courtesy car on insurance?

joe134

hi guys, I'm checking insurance quotes for my son, and notice that all companies only give a courtesy car, if it is involved in an accident, and my son NOT at fault.?.
For a premium of £30, he can insure for an accident if it's his fault, but, only if the car's a write off, or stolen.for 21 days.
He's always paid the premium, assuming he would get a courtesy car, whatever.? Is this the norm with all companies.?
I've never taken that cover, as I have always had a second car.

InsideInsurance

A courtesy car is a vehicle provided by the garage doing the repair, normally they are "free" but in reality the cost is in the hourly labour rate. This is the traditional option and you only get one if the car is repairable (or found and repairable).

Next you have the more modern idea of an enhanced/ guaranteed or other such names which in reality is a hire car. Some will use it to supplement a traditional one or others use it in all circumstances. Some also give you the option of going for a higher grade of vehicle than the normal group A car.

Finally there is also credit hire, this is only useable in the case of being in a non-fault accident with an identified third party to claim from and has nothing at all to do with your insurance. They are just hire companies that give you the car on credit and tries to recover their inflated charges from the third party/ their insurers.

Alternatively if you are in a non-fault claim you can go to the Third Party insurer and ask them to deal with some or all of your claim and assuming there is no issues with indemnity or liability then they will happily hire you an appropriate car at less than a quarter the price of credit hire

joe134

InsideInsurance wrote: »

A courtesy car is a vehicle provided by the garage doing the repair, normally they are "free" but in reality the cost is in the hourly labour rate. This is the traditional option and you only get one if the car is repairable (or found and repairable).

Next you have the more modern idea of an enhanced/ guaranteed or other such names which in reality is a hire car. Some will use it to supplement a traditional one or others use it in all circumstances. Some also give you the option of going for a higher grade of vehicle than the normal group A car.

Finally there is also credit hire, this is only useable in the case of being in a non-fault accident with an identified third party to claim from and has nothing at all to do with your insurance. They are just hire companies that give you the car on credit and tries to recover their inflated charges from the third party/ their insurers.

Alternatively if you are in a non-fault claim you can go to the Third Party insurer and ask them to deal with some or all of your claim and assuming there is no issues with indemnity or liability then they will happily hire you an appropriate car at less than a quarter the price of credit hire

Hi , Thanks for that. All my son wants, is a courtesy car , in the event of a repairable accident, no matter whose fault, even if it costs him more premium.I cannot find this with the quotes, it's either, free courtesy car, if he's not at fault,and repairable, or, pay £30 for a courtesy car, but only if his is a write off,or stolen, not if it's repairable??
Am I mis-reading it.? Hastings Insurance;;;

keith1950

You only get a courtesy car when repairs start on your car. If doesn't really matter whose fault it was and you have to hand it back as soon as it is repaired or written off.

Even if you pay extra to guarantee a courtesy car it's only available during the actual repair.

If it is the other party's fault their insurer would normally supply a courtesy car or hire car.

You must be mis-reading because that exactly the opposite of what happens.

joe134

keith1950 wrote: »

You only get a courtesy car when repairs start on your car. If doesn't really matter whose fault it was and you have to hand it back as soon as it is repaired or written off.

Even if you pay extra to guarantee a courtesy car it's only available during the actual repair.

If it is the other party's fault their insurer would normally supply a courtesy car or hire car.

You must be mis-reading because that exactly the opposite of what happens.

Thanks both, I obviously am mis-reading it.That's clearer. He needs a guaranteed courtesy car, for work purposes, even if he has to pay extra, in the event of an accident, or loss.:beer:

keith1950

As I originally said, even with a guaranteed courtesy car you wudnt get one until the insurers actually start so if that was a week after the accident what would you do?

Also in the event of a total loss you would have to hand it back as soon as it was declared a total loss,you cant keep it until you find another car,plus if it is obvious to the garage that it would definately be a total loss you wouldn't even get the courtesy car in the first place.

It sounds like you need a guaranteed hire car. Have a look at M&S car insurance, they guarantee a hire car for up to 28 days and you usually get it the same day as the accident. Although that too has to be returned as soon as you receive a cheque in the event of a total loss.

Also if you take their premium cover it's all in the price.

I paid something like £300 for full comp., protected no claims, guaranteed hire car or courtesy car,keycare, legal expenses and business cover