Who credit hire is for
Credit hire is for drivers who were not at fault in a road traffic accident and need a replacement vehicle while their own is being repaired or replaced. It is built around one principle: a non-fault driver should not be left out of pocket or off the road because of someone else’s mistake. That means private motorists, self-employed drivers, taxi drivers, fleet drivers, and anyone else whose day-to-day life depends on having a vehicle.
We also work with solicitors, brokers, and insurance partners referring claimants, and with fleet operators who need a single point of contact when one of their vehicles is taken off the road.
How credit hire works
Credit hire is a recognised legal mechanism in the UK. Rather than paying for a hire car out of your own pocket and trying to claim it back later, you sign a credit hire agreement with us. We supply the vehicle, you keep moving, and we pursue the charges from the at-fault driver’s insurer as part of your claim.
- Call us on 01606 662300 - you speak to a real handler immediately, day or night during cover hours.
- We assess the claim, confirm liability is on the other side, and agree the right like-for-like vehicle for you.
- Vehicle delivered - typically same day, with paperwork done at handover.
- We manage everything else - repair coordination, recovery of charges from the at-fault insurer, and updates throughout.
What’s included
- Like-for-like vehicle: a replacement broadly equivalent to the one you can’t use - including taxis, EVs, prestige, and commercials where applicable.
- Delivery and collection: dropped off and picked up at your home, work, or the garage.
- Comprehensive insurance: fully insured for the duration of the hire.
- No upfront payment: we recover the costs from the at-fault insurer. See will I have to pay? for the detail on cost, excess, and disputed liability.
- One named handler: from first call to settlement.
Eligibility and what we need from you
To set up a credit hire vehicle quickly we’ll ask for a few details at the first call: your driving licence, contact details, basic information about the accident (date, location, other driver if you have it), and your own vehicle’s make, model, and registration. If a third-party insurer or police reference number is already known, that speeds things up - but it isn’t a blocker.
Credit hire works best when liability clearly sits with the other side. If liability is disputed, we’ll talk you through your options before you sign anything - no pressure, no surprises.
How much does credit hire cost you?
Nothing upfront when the accident was not your fault. You sign a credit hire agreement and we recover the charges from the at-fault driver's insurer, so there is no excess and no deposit to find. We set out the full picture, including the honest caveats, on our will I have to pay page.
Credit hire versus a courtesy car: what is the difference?
A courtesy car is a basic runaround your own insurer or repairer may lend you while your car is fixed, and it is often a small, fixed model that may not match your needs. Credit hire gives you a like-for-like replacement, broadly equivalent to your own vehicle, at no cost to you when you were not at fault. You are not limited to whatever happens to be on the forecourt, and you do not have to claim on your own policy to get it.
What if the at-fault insurer offers you a vehicle directly?
You do not have to accept it. This is called intervention, and the vehicle offered is often not truly like-for-like and can come with restrictive terms. You are entitled to a comparable replacement that suits your needs, so if you are unsure about an offer, call us before you accept anything and we will talk it through.
What to do first after a non-fault accident
Stay safe, swap details, photograph the scene, and call us. The clearer your evidence, the smoother your claim. We have a full guide to the first hour after a non-fault accident, and you can see exactly what to expect when you call us.
How long can you keep the vehicle?
You can keep the credit hire vehicle for the reasonable period of repair - i.e. however long it takes to fix your car at a competent garage. If the car is written off (a total loss), you keep the hire vehicle until the insurer makes a fair settlement offer plus a reasonable period to source a replacement. We track this carefully so you’re never left guessing about end-of-hire dates.
What happens at the end of the hire
When your own vehicle is back on the road, or your total-loss settlement lands, we arrange collection of the hire vehicle from wherever suits you. Our recovery team continues to pursue the at-fault insurer in the background - you don’t need to chase anything.
Vehicle range
We hold a broad fleet across standard cars, commercial vehicles, licensed taxis, EVs and hybrids, and prestige models. Like-for-like means we match what you actually drive - not the cheapest car on the rack.
Why claimants choose PurpleSquare
- One named handler from first call to settlement.
- Nationwide delivery - typically same day.
- Specialist fleet including taxis, EVs, and prestige.
- Plain-English updates: no jargon, no surprises.
- BVRLA member and ICO registered - the basics done properly.