At the scene
Safety first, paperwork second. Switch on hazard lights, get everyone out of the vehicle and away from the carriageway, and call 999 if anyone is injured, if the road is blocked, or if a vehicle is in a dangerous position. Under UK law you must stop and exchange names, addresses and vehicle details, and you must report the collision to the police within twenty four hours if details could not be exchanged at the scene. Photograph the vehicles where they came to rest, the damage, the road layout and any debris before anything is moved, because that evidence disappears the moment the cars are separated.
Who moves the car and who chooses
If the police attend and the vehicle is obstructing the road or unroadworthy, they can instruct a contracted recovery operator to remove it, and the keeper is then billed for removal and daily storage. If the vehicle is not obstructing anything, you generally choose who recovers it. That matters, because operators who arrive uninvited at accident scenes sometimes charge substantially more than a firm you have called yourself. You are not obliged to hand your keys to anybody who simply turns up, and you are entitled to ask for a price before the car is loaded.
Where the car goes
You usually have three options: a garage of your choice for assessment and repair, a secure storage yard while the insurance position is resolved, or your own driveway if the vehicle can be safely left there. Home is normally the cheapest, because commercial storage is charged daily and mounts up quickly. If the car is a total loss, it will eventually go to the insurer's salvage agent, but that only happens once liability and valuation have been settled, and until then someone is paying for the space it occupies.
Damage that is not obvious
A car that still drives after an impact is not necessarily safe to drive. Deployed or partially deployed airbags, deformed suspension, a bent subframe, cracked alloy wheels, damaged brake lines, leaking fluids and disturbed advanced driver assistance sensors are all common and all invisible from the outside. Cars with radar or camera based safety systems frequently need recalibration after even minor front end repairs. If there is any doubt, transporting the car on a flatbed rather than driving it protects both safety and any subsequent claim.
Insurance, inspections and write-off categories
Your insurer will normally arrange an engineer's inspection, either in person or from photographs. If repair costs exceed the vehicle's value, or the damage affects structural integrity, it is categorised. Category A and B vehicles must be scrapped and cannot return to the road. Category S covers structural damage that can be repaired, and Category N covers non structural damage. Being written off is an economic judgement as much as a safety one, and on older cars a relatively modest repair bill can exceed the market value.
Non fault claims and credit hire
If another driver was at fault, their insurer is generally liable for reasonable recovery, storage and hire costs. Keep every invoice, itemised and dated, and pass them through your insurer or solicitor. Be cautious with unsolicited calls offering replacement vehicles and repairs on credit hire terms: those arrangements are legitimate in principle but the daily rates are high, and if liability is later disputed you can be exposed. Speak to your own insurer before agreeing to anything at the roadside or over the phone in the days afterwards.
Getting the vehicle released
To collect a vehicle from a pound or storage yard you will usually need photo identification, the V5C or other proof of ownership, and payment of accrued charges. Daily storage does not pause while a claim is argued, so acting quickly saves real money. If the car is being scrapped, make sure personal belongings, the locking wheel nut key, service history, private plate and any aftermarket equipment are removed first, because once it reaches salvage it is very difficult to retrieve anything.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I choose who recovers my car after an accident?
- Yes, unless the police have instructed a removal because the vehicle is obstructing the road or unroadworthy. You are not obliged to use an operator who arrives without being called.
- Who pays for recovery after a non fault accident?
- The at fault driver's insurer is generally liable for reasonable recovery and storage costs. Keep itemised invoices and submit them through your insurer or solicitor.
- Is it safe to drive a car that still starts after a crash?
- Not necessarily. Suspension, subframe, brake line and sensor damage are often invisible, so a flatbed to a garage is the safer option.
- What do the write-off categories mean?
- Category A and B vehicles must be scrapped. Category S is repairable structural damage and Category N is repairable non structural damage.
- How do I get my car out of a police pound?
- You normally need photo identification, proof of ownership such as the V5C, and payment of removal and daily storage charges. Collect quickly, because storage accrues every day.
Need help now? We are based in Oldbury and dispatch 24/7 across the West Midlands.
Call 07402 666 687