Parting with your car for any period of time is bound to cause major inconvenience. Taking the bus to work instead of driving means factoring in extra time in the morning, while going out for dinner with friends means spending your life savings on a 10 minute taxi ride. At Got2Insure, we’re proud to offer courtesy car cover as an optional extra to your car insurance policy, so you can still get around no matter how long you’re left without your vehicle.
Here, we discuss everything you need to know about courtesy cars, including how they work, how long you can keep them and what happens if you crash a courtesy car.
What is a Courtesy Car?
A courtesy car is a temporary vehicle offered to you by your car insurance provider or, in some cases, by a repair garage as a replacement while your car is being repaired. Not every insurer offers courtesy car cover, meaning it’s a good idea to check what conditions apply to your policy.
Policyholders should bear in mind that a large majority of insurance providers will only offer you a courtesy car if your vehicle is being repaired at one of their pre-approved repair centres.
Insured Incidents
We will typically offer a Courtesy Car following:
· Theft of, attempted theft of, arson, vehicle interference or criminal damage of your vehicle making it undriveable or a total loss, or
· A road traffic accident with another vehicle that leaves your vehicle a total loss or
· A road traffic accident with another vehicle that leaves your vehicle damaged and is deemed repairable, provided your vehicle is insured on a comprehensive basis.
At Got2Insure, we are happy to offer our customers a courtesy car following a valid car insurance policy claim. If you’d like to find out more, get in touch today!
How Long Does It Take to Get a Courtesy Car?
How long it will take for you to receive your courtesy car will differ depending on availability. In general, as soon as a garage technician states that your car is unsafe to drive, a courtesy car will generally be offered to you.
At Got2Insure, Vehicles are supplied on a postcode geographic availability basis, so whilst we book the vehicle for the soonest delivery, it is subject to availability in your area, so we cannot promise immediate or same-day delivery.
What Courtesy Car Will I Get?
It’s unlikely you’ll be offered a courtesy car identical to the vehicle you own.
Unless you have purchased the Courtesy Car upgrade, under Section J of your policy, the car provided will typically be a 1 litre 3 door petrol manual transmission car and cover will automatically be provided under your certificate of motor insurance while the car is on loan to you.
Vehicles provided are based on availability only and as we cannot be specific regarding vehicle dimensions and specifications. Subject to the claim being approved, the vehicle supplied will be the most appropriate in line with that selected in your replacement vehicle policy from the repairing garages or rental companies we work with.
If you’re in need of a larger vehicle, or you want a higher spec vehicle than the basic model that is usually provided as a courtesy car, we offer a Courtesy Car upgrade that provides those added benefits. Where subject to a valid claim, we will typically offer you a large family car.
Courtesy Car Rules
The rules surrounding your courtesy car cover will depend on the terms and conditions stated in your policy. For example, some policies may enable you to have a car for as long as your vehicle is being repaired, however others might specify how long you can keep the courtesy car, no matter how long your vehicle is in the garage.
Also, some insurers feature a ‘subject to availability’ clause in their standard policy, meaning you aren’t guaranteed a car if there are no vehicles available at the time you request one, leaving you without a vehicle despite a courtesy car being included in your policy.
Because of this, it’s extremely important that you read through your chosen car insurance policy thoroughly to ensure you know where you stand from day one.
If you’d like to check what you’re covered for, or make changes to your existing policy, get in touch with a member of our friendly team today!
Will I Still Get a Courtesy Car If the Accident Was My Fault?
As long as you have comprehensive car insurance, you will most likely be eligible to request a courtesy car even if the accident was your fault. As the car is insured for you to drive, the only thing you will need to pay for is fuel, whether you were at fault or not.
What Happens If You Crash a Courtesy Car?
At Got2Insure, we understand that driving a courtesy car can often trigger unsettling emotions as you learn to navigate a new vehicle and, sadly, accidents do happen from time to time.
If you crash a courtesy car, the insurance you have for the vehicle will pay out and you will be entitled to another car. However, you will have to pay the excess on any damage. If it is later discovered that the accident wasn’t your fault, the excess will be refunded.
It is extremely important to inform your insurance provider as soon as an accident has taken place. If you’d like to find out more about what happens if you crash a courtesy car, please do get in touch.
Choose Got2Insure For Your Courtesy Car Insurance Cover
If the thought of being without your beloved car for any period of time fills you with nothing but dread, courtesy car insurance cover is most definitely worth looking into. At Got2Insure, we pride ourselves on making the process of applying for a courtesy car as smooth and stress-free as possible, offering cover following any valid claim on your car insurance policy.
If you’d like to find out more about the cover we offer, call us on 0344 854 0689 and speak to a member of our expert team, today!
