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Had an accident? Call us first.

Stanways Autobodies is an independent accident repair centre in Lytham St Annes. The workshop was established in 1974 and has been family owned and run since 2017. We repair cars, vans and commercial vehicles for UK motor insurers and for private customers, working to BS10125 with zero non-conformances in 2024, 2025 and 2026. We are Hyundai manufacturer approved, we have a structural aluminium bay, and collection and delivery is free within 40 miles.

What to do at the scene, who pays, and what we take off your plate from the first phone call. Lytham St Annes and 40 miles around.

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At the scene

Six things to do in the first ten minutes.

Nobody thinks clearly straight after a collision. Work down this list and you will have everything you need later.

1. Stop and make safe

Stop, switch on hazard lights and get everyone out of the traffic if it is safe to do so. If anyone is hurt, call 999.

2. Exchange details

Name, address, phone number, registration and insurer for every driver involved. By law you must stop and give your details. If you cannot exchange them at the scene, report it to the police within 24 hours.

3. Photograph everything

Both vehicles from all sides, the damage close up, number plates, the road layout, signs and any skid marks. Photos settle arguments later.

4. Note the facts

Time, location, weather and what happened in your own words while it is fresh. If there are witnesses, take their number.

5. Do not admit fault

Be polite and factual. Do not apologise or accept blame at the roadside, even if you think it was you. Liability is decided later, on the evidence.

6. Call Stanways first

Call 01253 735544 or WhatsApp 07822 012901 before you accept a repairer you have not chosen. We will tell you what your options are and arrange recovery if the car is not drivable.

Who pays

Three routes. We handle all of them.

It was not your fault. The other driver's insurer pays for the repair. There is usually no excess for you and no claim on your own policy, although you should still tell your insurer it happened. Use the Stan non-fault check to find out where you stand in a couple of minutes.

You are claiming on your own insurance. Report the claim, then ask your insurer to authorise Stanways as your repairer. Most policies allow you to choose, some apply conditions, so check your wording. We deal with their engineer and the authorisation, and we help with up to £250 of your excess.

You are paying privately. Send photos to Stan for an instant estimate, then we confirm it in the workshop. No claim, no excess, no waiting on an insurer.

Not sure which route you are on? Call us. Five minutes on the phone usually settles it, and it costs nothing to ask.

From the first call

What we take off your plate.

Once you have called us, the rest of the process is ours to run. You get updates, not jobs.

Recovery and collection

If the car cannot be driven we arrange recovery to our facility. If it can, we collect it free within 40 miles, or you drop it to us.

Courtesy car

A courtesy vehicle is available while your car is with us, subject to eligibility and availability. For non-fault claims a similar-class vehicle is usually provided through the claim.

The insurer

We speak to the insurer or the third party's insurer, send the assessment, chase the authorisation and answer their engineer's questions.

Manufacturer-standard repair

BS10125 certified, Hyundai manufacturer approved, with structural aluminium and EV work done in dedicated bays. Every repair carries our three-year workmanship guarantee.

Calibration and geometry

ADAS cameras and radar recalibrated in house and four-wheel geometry checked before the car is returned.

Updates

A realistic date at check-in and a call or message if it moves, with the reason.

Common questions

After an accident, answered.

Do I have to tell my insurer if it was not my fault?

Yes. Almost every policy requires you to notify them of an incident even if you do not claim. Notification is not the same as a claim.

Will a non-fault accident affect my premium?

It can with some insurers, even when a claim is recovered in full from the other side. Ask your insurer how they treat non-fault incidents at renewal.

Should I get my own estimate before speaking to the insurer?

It helps. Send photos to Stan and you will have an indicative figure in minutes, so you know roughly what you are talking about.

The car is not drivable. What now?

Call us on 01253 735544. We arrange recovery to our facility, even if you have not spoken to your insurer yet.

Keep reading

Non-fault claims explained How a repair works at Stanways Your rights after a non-fault accident