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I'm being offered a replacement vehicle while my Honda Accord is repaired. Should I accept it?
My 05 Honda Accord Estate CDTi was recently badly damaged by another driver while it was legally parked and unattended. My insurance company are almost certain the other driver's insurer will concede fault and have offered me a like-for-like replacement while mine is being assessed and repaired/written off. They have passed my details to a linked company to deal with a temporary replacement vehicle who have sent a 'Vehicle Hire Agreement' with lots of terms and conditions and daily rental rates of up to £106 per day. Should I be accepting this agreement even if the other party do fully accept responsibility, or will I be potentially liable for some or all of this hire agreement cost? Is this different from a Credit Hire you warn about?
Asked on 26 August 2010 by simon reavell
Answered by
Lucy
You are being offered a credit hire for which your insurer will receive a hefty commission. Under the circumstances outlined then the other vehicle is at fault, but under the terms of the hire agreement you will be liable if the credit hire company cannot recover from the other party.
Points to remember are that:
** You are only eligible for a credit hire vehicle if your own vehicle is not drivable. If it is drivable you are only entitled to a replacement vehicle for the actual period the repairs are taking place. If it is written off the car must go back on receipt of the payment.
** Do not accept a vehicle which is better than "like for like" (in the same class - not necessarily the same make/model) as the third party insurer will not pay for it. It is a favourite trick for the credit hire company to "upgrade" you claiming not to have a similar model. You can be left to pay the difference.
** Beware the credit hire company delaying the repair or inspection. They will be getting a cut of the "storage charges" from the garage as well as the car hire rate, so it pays them (and the garage) to delay the repairs.
** Make sure the credit hire company is First Tier ABI. Ask them, if they are not don't use them.
** Some third party insurers will fight credit hire cases all the way - demanding bank statements, credit card bills etc. If this happens the credit hire company will probably appoint lawyers and pay to fight (and probably win) your case but you will be required to support them and assist.
** If you have access to an alternative vehicle of equal quality (for example if your Porsche is damaged but you have a Ferrari parked in the garage) then you are probably not entitled to a credit hire vehicle.
Not all credit hire companies are bad however, and in principle it is a very good idea. The problem is that there are too many cowboys. If you call David Blakemore at Integrity Claims on 07837 426627, he will provide you with a vehicle which will avoid all the risks I have outlined above. Integrity work on the basis that they will guarantee to cover all the costs of the hire and there will only be recourse against the claimant if there is fraud involved. Please say Lucy at AutoSure told you to call him.
Points to remember are that:
** You are only eligible for a credit hire vehicle if your own vehicle is not drivable. If it is drivable you are only entitled to a replacement vehicle for the actual period the repairs are taking place. If it is written off the car must go back on receipt of the payment.
** Do not accept a vehicle which is better than "like for like" (in the same class - not necessarily the same make/model) as the third party insurer will not pay for it. It is a favourite trick for the credit hire company to "upgrade" you claiming not to have a similar model. You can be left to pay the difference.
** Beware the credit hire company delaying the repair or inspection. They will be getting a cut of the "storage charges" from the garage as well as the car hire rate, so it pays them (and the garage) to delay the repairs.
** Make sure the credit hire company is First Tier ABI. Ask them, if they are not don't use them.
** Some third party insurers will fight credit hire cases all the way - demanding bank statements, credit card bills etc. If this happens the credit hire company will probably appoint lawyers and pay to fight (and probably win) your case but you will be required to support them and assist.
** If you have access to an alternative vehicle of equal quality (for example if your Porsche is damaged but you have a Ferrari parked in the garage) then you are probably not entitled to a credit hire vehicle.
Not all credit hire companies are bad however, and in principle it is a very good idea. The problem is that there are too many cowboys. If you call David Blakemore at Integrity Claims on 07837 426627, he will provide you with a vehicle which will avoid all the risks I have outlined above. Integrity work on the basis that they will guarantee to cover all the costs of the hire and there will only be recourse against the claimant if there is fraud involved. Please say Lucy at AutoSure told you to call him.
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