No fault claim - who provides the courtesy car

[Collectingbrass]

A third party hit my car while it was parked, unfortunately badly enough that some of the bumper was cracked so it needs a bit more than T-Cut. The TP's insurer has accepted liability and both they and my insurer have both offered a courtesy car for when the time comes. Both have committed to it being in keeping with the car I currently have rather than a shopping trolley on wheels. Browsing Enterprise's Exotic list has led to some day dreams I can tell you.

My question is the TPs insurer's seem incredibly keen for them to provide it, and when I see incredibly I mean the cash incentive offered has already doubled and I haven't accepted yet. Does it matter that much and what could be the downsides of going via the TP's insurer rather than my own?

For clarity neither side is using an Accident Management Company.

[Ussrcossack]

If your insurer cost plus their" fee" are charged to TP insurer
If TPinsurer only cost is paying for a hire car, so you can see why they are keen

[AyBee]

They don't want the additional costs that will be added by your insurer. No downside to letting them provide it, they're just trying to keep you happy and it'll be cheaper for them.

[Hungrymc]

Is it actually the TP insurer or a claim handling company working on behalf of the TP? Some very strange behaviours around this that can have large impact on the claim value. Not the end of the world, but you’ll be declaring it on renewal for a few years ahead.

[davek_964]

When I had a non fault accident, the third party insurer was very keen for me to take the courtesy car from them too. Didn't offer me money, but repeatedly offered it even when I told them I didn't need one. Guess they're just trying to avoid inflated costs.

[KungFuPanda]

As others have said, it’s a lot cheaper for the TP insurer if you go directly with them as they will have access to a panel of hire companies who will bill them directly at favourable rates.

[Opapayer]

Hungrymc said:

Is it actually the TP insurer or a claim handling company working on behalf of the TP? Some very strange behaviours around this that can have large impact on the claim value. Not the end of the world, but you ll be declaring it on renewal for a few years ahead.

You’ve got that the wrong way round. The TP insurer will be trying to limit their costs by ensuring the OP’s insurer doesn’t get to charge an obscene hire back to them. And I do mean obscene

Use the TP insurer no comeback on you at all. You might even get a better car and make a few quid along the way from then.

[spookly]

I'd always go with the TP insurer.
Your own insurer, or an accident mgmt company they appoint, will often want you to sign a form to state you'll be liable for car hire charges they are unable to recover. In my experience, you won't get that with the TP insurer.

[Halmyre]

spookly said:

I'd always go with the TP insurer.
Your own insurer, or an accident mgmt company they appoint, will often want you to sign a form to state you'll be liable for car hire charges they are unable to recover. In my experience, you won't get that with the TP insurer.

When my Passat got dented some years ago my insurer offered me a basic courtesy car or one "in keeping with my current car". I took the second option, which they were very keen on me taking, which turned out to be a Mercedes C class. After a bit of Googling I then read about the consequences if the third party didn't agree to paying 'excessive' courtesy car costs.

In the meantime I went on holiday for a week and had to hand the Merc back. When I returned a Vectra had been organised for me. Next day my insurer rang me up and tried hard to persuade me to hand back the Vectra in return for a 'better car'. I declined their offer and bent their ear about the time it was taking their repairer to fix my Passat.

Luckily the TP insurers paid up without any bother (or any that I heard about).

There's definitely a scam of sorts running but I can't see who benefits.

[nvubu]

For both the non-fault accidents my wife has had we went directly to the TP and only contacted our one for "information purposes", so they weren't involved in the repair process at all.

Her car was a Mazda 2, so all my wife needed was a small automatic for the 3 days each time the car was in for repairs - we had an Aygo and a Corsa if I remember correctly and the cost was something like £20/day from Enterprise.