Is Ford Accident Management really free?

dontworrybehappy1

Hello everyone,

I hit my front garden wall as I was reversing my Ford Fiesta out of my driveway and I need to get it repaired but I also need a courtesy car. I don't actually have one in my insurance policy but Ford has an Accident Management service which apparently gives you a free courtesy car, even if you were at fault and your insurance policy doesn't provide one.

Is this really true? I don't see how they can just give me a car free of charge when my insurer won't pay for it, and I don't want to suddenly get a bill for hundreds or thousands of pounds for hiring a car. Does anyone know if there are hidden charges somewhere that I'll end up having to pay, or is it really free even though it was my fault?

Thanks.

tasticz

If you let your own insurers repair your car via their network of repairers they usually give you a courtesy car. What ford will do is add the cost of the courtesy car on your repair bill so it looks as its free but your insurance will still pay out.

InsideInsurance

Insurers never pay for a courtesy car, they just have commercial agreements with the garages that they provide one where available. The garages absorb the cost of providing cars in exchange for the work they get.

You wont be getting a hire car, you will be getting a courtesy car, the garage itself owns it. Just check who insurers it as some require you to add it to your insurance as a TAV and if you dont have courtesy car entitlement on your policy then you may have to pay an admin fee and a small AP

dontworrybehappy1

InsideInsurance - so are you saying that I will have to pay for a courtesy car even if I use Ford's free accident management service, or are you referring to what will happen if I just go straight to my insurer rather than to Ford? The Ford website says that they 'provide you with a free courtesy car – even if it’s not included in your insurance policy, even if you were at fault'.

InsideInsurance

The car itself is free, the question is if the insurance on the car is free or not.

dontworrybehappy1

Oh I see. Well, I suppose that's cheaper than paying for a courtesy car AND the insurance, so I guess I'll go for it then! Thanks for the help.

InsideInsurance

dontworrybehappy1 wrote: »

Oh I see. Well, I suppose that's cheaper than paying for a courtesy car AND the insurance, so I guess I'll go for it then! Thanks for the help.

Check first the situation on the insurance.

Most garages outside of your insurers network will offer courtesy cars for free, some with insurance, some without.

Quentin

dontworrybehappy1 wrote: »

Oh I see. Well, I suppose that's cheaper than paying for a courtesy car AND the insurance, so I guess I'll go for it then! Thanks for the help.

Check the excess payable if you damage it. You can usually pay a supplement to reduce it. The local ford bodyshop has a £1000 excess.