Non Fault Car Accident
Non-Fault Car Accident: What to Do and the Replacement Vehicle You Can Claim
A non-fault car accident is a collision that someone else caused. If the accident wasn’t your fault, you can have your car repaired and a replacement vehicle provided
at no cost to you, with the costs recovered from the at-fault driver’s insurer rather than coming out of your own pocket. Most drivers don’t realise this, and end up
claiming on their own policy and paying an excess they never needed to.
If the accident wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t be left without a car or out of pocket. We arrange your replacement vehicle and your repairs, and
recover the cost from the driver who was at fault.
Start your claim now and we'll call you back within 5 minutes.
What to do after a non-fault car accident
The steps you take at the scene protect you and keep any claim straightforward. In order:
- 1. Stop and make the scene safe. — Stopping after a collision is a legal requirement. Switch off your engine and put your hazard lights on.
- 2. Check for injuries.— Check yourself and your passengers. If anyone is hurt, or the road is blocked, call 999.
- 3. Exchange details. — Take the other driver's name, address and phone number, their registration, and their insurer. Give yours if asked.
- 4. Gather evidence. — Photograph the damage to every vehicle, the registration plates, and the wider scene including road markings and signs. Save any dashcam footage, and take the names of any witnesses.
- 5. Report it to the police if you need to. — Call 101 if the other driver leaves without giving details, or 999 in an emergency. You must report the accident within 24 hours if anyone was injured or details weren't exchanged at the scene.
- 6. Tell your insurer. — Let your insurer know about the accident even if you don't intend to claim through them. Not reporting it can breach your policy.
One thing worth knowing at the scene: don’t apologise or accept blame, even to be polite. Fault is decided on the evidence, and a clear non-fault claim is settled faster.
Once everyone is safe and the accident is reported, the question most drivers have is how to get back on the road without it costing them. That is where a non-fault claim works in your favour.
Once everyone is safe and the accident is reported, the question most drivers have is how to get back on the road without it costing them. That is where a non-fault claim works in your favour.
What a non-fault accident entitles you to
Because the accident wasn’t your fault, you don’t have to claim through your own insurer and pay your excess. Instead you can claim a replacement vehicle and your repairs through credit hire, where the costs are recovered from the at-fault driver’s insurance company rather than from you.
In practice that means a like-for-like replacement vehicle while yours is off the road, your car repaired, and the bill sent to the driver who caused the accident. You stay mobile, your car gets fixed, and you are not out of pocket. This is the part most people searching after a non-fault accident don’t know they are entitled to.
In practice that means a like-for-like replacement vehicle while yours is off the road, your car repaired, and the bill sent to the driver who caused the accident. You stay mobile, your car gets fixed, and you are not out of pocket. This is the part most people searching after a non-fault accident don’t know they are entitled to.
Will it cost me anything?
No excess to pay if the accident wasn’t your fault.
Because the claim is made against the at-fault driver’s insurer and not your own policy, there’s no excess and no deposit to find. In almost all cases drivers pay nothing at all. The only costs that could ever fall to you are ones within your control, such as a parking fine picked up in the replacement vehicle, or returning it later than agreed.
Because the claim is made against the at-fault driver’s insurer and not your own policy, there’s no excess and no deposit to find. In almost all cases drivers pay nothing at all. The only costs that could ever fall to you are ones within your control, such as a parking fine picked up in the replacement vehicle, or returning it later than agreed.
What if the other driver disputes who was at fault?
Liability isn’t always accepted straight away. When it’s disputed, our in-house recovery team takes the case on and argues it directly with the third party’s insurer. We take on complex and disputed-liability claims that many companies won’t, and we work each claim until every option has been pursued. You don’t have to chase anyone yourself. We carry the claim so you can get on with your day.
What if my car is written off?
If your car is beyond economical repair, we pursue its pre-accident value from the at-fault driver’s insurer, along with the other costs the accident has caused you. You still get a replacement vehicle to keep you moving while the value of your car is settled.
Your replacement vehicle
Where availability allows, your replacement is matched like-for-like to your own car, from a standard runaround to a prestige model, including hybrid and electric vehicles. We arrange replacements through partners with access to a fleet of over 4,000 vehicles across 300-plus models, so the right car for you is usually available quickly. On claims where your car isn’t roadworthy, we aim to have you in a replacement within 48 hours, depending on the claim and liability.
Drive a taxi or private hire vehicle? You’ll need a plated, licensed replacement, which we arrange separately. See PCO and taxi credit hire for how that works.
Drive a taxi or private hire vehicle? You’ll need a plated, licensed replacement, which we arrange separately. See PCO and taxi credit hire for how that works.
How it works
We provide like-for-like replacement motorbikes too, so non-fault riders aren’t left stranded. More on motorbike accident support.
- 1. Tell us what happened. — Use the form, WhatsApp, or call 0333 212 2730. Web enquiries are called back within 5 minutes during opening hours.
- 2. Send your documents.— We confirm your claim and arrange your repair and replacement vehicle.
- 3. Get your replacement vehicle. — Like-for-like where available, within 48 hours on non-drivable claims, depending on liability.
- 4. We recover the costs. — The repair and hire charges are claimed from the at-fault driver's insurer while you carry on as normal.
A recent example
Ishfan, a driver in Oldham, had an accident that wasn’t his fault. We had a like-for-like replacement with him within 48 hours and handled his repair, and his car was off the road for 24 days. He paid nothing, with the costs recovered from the at-fault driver’s insurer.
Details anonymised at the customer’s request.
Why drivers choose National Accident Support Line
For as long as you genuinely need it — until your car is repaired or your claim is settled. There’s no fixed limit, though we’ll keep your claim moving so you’re not waiting around.
- A replacement vehicle within 48 hours — is the aim on non-drivable claims
- Access to a fleet of over 4,000 vehicles — across 300-plus models, including hybrid and electric
- No excess to pay — if the accident wasn't your fault, and no deposit
- An in-house recovery team that takes on disputed claims others walk away from
- Coverage across England, Scotland and Wales
- FCA-regulated (registration 829991) and helping drivers since 2015
- 5-minute callbackson web enquiries during opening hours
We take ownership of the claim so you can get on with your day. If you just have questions about an accident, ask, we’ll help whether or not there’s a claim in it. And if you were injured in the accident, we can help with that too, see our car accident claims page.
Start your claim
If your accident wasn’t your fault, tell us what happened and we’ll arrange your replacement vehicle and repairs and recover the cost from the driver who caused it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. If the accident wasn’t your fault, you can have a like-for-like replacement vehicle while your own car is repaired or replaced, at no cost to you, with the charges recovered from the at-fault driver’s insurer.
No excess is payable if the accident wasn’t your fault and the claim is made against the at-fault driver’s insurer rather than your own policy. There’s no deposit to pay either.
Because the costs are claimed from the at-fault driver’s insurer rather than your own policy, you avoid claiming on your own insurance for the repair and hire, which is what protects your no-claims discount.
We pursue the pre-accident value of your car from the at-fault driver’s insurer, along with the other costs the accident caused you, and provide a replacement vehicle to keep you moving while that is settled.
Yes. You should tell your insurer about any accident, even one that wasn’t your fault and even if you don’t claim through them, because not reporting it can breach your policy.
No. When the accident wasn’t your fault you can have your repairs and replacement vehicle arranged for you and recovered from the at-fault driver’s insurer, without going through your own insurer and paying an excess.
Your replacement vehicle is arranged quickly, within 48 hours on non-drivable claims. The claim itself runs for as long as the repair and settlement reasonably take, and we keep it moving so you’re not waiting longer than necessary.