After an accident, staying mobile is usually the top priority. Insurers often offer a 'courtesy car' — but if the accident wasn't your fault, credit hire almost always serves you better. Here's why.
What is a courtesy car?
A courtesy car is a small vehicle — often a basic hatchback — provided by your insurer or repairer while your car is fixed, subject to availability. It's rarely a match for your own vehicle, and if your car is written off, it's usually withdrawn quickly.
What is credit hire?
Credit hire provides a like-for-like replacement on credit, with the charges recovered from the at-fault insurer at the end of the claim. You get a vehicle equivalent to your own — prestige, van, taxi or family car — for as long as you legitimately need it, at no upfront cost.
Which should you choose?
If you were at fault, a courtesy car through your own policy is the standard route. If you weren't at fault, credit hire keeps you in an equivalent vehicle without touching your policy. Castle arranges credit hire with delivery in as little as 4 hours anywhere in the UK.