360 Accident Management
Being without a vehicle after an accident can affect work, family life and daily routines. We help assess whether replacement vehicle assistance may be available and explain clearly how any arrangement works before it is agreed.
Losing the use of a vehicle, even temporarily, can be disruptive well beyond the inconvenience of finding another way to travel. Commuting, school runs, caring responsibilities and business use all depend on reliable transport. One of the more practical questions after an accident is simply: what happens now, in terms of getting around while the damaged vehicle is assessed or repaired.
Eligible customers may receive a replacement vehicle under a credit hire arrangement while recovery is pursued from the at-fault insurer. Eligibility, liability and applicable terms will be explained before an agreement is signed. This is a genuinely useful arrangement in the right circumstances, but it depends on the facts of the accident. It is not automatically available in every case, which is why an honest conversation about eligibility comes before anything else.
Credit hire, in plain terms, is an arrangement where a replacement vehicle is provided without upfront payment. The cost is instead later recovered from the insurer of the driver found to be at fault. It exists to put a non-fault driver back in the position they would have been in had the accident not happened. This is rather than leaving them to pay for a hire car themselves while waiting for a claim to be resolved.
Because credit hire depends on recovering costs from another party, liability matters a great deal. Where liability is clear and accepted, arranging a credit hire vehicle is often more straightforward. Where liability is disputed or unclear, more caution is needed, because there is a real possibility that costs cannot ultimately be recovered from the other insurer. This needs to be understood before any agreement is signed, not discovered afterwards.
How it works
Initial assessment
We discuss the circumstances of the accident, including liability where known, and your genuine need for a replacement vehicle, to establish whether a credit hire arrangement may be appropriate.
Eligibility and liability review
Eligibility depends significantly on liability, so this is reviewed carefully before any arrangement is offered. Where liability is disputed, we explain the additional considerations and risks involved.
Explaining the agreement
Before anything is signed, the terms of the customer agreement are explained clearly, including how the arrangement works, what is expected of the customer, and how costs are intended to be recovered.
Vehicle selection
A replacement vehicle is selected with reference to your genuine need, aiming for reasonable comparability with your own vehicle, though an identical make and model cannot be guaranteed.
Cooperation during the claim
Customers are asked to cooperate with the ongoing claim, for example by providing information promptly, since this supports the process of recovering hire costs from the at-fault insurer.
Recovery from the at-fault insurer
Costs are pursued from the insurer of the driver found to be at fault, as part of the wider claim, with the customer kept informed of progress where relevant.
Capability
Credit hire is a mechanism that allows a non-fault driver to be provided with a replacement vehicle without paying upfront. The cost is intended to be recovered later from the insurer of the driver responsible for the accident. It exists because it would otherwise be unfair for a non-fault driver to be left without transport, or to have to fund a hire vehicle themselves, purely because of someone else's actions.
The arrangement depends on liability being established, either because it is accepted by the other insurer or because it is subsequently determined to be their responsibility. Where liability is contested, there is a genuine risk that the hire costs are not ultimately recovered in full. This is why liability is reviewed carefully before an arrangement is confirmed, and why the terms of any agreement should be read in full.
A customer entering into a credit hire agreement is usually asked to cooperate with the claim, which might include providing a statement, confirming details of the accident, or responding to reasonable requests for information. This cooperation supports the process of recovering costs and is a normal part of how these arrangements work.
It is worth understanding that credit hire is different from a standard rental agreement. It is specifically tied to the accident claim, and the vehicle provided is intended to reasonably meet genuine need rather than being a free choice of any vehicle. Reviewing the terms before signing, and asking questions about anything unclear, is the best way to enter into this kind of arrangement with confidence.
We are not authorised to provide financial or legal advice, and this page is general information rather than advice on your specific circumstances. Please read any customer agreement in full and ask questions before signing, and seek independent advice if you are unsure about any of its terms.
Why 360
Reading facility
Body repair, paint, structural repair and nationwide accident management support.
8 Arkwright Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 0LUMonday – Friday: 9:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday: By appointment only
Sunday: By appointment only
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All 360 Accident Management servicesArkwright Road, ReadingAreas we coverContact 360
360 Accident Management
24/7 nationwide accident assistance, recovery and replacement vehicle support.
