Not all insurance policies will automatically include a courtesy car, so it’s worth checking as you compare different quotes and levels of cover.

What is a courtesy car?

A courtesy car is a temporary replacement vehicle provided by your insurance company or garage while your car is being repaired. It means you’re not left stranded and can be a real lifesaver if you depend on your car day-to-day.

How can I get courtesy car cover?

A courtesy car is sometimes included as standard on comprehensive insurance policies, or it could be available to buy as an optional extra.

Does my insurance include a courtesy car?

Not all policies include a courtesy car as standard. If you have third-party only insurance or third party, fire and theft, it’s less likely that courtesy car insurance will be included. But this does depend on the insurer, so you’ll need to check your policy documents.

If your car insurance includes courtesy car cover, you’ll get a replacement vehicle if your car is damaged in an accident and needs to be repaired at a garage.

If you don’t have courtesy car cover included in your insurance and you’re involved in an accident that isn’t your fault, you may be able to claim for a courtesy car on the other driver’s insurance.

When might you not get a courtesy car?

In some circumstances, a courtesy car might not be provided, such as:

• If your car is written off – you may not be eligible for a courtesy car.
• If your car is stolen – a courtesy car isn’t always guaranteed and will depend on your insurance.
• If your car has minor damage – things like damaged windows or windscreens don’t usually warrant a courtesy car.

What kind of courtesy car will I get?

Most providers will offer a courtesy car that’s similar to yours in terms of value. However, some providers offer a standard type of courtesy car, such as a lower power economy hatchback, rather than different models and engine powers. These are often called ‘Class A courtesy cars’ and include models like the Nissan Micra or a Fiat 500.

If you need a car like the one you own, whether to drive long distances or for school pick-ups, look for ‘like-for-like’ cover. This means you’ll get a courtesy car that’s a like-for-like swap for your own.

Am I insured to drive a courtesy car?

If courtesy car cover is included in your car insurance policy, you should be automatically insured to drive a courtesy car. This usually applies to any named drivers on your policy too.

If your car insurance doesn’t include courtesy car cover, you may be able to get a car directly from the garage while yours is being repaired. If you do, speak to your insurance provider to make sure you’re covered – you may need temporary courtesy car cover.

What happens if I have an accident in a courtesy car?

If you have fully comprehensive car insurance, your car insurance will cover the damages after an accident, and you’ll likely receive another courtesy car. You will, however, have to pay your excess on the repairs.

If you have third-party cover, you may only be able to claim if the accident wasn’t your fault. If it was, you may only be able to get a courtesy car if you added it to your insurance as an extra.

How much does courtesy car cover cost?

The cost of courtesy car varies depending on the provider and level of cover you choose. Courtesy car cover is often included for free in many comprehensive car insurance policies.

Is it worth getting courtesy car cover?

Whether courtesy car cover is worth it depends on how often you drive. If you only use it a couple of times a week to nip to the shops, you may be able to survive without it for a few days.

But if you use it regularly to commute to work or drive the kids around, you may want to consider it.

What’s the difference between courtesy car cover and hire car cover?

Hire car cover is often more comprehensive than courtesy car cover. It usually covers:

• A similar size and model to your car - perfect if you have a big family or a long commute.
• Delivery to your home address - it will probably be picked up when you no longer need it, too.
• If your car is written off or stolen - this often isn’t covered by courtesy car insurance.

Hire car cover does tend to be more expensive and will usually need to be added as an extra. Often there is a time limit on how long you can use the hire car too, usually 21 to 28 days.

Courtesy car conditions

There are times when a provider might not provide you with a courtesy car, such as if your vehicle is written off after an accident.

To be eligible for a courtesy car, you’ll probably have to use the provider's approved garage or repair shop.

You could still choose to get your car repaired at a garage you trust, but this could mean you don’t get a courtesy car and have to consider alternatives, such as temporary car insurance on another vehicle.

There might be a limit on how long you can have a courtesy car. For example, your policy might give you a maximum of 30 days, so always check for this detail.

You may not get a courtesy car for minor repairs like windscreen or window damage.

You might need to be 21 or over to get a courtesy car, and you may not be able to get a courtesy car if you have an accident outside the UK.