Courtesy car - is this normal?

polski81

Hello,

I'm a newbie (kind of - used to be registered under different name!).

Anyway, yesterday I had a bit of a bump in my car - totally my fault, slipped on the ice and bumped in to the back of a 4x4. Their car is fine, thankfully. But my little Punto is a bit bashed up!

I'm with Co-operative Insurance and called to register my claim yesterday at 9am. Then I rang again at about 3pm to see what was happening. The answer - nothing. Naff all. Because they hadn't actually registered my claim. They told me the garage would call me by 5.30pm but they actually shut at 5pm. So, I rang the garage this morning and they told me that they'd 'hope' to pick my car up either today or tomorrow. They'd then assess the car and order parts. Once the parts were in they could then provide a courtesy car. Is this usual? Don't you usually get a car from the date your car is unroadworthy?

I've already made a complaint about the claim not going through the first time, but I don't know where I stand with this. I work 2 hours away from work if I use public transport and obviously I'm about to be without a car for the weekend. My boyfriend doesn't have one either. I also don't have enough money to hire a car as payday is next week!

Any advice?

Thanks.

Astaroth

The online policybook for CIS says that if you havent paid for the optional enhanced courtesy car cover then you get a courtesy car whilst yours is being repaired subject to availability.

Courtesy car provision is fairly hit or miss and the insurer doesnt actually directly pay the garage anything for it - typically they will agree labour rates to be circa £1 an hour more if they are supposed to try and get you a car.

Many insurers now offer an enhanced option which is a hire car for up to 14 days which ensures you get a car as a standard courtesy car isnt given in stolen not recovered or total losses.

lisyloo

Don't you usually get a car from the date your car is unroadworthy?

No.
Garages will often provide a car for free if they are getting paid for doing some repair work.
If they aren't getting paid e.g. you car is a write-off, then they are not going to provide you with a car for free.
This sort of car comes courtesy of the garage and not your insurance policy.

If your situation dictates that you cannot manage without a car then you should pay for the option to get a guaranteed hire car.
I don't think this option is too expensive.