.
To highlight how courtesy car provision can differ among insurers, and why it’s critical to check the terms and circumstances, we have a tale of 2 policies.
Mixed knowledge
The very first is from Clare Francis, our editor-in-chief at MoneySuperMarket, who was told the cover she got as common on her Post Office policy would only provide her with a courtesy automobile “if the garage has got one in” – which means some motorists could be in for an unpleasant surprise if they’re expecting a replacement car.
Our second tale comes from a buyer who, while insured with Direct Line, was provided a car of comparable size to her own when it went in for repairs, as per the terms of its Guaranteed Employ Automobile Plus cover – Direct Line does not supply a courtesy automobile as regular.
The auto she was given whilst her Mercedes in for repairs was a leading-of-the variety Jaguar, which she believed was a little excessive for a hire car, but Direct Line’s Guranteed Employ Automobile Plus cover stipulates drivers will be given a comparable car whilst theirs is being repaired.
If you do not consider you’ll need this, there’s the more affordable Assured Automobile Hire selection, which entitles you to a little, 1000cc car even though yours gets fixed.
Constantly check the information to make certain you’re not paying for additional cover you don’t need to have or want.
Market normal?
So, is there an market normal for courtesy car provision, or is it down to the discretion of person insurers?
We asked the market trade physique, the Association of British Insurers (ABI), exactly where it stands on the matter. It stated:
- If you are involved in an accident and no other driver is involved, then whether or not or not you are entitled beneath your personal motor policy to a courtesy auto even though yours is being repaired will be down the provisions of your policy.
- If you are involved in motor crash with another driver, but you are at fault, you will not be in a position to claim against the other driver for repair, or replacement of your automobile. If you claim on your motor policy then the above applies.
- However, if involved in accident with an additional driver and they are at fault then you can claim against their insurer for courtesy automobile even though yours is off the road. But your claim need to be reasonable in that it should be for a related variety vehicle as yours.
In brief then, it is more or much less down to the insurer. The only rule that applies across the board is that if you are at fault in a crash with an additional driver, you have to claim on your personal policy and can’t claim off the other driver’s policy – which stands to cause.
So just how a lot does courtesy auto provision differ from insurer to insurer?
We checked out some policy outlines from some of the UK’s biggest insurers to discover out.
What the insurers say – a industry selection…
Aviva/Quote Me Pleased
A courtesy automobile is common with Quote Me Happy and is an added cover selection with its parent business, Aviva. With each brands, you can claim much more than when more than the term of the policy.
This means, below the terms of a common Quote Me Content policy, or under the added cover choice supplied by Aviva, you will be given a courtesy auto for the duration of the repairs being carried out, so extended as these are being carried out by an authorized repairer and you have been not at fault for the accident.
Aviva’s courtesy auto selection will give you a modest, 1 litre hatchback for the duration of the repairs unless you pay for ‘enhanced courtesy’, in which case you will get a 1.6 litre 5-door model.
Quote Me Happy’s regular cover will give you a courtesy automobile if yours is broken in an accident and you use its approved repair ne2rk.
If you decide on the added vehicle employ option, you will get employ auto if vehicle is stolen (insurers normally do not offer you courtesy vehicles for stolen autos) or written off and can maintain car for 21 days or until settlement cheque is sent.
Carrot
Topic to availability, a free of charge courtesy vehicle will be provided to you for the duration of any repairs, offered your auto is repaired by a single of its authorized repair centres.
Churchill
A courtesy car is presented as element of normal fully extensive and third celebration fire & theft (TPFT) cover if vehicle is fire damaged and repaired by an authorized garage.
For an added premium you can take out Assured Automobile Hire and Assured Auto Hire Plus, each of which supply a courtesy vehicle in the event of fire damage, accident damage, damage as a result of theft, if car is stolen or written off or if the automobile is awaiting repair. It will also provide a courtesy auto if you use your own garage for any repairs.
Guaranteed Auto Employ supplies a vehicle for a maximum of 14 consecutive days, Guaranteed Vehicle Hire Plus gives a vehicle for a maximum of 21 consecutive days.
Churchill completely complete buyers will obtain a courtesy vehicle as standard no matter how a lot of claims are produced or if there are a number of claims in one year.
Direct Line
No courtesy automobile as standard, but you can take out one particular of 2 optional extras for courtesy vehicle provision.
Guaranteed Hire Vehicle: a hire vehicle will be supplied for up to 14 consecutive days. The vehicle will be a little 1000cc hatchback auto or related and is offered to consumers who have extensive policies.
Assured Hire Vehicle Plus: a employ automobile will be supplied for up to 21 consecutive days. The car will be of a related physical size to your personal and this is available to customers who have complete policies.
Esure
A free of charge courtesy auto is supplied whilst your car is becoming repaired by one of its recommended repairers. A courtesy auto is not obtainable if your vehicle is stolen or if it is regarded to be a total loss or if your policy is cancelled or lapses for the duration of the period of repair.
A courtesy automobile is common and offered for each valid claim a client makes. Esure will not limit the quantity of claims for a courtesy car although the car on cover is becoming repaired.
1st Central
A courtesy car will be provided if your vehicle is becoming repaired by a single of the insurers’ approved repairers.
A courtesy vehicle will not be offered if your automobile has been stolen, is beyond financial repair or if you choose a repairer not on the insurer’s approved panel.
The insurer is unable to assure a courtesy vehicle for owners of cars initially produced for sale outdoors the European Union.
Hastings
Offering you use Hastings’s appointed approved repairer, a courtesy car will be supplied for the duration of the repairs. This is assured and provided as normal for extensive cover.
The kind of car provided is what is classed as a Class A courtesy car – which is a normal small hatchback (normally a 3-door, 1 litre vehicle such as a Nissan Micra or Ford KA).
There are no limits on the number of claims you can make inside a policy year or the quantity of occasions a courtesy vehicle will be supplied.
LV=
Courtesy cars are an optional added for LV= automobile insurance coverage customers and expense £19.90 a year. If a client does choose to contain a courtesy vehicle on their policy, they will not be restricted to how several times the firmj will give a courtesy automobile. For instance, a consumer can have multiple claims in a year and still get a courtesy vehicle on each and every occasion.
Following loss or harm, a tiny hatchback under 1200cc will be provided if the repairs are carried out by its Chosen Repairer Service. This will be provided for up to 14 days or till 4 days following payment of the claim has been issued, whichever is soonest, if your car is a total loss and cannot be driven safely, or is stolen and not recovered.
A lot more Th>n
If you have extensive cover, you’ll receive a free of charge courtesy car if your auto wants repairs following an accident and you use a advised repairer (excluding total loss).
All Much more Th>n clients who have completely extensive insurance get a courtesy vehicle if they need it, and there’s no restrictions on the amount of times it is offered. It says that, “If a customer wants a courtesy vehicle, they must have a single.”
Post Workplace
Use of a courtesy vehicle is presented although yours is becoming repaired by 1 of its approved repairers following an accident covered by the policy. As Clare Francis found, courtesy cars are subject to availability and the supplying garage’s terms and conditions.
Sheila’s Wheels
A totally free courtesy car will be provided whilst your vehicle is getting repaired by the firm’s recommended repairers under a valid claim. All you spend for is the fuel. A courtesy automobile is not obtainable if your auto is stolen or is considered to be a total loss.
An further car employ advantage indicates you will be provided a courtesy car if your car is written off or stolen, up to a maximum of 21 days.
Swiftcover
Completely extensive cover supplies alternative auto for maximum of 14 or 21 consecutive days in any one instance and a maximum of 21 or 28 days in any one particular policy year, based upon the level of cover selected. This applies either although auto is getting repaired simply because of any damage following a claim or until your claim is settled if your personal car is impacted by fire, theft or is written off.
If a courtesy auto can’t be supplied, the firm will repay your alternative travelling costs up to a maximum of £15 a day.
TPFT gives an option car till the claim is settled if your vehicle is impacted by fire or theft for maximum of 14 or 21 consecutive days in any one instance and a maximum of 21 or 28 days in any 1 policy year, based upon the level of cover chosen.
Select the right cover
As you can see, every single insurer has its own policy on the provision of courtesy cars and most will not provide a replacement car if yours is stolen or written off entirely. So, as ever, the message is to shop about to make sure you get the exact cover you’re after.
But what is your knowledge of courtesy car provision? Have you been left higher and dry right after an accident, or have you been properly taken care of?
Do you count on a courtesy vehicle to be an automatic element of your insurance policy, or are you content to pay added to obtain an improved level of provision and service?
We’d adore to hear from you in the box beneath!
Replacement autos – a common courtesy?
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