The Most Important Thing You Need To Know

You don't have to ring your insurer first.

Most people think the first phone call after an accident has to be to their own insurer. It doesn't — particularly if the accident wasn't your fault. The minute you involve your own insurer, your no-claims bonus, premium and excess can all be affected.

If someone else is at fault, the third-party's insurer is liable for your repair, your hire vehicle, and your out-of-pocket costs. You don't even need to claim through your own policy. We can help you do this directly.

Call us first. Always.

If you've just had a non-fault accident, the smartest thing you can do is call us before anyone else. We'll talk you through what to do, what to record at the scene, and how to handle the third-party claim without it costing you a penny.

01253 735544 — we're here Mon–Fri 8am to 5:30pm, Sat 9am to 12pm.

What You're Entitled To

In a non-fault claim, you get:

Full repair cost covered

Every penny of the repair is paid by the third party's insurer. You pay nothing — no excess, no top-up, no hidden charges.

Like-for-like courtesy vehicle

If you drive a Range Rover, you don't get a Corsa. We arrange a comparable replacement vehicle for the duration of your repair, paid for by the third party.

No-claims bonus protected

Because we handle the claim through the third-party insurer rather than your own, your NCB and renewal premium aren't affected.

Loss of use compensation

If for any reason you can't have a hire car, you may be entitled to compensation for being without your own vehicle. We'll advise.

Recovery from the scene

If your car isn't drivable, we'll recover it directly to our facility — not to a holding compound where storage charges build up.

End-to-end claim handling

We deal with the third-party insurer, the engineers, the parts, the paperwork. You get your car repaired and your life back.

The Process

From phone call to handover.

It's simpler than you think. Most non-fault claims don't need anything from you beyond the initial details and a signature.

Call us. Give us a quick description and the third party's details if you have them.
Recovery if needed. Free recovery within 40 miles, direct to our facility.
Damage assessment. We document everything thoroughly — photos, structural checks, parts list.
Hire vehicle delivered. Like-for-like, to you, on the day.
Claim submitted. Direct to the third-party's insurer. Their problem now, not yours.
Repair completed. BS10125, Hyundai-approved standard. Full quality check.
You collect. Or we deliver back to you. Hire car returned. Claim closed.

Watch out for "approved repairer" pressure

The third party's insurer often pushes you toward their own approved repairer. Their motivation isn't quality — it's cost. They've negotiated rock-bottom rates with their network, and that pressure on price shows up in the repair.

You're not obliged to use them. The Financial Conduct Authority confirms it: you have the right to choose your own repairer. Just say "I'm taking it to Stanways Autobodies" — and they have to comply.

What We Need From You

As little as possible.

Non-fault claims should be hassle-free. Here's the only stuff we really need:

Your name, address and contact details
Your vehicle registration and the make/model
Date and brief description of the accident
The third party's name, vehicle reg and (if you have it) their insurance details
Photos from the scene if you have them — useful but not essential
A police reference number if one was issued

That's it. We take it from there.

It's your vehicle.
It's your choice.