A crunch, a swap of details, and suddenly you’re without wheels. Between repairs and school runs, the headache is whether you can get a replacement car, who pays, and how to avoid a surprise bill. Terms like “like‑for‑like” and “reasonable costs” fly around, and one wrong step—late return, wrong class, thin evidence—can derail a valid claim.
The good news: if you’re not at fault in Australia, you’re entitled to a comparable hire car for the reasonable time your vehicle is off the road, with the at‑fault insurer footing the bill. Even when fault is unclear, there are practical ways to secure wheels fast and keep exposure low.
Here’s a step‑by‑step plan: what to do at the scene, proving need, insurer vs credit‑hire, the paperwork, booking repairs to set the hire window, requesting like‑for‑like at a fair rate, who pays and when, managing limits, write‑offs, edge cases, timelines, plus a checklist.
Step 1. Make the scene safe and capture fault evidence
First, look after safety: check for injuries, switch on hazards, and move cars out of traffic if it’s safe and legal. Call 000 if anyone’s hurt or the scene is dangerous. Don’t argue or admit fault—stick to facts. Strong, early evidence is what underpins your replacement car after accident claim and keeps the hire period “reasonable”.
- Photograph everything: wide shots, close‑ups of damage, number plates, debris.
- Record the scene: road signs/lights, skid marks, lane positions, weather and lighting.
- Positioning: snap final vehicle positions before moving (only if safe).
- Video: save dashcam/CCTV footage immediately.
- Witnesses: collect names, numbers and a brief statement on what they saw.
- Notes: time, location, direction of travel, and any admissions made by the other driver.
Step 2. Swap details and report the crash properly
Exchange clear contact and vehicle information and create an official record. Clean, verifiable data is what insurers rely on to decide fault and approve a replacement car after accident costs. Stay factual. If police attend or you report later, ask for a police/event number and keep any claim references you open.
- Contacts and vehicles: full names, phone/email, registration numbers, make/model.
- Insurer info: insurer name (if known) and a claims contact—no debates at the scene.
- Proof and witnesses: photos of number plates and damage; collect witness names and numbers.
- Admissions (optional): a brief written note or text if the other driver volunteers liability.
- Report reference: record the police/event number or online incident reference where applicable.
Step 3. Check your eligibility for a replacement car after accident
Eligibility turns on “reasonably incurred” hire: if you’re not at fault in Australia, you can usually get a like‑for‑like vehicle for the reasonable time your car is off the road. Courts look at necessity, duration and class. If fault is disputed or you were at fault, your own policy benefits may still provide a capped hire car—check your wording.
- Fault and identity: you’re not at fault and can identify the other driver/insurer.
- Genuine need: you rely on the car (work, school runs, medical). Keep a simple diary.
- Vehicle downtime: your car is undriveable/at the repairer; hire ends when repairs finish or a total‑loss settlement is offered.
- Like‑for‑like: comparable class, not an upgrade—duty to mitigate.
- Proof in hand: photos, police/event number, repair quote/assessment.
- Policy benefits: if at‑fault or unsure, look for “hire car after not‑at‑fault accident” or “guaranteed hire car” add‑ons (usually with daily caps/class limits).
Step 4. Decide your claim route: your insurer vs a credit-hire provider
This choice sets the funding, speed and risk profile of your replacement car after accident. You can either let your comprehensive insurer book a hire through their preferred supplier, or use a specialist accident‑replacement (credit‑hire) firm that fronts the cost and later recovers it from the at‑fault insurer. If you’re not at fault and have the other driver’s details, both paths work—the terms differ.
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Your insurer: convenient booking, clear caps (often ~$70–$100/day and class capped to a standard sedan), must use their supplier, hire usually ends within 24 hours of repair completion. You may pay an excess unless the insurer accepts you’re not at fault and identifies the other driver first.
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Credit‑hire provider: like‑for‑like class, no upfront payment when you’re not at fault, they manage paperwork. You sign a credit agreement and must keep costs “reasonable” (comparable class, duration tied to repair timeline, prompt return) and supply repair updates to avoid disputes.
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Quick pick: insurer route when fault is unclear or you’re fine with a capped class; credit‑hire when fault is clear and you need true like‑for‑like fast.
Step 5. Gather the documents and proof you’ll need
Tidy paperwork is the fastest way to get a replacement car after accident costs approved. Insurers green‑light hires when your need is clear, the timeline is evidenced, and liability can be worked out quickly. Collect these now so approvals happen in one call, not a week of back‑and‑forth.
- Police/event number: official incident reference.
- Other driver/insurer details: plus any written admission.
- Claim numbers + contacts: for both insurers, if known.
- Photos/video: scene, damage, plates; dashcam/CCTV if available.
- Repair quote/assessment: and a written ETA on parts/finish.
- Ownership/finance proof: rego papers or loan statement.
- Licence + policy schedule: your ID and current cover.
- Necessity log: simple mileage/essential trips; tow/repair booking receipt.
Bundle as labelled PDFs, keep originals, and date‑stamp every update.
Step 6. Notify both insurers and lodge your claim quickly
Act fast. Call your own insurer and the at‑fault driver’s insurer the same day, stick to facts, and request a claim number from each. Ask for hire‑car approval “subject to liability” and send your evidence pack immediately. Keep a log of who you spoke to, when, and what was agreed—this speeds up the replacement car after accident approval.
- Provide: date/time/location, regos, police/event number, damage status, repairer details and ETA, brief note on why you need a car.
- Get back: claim numbers in writing, the email for documents, and confirmation of the hire process/timelines for a decision.
Step 7. Book your assessment and repairs to set the hire window
Your hire clock runs off assessment and repair dates. Book the insurer assessment and a repairer immediately, then anchor the replacement car after accident to those milestones. If your car is still roadworthy, start the hire when you drop it at the repairer; if it’s unsafe, start on tow-in day. Get the repairer’s written ETA (parts arrival and completion) and send every update to both insurers and any hire provider—delays extend the reasonable hire window, early finishes shorten it.
Step 8. Request a like-for-like hire car and confirm the daily rate
Ask for a like‑for‑like replacement car after accident. Spell out your own car’s class, transmission and seating, plus any genuine needs (e.g., dual‑cab ute for tools, mid‑size SUV for child seats). Confirm the daily rate in writing and that it’s approved as reasonable and within any policy cap—not an upgrade, and not a downgrade that hampers use.
- Specify class and essentials: auto/manual, seats, boot space, trade fittings.
- Get written approval: vehicle class and daily rate marked “reasonable”.
- Tie dates to repairs: start/finish aligned to the repairer’s ETA; return within 24 hours.
- Nearest equivalent: if exact match isn’t available, accept closest class and note attempts.
Step 9. Understand who pays, caps, bonds and when you might pay first
Payment follows fault. If you’re not at fault, the at‑fault insurer generally covers the “reasonable” cost of a replacement car after accident downtime; if you’re at fault or liability’s unclear, you’ll lean on any hire‑car benefits in your own policy, which usually have daily caps, class limits and set durations. Know these levers before you sign.
- Non‑fault funding: At‑fault insurer pays reasonable hire; credit‑hire often needs no upfront payment; insurer‑supplied hire sits inside policy caps (commonly $70–$100/day and standard‑sedan class for 14–30 days).
- At‑fault/uncertain: Use “Guaranteed Hire Car”‑type benefits if you have them; expect caps and nominated suppliers. Otherwise you may fund a retail hire and not recover it.
- Shared fault: Costs are split by liability. Example: $1,000 hire with 20% contributory negligence = $800 recoverable.
- Bonds and excesses: Providers can place a refundable card hold and you’ll cover running costs (fuel, tolls, compulsory waivers) as per the contract—keep receipts, they’re often recoverable.
- Paying first: If liability isn’t accepted yet, you might pay an excess to your insurer or provide a card for security; once fault is confirmed, approvals and reimbursements follow the “reasonable cost, reasonable time” rule.
Step 10. Manage the hire: usage limits, updates and returning on time
Manage your replacement car after accident like a mini‑project: stick to the contract, keep everyone updated, and return it on time. This proves you mitigated loss and keeps costs “reasonable”. These habits avoid most disputes over rate, class and duration.
- Kilometres: 150–200 km/day; extra kms cost ~$0.25–$0.35.
- Drivers: name extra drivers upfront to avoid fees.
- Running costs: fuel, tolls, waivers are yours—keep receipts.
- Updates: email repair ETA changes to insurer and hire.
- Return: within 24 hours; photos and a hand‑back receipt.
Step 11. If your car is written off, know your new-for-old or payout rights
If the assessor declares a total loss (uneconomical/unsafe to repair, or stolen and unrecovered after 14 days), your replacement car after accident entitlement shifts from “repair‑time hire” to settlement. Hire usually ends when a total‑loss payout is offered or a replacement vehicle is delivered, so act quickly to avoid extra days being knocked back.
- New‑for‑old: Many comprehensive policies replace your car with a new one if the write‑off occurs within common limits (e.g., within two years/around 40,000 km, first owner, similar model available). Check your PDS.
- Cash payout: If you don’t qualify or decline a replacement, you’re paid the amount covered/market value, less any deductions shown in your PDS.
- Finance first: The insurer pays the lender first, then any balance to you.
- Salvage: Once replaced or paid out, the insurer owns the salvage; you can’t keep or repair the written‑off vehicle.
Step 12. Shared fault, uninsured drivers and hit-and-runs: what changes
Not every crash is clean‑cut. You can still arrange a replacement car after accident chaos, but who funds it and how much is recoverable shifts with liability and identification. Keep your evidence tight and your hire “reasonable” so whatever portion is recoverable actually gets paid without a fight.
- Shared fault: Recovery is reduced by your contributory negligence. Example: $1,000 hire with 20% fault = $800 recoverable.
- Uninsured at‑fault driver: With comprehensive cover, your insurer pays then chases them. Without it, you must pursue the driver personally—often slower, sometimes via small claims.
- You’re at fault: Rely on any hire‑car policy benefit (daily caps/class limits apply) or self‑fund.
- Hit‑and‑run: Lodge a police report. Without identifying the other driver, credit‑hire usually won’t supply; lean on your policy’s hire benefit. Preserve CCTV/dashcam/witness details—if the driver is later identified, recovery can proceed.
Step 13. Keep costs “reasonable” to bullet-proof your claim
Insurers rarely dispute that you needed wheels—they argue about rate, class and duration. To lock in approval for your replacement car after accident, show you’ve actively “mitigated loss” and kept everything reasonable, documented and tied to repairs.
- Match class: choose like‑for‑like, not an upgrade; accept the nearest equivalent and note attempts to find a closer match.
- Anchor to repairs: start on tow/drop‑off, end within 24 hours of completion or payout; keep written ETAs and forward updates.
- Pre‑approve the rate: get the daily rate confirmed in writing as reasonable/within any cap.
- Skip non‑essentials: decline upgrades; justify only necessary extras (e.g., child seats).
- Keep records: mileage/need log, fuel/toll receipts, timestamped handover/return photos.
- Communicate changes fast: total loss, early finish or delays—email both insurers and the hire provider immediately.
Step 14. Business, rideshare and taxi vehicles: extra proof of need
When your vehicle earns its keep—tradie ute, rideshare, taxi or courier—expect extra scrutiny. To lock in a like‑for‑like replacement car after accident downtime, prove the class is essential to your income and you’re mitigating loss. Anchor hire dates to repair ETAs and document the work you had or would reasonably accept. Ask for like‑for‑like or nearest equivalent and note availability.
- ABN and policy showing business use
- Recent invoices/trip/dispatch summaries
- Platform screenshots of bookings/online status
- Client contracts/rosters requiring vehicle type
Step 15. Key timelines, limitation periods and state nuances to note
Timing can make or break a smooth approval for a replacement car after accident downtime. Notify both insurers within days, keep your evidence tidy, and anchor hire dates to repair milestones. Across Australia, property‑damage (including hire) claims generally have a three‑year limitation period, but some states add earlier notice steps—so lodge promptly to avoid “late notification” pushback.
- NSW: Aim to give written notice of a property‑damage claim within six months (Motor Accidents Injuries Act 2017). Keep your police/event number.
- QLD: Magistrates Court handles motor‑property claims up to $150,000—handy for efficient recovery. General limit remains three years.
- VIC, SA, WA, TAS, NT, ACT: Follow the general three‑year property‑damage limit; document repair ETAs and hire dates meticulously.
- If delayed or refused: Request written reasons within 10 business days, lodge an Internal Dispute Resolution complaint (insurer must decide inside 30 days), then escalate to AFCA if needed.
Step 16. Use this quick checklist before you book a hire car
Two minutes now can save disputes later. Run this pre‑booking check so your replacement car after accident is approved fast and stays “reasonable”.
- Fault & details confirmed: other driver/insurer identified; police/event number.
- Claim + repair ETA: claim numbers; written assessment/finish dates.
- Like‑for‑like class: justify needs (seats/tools/auto).
- Daily rate in writing: within caps; reasonable.
- Rules clear: km/day, extra drivers, fuel/tolls, bond/waiver.
- Start/return aligned: tow/drop‑off start; return inside 24 hours.
Before you go
Follow the steps above and you’ll stay on the road while keeping the hire bill “reasonable” and recoverable: like‑for‑like class, daily rate agreed in writing, and a hire window that starts at tow/drop‑off and ends within 24 hours of repair or settlement. If you’d rather not juggle evidence, timelines and phone tag, we can do the heavy lifting—fast claims lodgement, like‑for‑like replacement cars for not‑at‑fault crashes, 24/7 towing and a lifetime repair warranty through our network. Ready to get help or a sharper premium? Start with National Cover.
