WHAT IS CREDIT HIRE?
Stay on the road after a non-fault accident, without paying a penny upfront
Credit hire is a way of getting a replacement vehicle after an accident that wasn't your fault. Instead of paying daily hire charges out of your own pocket, the cost is put on credit and recovered later from the driver who caused the crash — or, in practice, their insurer. You keep the car you need to get to work, the school run and everything else, and you don't have to find the money first.
While you focus on getting your own vehicle repaired, we deal with the recovery side and the wider claim. Credit hire usually sits alongside your other road traffic accident losses, such as repair costs and storage, and if you were hurt as well we can also help with a road traffic accident injury claim. The hire side costs you nothing when you were not at fault and acted reasonably.
What we arrange & recover
Like-for-like vehicle
We arrange a replacement that genuinely matches your own — same class, size and type — so a family with three children isn't squeezed into a city runaround while their estate is in the garage.
Stay mobile while repaired
You keep the hire vehicle for the time it reasonably takes to put your own car right, so your daily life carries on as normal rather than grinding to a halt.
Nothing upfront
There's no deposit and no daily charge for you to find. The hire goes on credit and the bill is presented to the at-fault insurer, not to you.
Recovered from at-fault insurer
Because the accident was the other driver's fault, the law lets you recover your reasonable hire costs from their insurer. We handle that recovery for you.
Vans & specialist vehicles
Not everyone drives a saloon. If you rely on a van, a tradesman's vehicle or something specialist for work, we can arrange a like-for-like replacement so your income isn't hit.
No impact on your no-claims
A genuine non-fault claim handled this way should not touch your own policy or your no-claims discount, because you're recovering from the other side.
You may have a claim if…
The accident was not your fault
Your vehicle is damaged, being repaired or written off
You need a replacement vehicle
The accident happened in England or Wales
How your claim works
01
Free consultation
Tell us what happened in a quick, no-obligation chat. We'll check the accident was non-fault and confirm you're eligible for a replacement vehicle — it takes minutes and costs nothing.
02
We arrange your vehicle
Once you're happy to go ahead, we organise a like-for-like replacement and get it to you fast, often within a day, so you're not left stranded.
03
We recover the costs
We deal with the at-fault driver's insurer to recover the hire charges and your other losses, keeping you updated and doing the chasing for you.
04
Settled with the insurer
The claim is settled with the insurer and the hire account is cleared on your behalf. When everything is handled reasonably, that means nothing to pay from your own pocket.
Credit hire FAQs
What is credit hire and who pays?+
Credit hire is a replacement vehicle provided on credit after a non-fault accident, so you don't pay daily charges yourself. The reasonable cost is recovered from the at-fault driver's insurer, which is who ultimately pays.
Will it cost me anything?+
If you were genuinely not at fault and you've acted reasonably — for example, accepting a sensible like-for-like vehicle and not keeping it longer than needed — the hire should cost you nothing, as the bill is met by the other driver's insurer.
What vehicle will I get?+
You'll get a like-for-like replacement — broadly the same class and size as your own car. If you drive an estate, a van or an automatic, we aim to match that, so the replacement actually suits your needs.
Will it affect my insurance or no-claims?+
A genuine non-fault credit hire claim should not affect your own insurance premium or your no-claims discount, because the costs are recovered from the at-fault driver's insurer rather than your policy.
How long can I keep the hire car?+
You can keep it for a reasonable period — normally while your own vehicle is being repaired, or, if it's a write-off, until the insurer has settled the value so you can replace it. The key word is reasonable: you should hand it back once you no longer need it.
What if I was partly at fault?+
You may still recover a proportion of your hire costs even where blame is shared, though the amount can be reduced to reflect your share. Tell us exactly what happened and we'll give you an honest, realistic view of where you stand.
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