Crash repair process in turmoil

Repairable cars are being written off due to supply-chain issues and hire-car costs

- JOHN EVANS

Weeks after motor insurers were told not to undervalue cars when settling claims (see story below), some firms are being accused of writing off cars that until recently they might have repaired.

The issue concerns motorists involved in an accident that wasn’t their fault, known as a non-fault accident. In such a case, a driver can ask for a credit-hire car to use while their own vehicle is repaired. Unlike a basic courtesy car, a credit-hire car can be a model similar to the insured driver’s vehicle. This makes it more expensive, a cost that’s borne by the other driver’s insurer, assuming it accepts liability.

Rates agreed by most credithire companies have increased due to what they describe as “headwinds in the motor supply chain”, now ranging from £36 per day for a Citroën C1 to £450 per day for a Mercedes-AMG GT S. Companies that set their own rates can charge up to four times as much.