Search for the best credit hire company and you get a wall of companies all describing themselves as the best. None of that helps at nine in the evening with a written-off car and a shift starting at six.
So here is a practical checklist instead. Eight things you can verify about any provider, including us, before you hand over your claim.
1. Are they a GTA subscriber?
The General Terms of Agreement is the industry protocol between credit hire providers and insurers that governs rates, hire periods and how claims are settled. A GTA subscriber has signed up to a recognised framework rather than making it up.
It matters to you because claims handled under the GTA tend to settle more predictably and with less argument, which means less risk of the whole thing dragging on. Ask directly, and check. PurpleSquare is a GTA subscriber.
2. Are they accredited?
Two accreditations are worth looking for. BVRLA membership, the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, which sets standards for vehicle rental operators. And CHO membership, the Credit Hire Organisation, the trade body for the credit hire sector.
Neither is a guarantee of good service on its own, but both mean the company is visible, accountable to a body, and operating in the open. PurpleSquare holds both.
3. Can they actually supply your vehicle?
This is the one that catches people out. A provider who only holds standard cars cannot help a plated taxi driver, a Luton driver, or someone with an automatic-only licence, no matter how good their service is.
Ask specifically: can you supply my class of vehicle, and how quickly. If you drive something specialist, that single question tells you more than the rest of the checklist combined. We cover what you should be getting on our like-for-like replacement car page.
4. How fast can they deliver?
Speed matters most for people who lose income while off the road. A same-day or next-working-day standard is reasonable for an ordinary car. Specialist vehicles take longer because there are fewer of them.
Be suspicious of a provider who promises anything instantly for every vehicle type, because sourcing a correctly plated taxi genuinely takes time. We deliver plated replacements within around six hours in most cases, and we would rather tell you that honestly than promise thirty minutes.
5. Do you get a named handler?
A named handler who knows your case is the single biggest difference in how a claim feels. The alternative is repeating your accident to a different person every time you ring.
Ask whether you get one person or a general queue. Every PurpleSquare case has a dedicated handler.
6. Are they honest about when you could be liable?
This is the real test of a provider. Credit hire carries a genuine, limited risk: if it turns out you were at fault, gave false information, failed to cooperate, or kept the vehicle far longer than you needed, you could become responsible for the charges.
A good provider tells you that at the start, unprompted. A provider who says there is no risk whatsoever is either misinformed or hoping you do not read the agreement. We set our position out in full on our will I have to pay page.
7. Will they explain the agreement before you sign?
You are signing a credit hire agreement. You should understand the hire rate, the expected period, what happens if liability is disputed, and what is expected of you.
If someone is rushing you through a signature at the roadside, slow down. A legitimate provider will happily wait while you read.
8. What do their reviews actually say?
Look past the score at what the reviews describe. Reviews that mention specific handlers by name, specific vehicle types and specific timescales are worth far more than a wall of five-star ratings with no detail.
Check whether the company responds to criticism and how. PurpleSquare holds a 5.0 rating from over 60 Google reviews.
So which credit hire company is best?
The one that can supply your vehicle, in your timeframe, under the GTA, with a named handler and an honest account of the risks. For a plated taxi driver that is a very different company from the one that suits a driver with a standard hatchback and a two week repair.
Run the eight checks above on any provider, including us. If a company hesitates on GTA subscription, accreditation, or what happens if liability is disputed, that hesitation is your answer. If you want to see how the whole process works first, start with how credit hire works, or read who provides a replacement car to compare credit hire against the other routes.