A driver-first walkthrough of the first 60 minutes after a non-fault crash. How to protect your claim, get a plated like-for-like replacement, and stay earning.
Every hour off the road is money gone
There's no soft way to put it. Taxi and PHV drivers earn by the hour. A non-fault accident that puts your vehicle off the road isn't just a paperwork problem, it's a wage problem. The faster you act in the first hour, the smaller that wage problem gets.
This guide is written for drivers reading on their phone at the roadside. Short answers, no jargon, and a number to call when you're ready.
The first 60 minutes, step by step
1. Safety first, then photograph the scene
Make sure everyone is OK. Move the vehicle to a safe spot if you can, then take photos. The damage, the position of both vehicles on the road, the wider scene, any road markings, any traffic signs. Skid marks count too.
If anyone is injured, call 999. Even minor injuries should be documented.
2. Get the other driver's details and their insurer
Name, address, phone number, vehicle registration, and crucially their insurer's name and policy number. If they won't give them, don't argue. Note their registration and call the police on 101 if you need to.
3. Find witnesses, fast
Witness evidence matters more for commercial drivers than for ordinary motorists. Your claim is more likely to be contested because the financial stakes are higher. If passers-by saw what happened, get a name and phone number on the spot. People disappear quickly.
4. Tell your operator or dispatch
If you work through an operator (Uber, Bolt, a local app, a fleet desk), they need to know you're off the road. Most apps will deactivate your account briefly. That's normal, not a problem. You can be reactivated as soon as you have a plated replacement.
5. Call a credit hire provider before you call your own insurer
This is the step most drivers miss. A credit hire provider will arrange a plated like-for-like replacement vehicle for you, without you paying upfront, if the accident wasn't your fault. Calling your own insurer first usually means they offer you a courtesy car, and a courtesy car won't keep you earning.
If you've had a non-fault accident, call 01606 662300. We'll start a replacement-vehicle conversation in the first call.
Why a courtesy car won't keep you earning
Three hard reasons why a regular insurance courtesy car is the wrong answer for a taxi or PHV driver.
It isn't plated. Your local licensing authority requires a vehicle to be plated for hire and reward before you can carry passengers commercially. A standard courtesy car isn't.
It isn't the right vehicle class. If you drive a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle, a 6-seater MPV, an executive saloon, or a hackney, a small hatchback courtesy car won't let you do your job.
It isn't insured for commercial use. The insurance on a courtesy car is typically social, domestic and pleasure. Carrying paying passengers on that cover is a problem you don't want.
A credit hire provider with a proper taxi and PHV fleet solves all three.
What "like-for-like" actually means for a taxi
Like-for-like isn't approximate. It means the vehicle you're given does the same job as the vehicle you've lost. For taxi and PHV drivers, that means:
- Carrying a licence matching your own plate (so a Wolverhampton-plated driver gets a Wolverhampton-plated replacement, wherever they actually work)
- Insured for commercial use
- The right vehicle class for the job: PHV, executive saloon, MPV or 6-seater. Hackney and WAV replacements may be available subject to fleet availability, so flag it on the first call
- Available same-day or next-day, not in a week
Anything less, and you're earning less than you should.
How credit hire works when you're not at fault, the 60-second version
If the accident wasn't your fault, you don't pay for the replacement vehicle. The credit hire provider arranges the vehicle, charges the at-fault driver's insurer for the period you need it, and recovers the cost through the claim. You sign an agreement, drive the replacement, and hand it back when your own vehicle is repaired.
It's been the standard way to keep professional drivers on the road for decades. Properly documented, it stands up to insurer challenge.
For a longer explainer, see How Credit Hire Works: A Plain English Guide.
What to have in your glovebox right now
Five things, before you ever need them.
- Your licence details and licensing authority contact information
- A pen and a small notepad (faster than a phone for note-taking after a shock)
- A list of who to call: insurer, operator, credit hire provider
- Your operator's emergency number
- A spare phone charger
The accident is unpredictable. The first 60 minutes shouldn't be.
Frequently asked questions
Will I get a plated taxi as a replacement, or just a regular car?
A proper credit hire provider gives you a plated like-for-like. That means a vehicle that's licensed for hire and reward and insured for commercial use. A standard insurance courtesy car is not the right answer for a taxi or PHV driver.
How fast can you deliver a replacement taxi?
Same-day where possible, next-day as standard. The faster you call, the faster the vehicle arrives. Out-of-hours coverage is in place too.
Does it cost me anything if I'm not at fault?
No. The cost of the credit hire vehicle is recovered through the at-fault driver's insurer. You sign the credit hire agreement, you drive the replacement, you hand it back when your own vehicle is repaired.
Can I get a wheelchair-accessible replacement?
WAVs can sometimes be sourced, but they're specialist vehicles and availability isn't guaranteed. Flag it on the first call and we'll be straight with you about what we can do.
What if I'm licensed by one authority but the accident was somewhere else?
That's a cross-border licensing question, which is more common than it used to be after the Deregulation Act 2015. The short answer is your replacement should carry a licence matching your own plate, not the area where the accident happened. For the longer version, see our explainer on Wolverhampton plates and cross-border PHV licensing.
Where PurpleSquare fits
We built PurpleSquare around exactly this problem. A plated like-for-like fleet covering PHV, executive and MPV work, with hackney and WAV sourcing on request. Same-day or next-day delivery. UK mainland coverage. No upfront cost on non-fault claims.
If you've had a non-fault accident, call 01606 662300 before you call anyone else. We'll get you back behind the wheel and back earning, fast.
Call 01606 662300 now. Plated like-for-like replacement, same-day where possible, no upfront cost on non-fault claims.
About the author
Jake Ellison
Head of Fleet Solutions, PurpleSquare Hire
Jake leads fleet accident management at PurpleSquare Hire, working with operators across logistics, taxi, and commercial vehicles. He writes about what good outsourced fleet accident management should deliver, and the red flags that point to a poor partner.
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