UK cities
45+
Direct coverage
Vehicle types
Accident support for every kind of vehicle
From cars to commercial vehicles, we coordinate recovery, repairs, replacement vehicle screening and insurer communication for non-fault drivers and operators.
- 24/7 UK dispatch
- £0 upfront cost
- Independent engineer
- Like-for-like replacement
24/7
UK response
Recovery dispatch and live claim handlers, 365 days a year.
Response
<60m
First contact SLA
Cost
£0
Upfront to driver
Does vehicle class change how a UK non-fault accident claim is handled?
Yes - vehicle class drives the replacement-vehicle entitlement (like-for-like by class, body type, drivetrain and equipment), the repair specification (PAS 125 / BS 10125 for cars and vans, plus EV-trained bodyshops for electrified vehicles, taxi-licensing inspection for hackney carriages and PHV plates, fleet telematics for operators), and the insurance treatment (private comprehensive, commercial fleet, taxi or PHV operator). CityGrip operates dedicated workflows for cars, vans, motorbikes, taxis, private hire, fleet, commercial, electric and courier vehicles.
Why vehicle class matters for your claim
UK non-fault accident management is not one-size-fits-all. The legal framework is constant - Road Traffic Act 1988, Limitation Act 1980, Civil Liability Act 2018, established credit-hire and credit-repair authority - but the operational workstream changes significantly by vehicle class. The three big differentiators are hire-vehicle entitlement, repair specification and insurance treatment.
Hire-vehicle entitlement turns on the like-for-like test. A non-fault driver is entitled to a replacement vehicle that matches the off-road vehicle by class, body type, drivetrain and equipment level - not a generic substitute. A van operator on a routed delivery contract is not mitigating loss by accepting a car; a Range Rover driver is not mitigating loss by accepting a supermini; a courier on a sub-contracted route is not mitigating loss by accepting a smaller load capacity. We screen need against the Lagden v O'Connor and Bee v Jenson reasonable-need framework, then put the correct class of vehicle on the road through credit hire.
Repair specification diverges sharply between private and commercial vehicles. PAS 125 / BS 10125 is the baseline body-repair standard for all motor vehicles, but commercial chassis (vans, trucks, taxis, fleet) usually need specialist accreditation - load-bearing structure repairs, ply-lining, livery and signwriting reinstatement, telematics, tachograph, return-to-service inspection. Electric vehicles add high-voltage battery isolation, battery integrity reports and IMI TechSafe-accredited technicians. Motorbikes need a specialist motorcycle repairer rather than a car bodyshop. We route every file through the correctly accredited repair management partner rather than the cheapest available bay.
Insurance treatment differs because private comprehensive cover, commercial fleet cover, taxi (hackney carriage) cover and PHV cover all sit on different policy wordings. The recoverable heads of loss against the at-fault insurer also change - a taxi or PHV driver can claim loss of profit with proper accounts, a fleet operator can claim plated commercial daily-rate hire, a private driver claims credit-hire daily rate. Getting the right route open from day one prevents the at-fault insurer challenging the head of loss after the invoice has been raised.
When to call before the recovery truck arrives
If you have a choice, call the accident hotline before the recovery truck arrives. The decision matrix is short:
- Vehicle not driveable, blocking traffic, on a motorway: 999 first if anyone is hurt, then us. We dispatch a dedicated motorway recovery partner that complies with National Highways traffic-management requirements rather than waiting for a police-appointed contractor that may charge storage and release fees you cannot recover.
- Vehicle not driveable, on a normal road: call us before the at-fault insurer's recovery - the at-fault insurer has no contractual right to direct your recovery, and accepting their tow can compromise the independent engineer inspection of the damage. See accident recovery.
- Vehicle driveable, you are safe: call us within 24 hours. Photographs of the scene, witness contact details and any CCTV landmarks (we file disclosure inside the typical 14-31 day retention window) are far more valuable than a same-hour tow.
- Commercial fleet vehicle off the road: route through your fleet incident channel - we run a consolidated fleet accident management workflow rather than treating each incident as a standalone claim.
- Licensed taxi or PHV: tell us about the plate, the licensing authority and any operator contract before recovery so the replacement vehicle dispatched is licensed and plated for your authority, not a generic private car.
Browse the full vehicle directory below. For full definitions see the glossary; for location coverage see all UK locations and the full services index. Source statute is Road Traffic Act 1988 and ABI vehicle-class guidance is at abi.org.uk.
The vehicle documents that prevent avoidable disputes
The first intake question is not simply "what car do you drive?" It is what the vehicle was being used for at the exact time of the accident, what cover was in force, and what evidence proves the replacement need. A private car used for a school run is a different file from the same car used for business travel. A van carrying tools for the driver's own trade is different from a van carrying parcels for hire and reward. A taxi with a plated authority and operator contract is different from a private-hire vehicle working on an app. These distinctions affect insurer notification, replacement class, loss-of-profit evidence and whether the at-fault insurer challenges policy validity.
Before the file moves to hire or repair, we ask for registration, V5C or finance details where available, current mileage, service history, MOT status, policy schedule, vehicle use, photographs, dashcam, and any specialist equipment or modifications. For work vehicles we also ask for route logs, operator documents, app statements, telematics, tachograph downloads, licence or plate records and accounts evidence. Gathering these documents early reduces the risk of a late insurer challenge after the replacement vehicle has already been on hire.
How total loss, salvage and repair category affect the file
Vehicle class also changes the write-off conversation. A private car may be repairable on paper but uneconomic once airbags, ADAS calibration and paint blend are included. A courier van may have a low pre-accident value because of mileage but be operationally valuable because it keeps the driver on a route. A motorbike can become a Category S write-off after frame or fork damage even when the cosmetic bill appears modest. EVs need extra battery integrity evidence before the engineer can safely decide between repair and total loss.
Where a vehicle is written off, the claim turns to pre-accident value, salvage category, settlement timing and replacement need. We compare retail adverts, MOT history, mileage, options, service evidence and condition photographs, then keep the hire period tied to a fair settlement and a reasonable replacement window. Where a customer wants to retain a Category S or Category N vehicle, the file must record why retention is safe, what repair evidence is needed and how the salvage value affects the settlement.
All vehicle classes
Car accident claims
Most road accidents in the UK involve cars. Whether the impact is a low-speed shunt, a side collision at a junction or a multi-vehicle motorway incident, organised evidence and prompt recovery often make the difference in how quickly an insurer accepts liability.
Open →
Van accident claims
A van off the road quickly becomes a business problem. Tradespeople, delivery drivers and small businesses rely on their van for income, so non-fault accident handling for vans must move quickly through recovery, repair and replacement vehicle support.
Open →
Motorbike accident claims
Motorbike accidents often involve more serious damage and a higher chance of injury. Non-fault riders need careful evidence collection, specialist recovery and clear referral pathways for any injury enquiry.
Open →
Taxi accident claims
A taxi off the road usually means lost daily earnings. Non-fault taxi drivers need quick recovery, fast like-for-like replacement vehicle support and clear documentation of lost income to support insurer dealings.
Open →
Private Hire Vehicle accident claims
Private hire drivers operating on apps and pre-booked work need their vehicle on the road. Non-fault accident support for PHVs must be quick, properly licensed and respect operator and council requirements.
Open →
Fleet Vehicle accident claims
Fleet operators need consistent, well-documented accident handling across their drivers. We work with fleet managers to centralise reporting, evidence capture, recovery, repair and replacement vehicle coordination.
Open →
Commercial Vehicle accident claims
Larger commercial vehicles, including HGVs and rigid lorries, need specialist recovery and repair routes. We coordinate authorised heavy recovery, secure storage and repair partners.
Open →
Electric Car accident claims
Electric vehicles need specialist handling after an accident. Recovery teams must be aware of high-voltage batteries, repair must be authorised and engineer inspection often involves manufacturer guidance.
Open →
Courier Vehicle accident claims
Couriers face high mileage, tight delivery windows and frequent stop-start traffic. A non-fault accident can interrupt routes for an entire day. Quick recovery and replacement vehicle support help keep deliveries moving.
Open →Frequently asked questions
- Does the class of vehicle change my replacement-vehicle entitlement after a non-fault accident?
- Yes. Credit hire authority allows a like-for-like replacement - a vehicle that matches the off-road one by class, body type, drivetrain, equipment level and (where relevant) emission compliance. A driver of a Range Rover is not reasonably mitigating loss by accepting a supermini, and a van operator with a routed delivery contract is not reasonably mitigating loss by accepting a car. The reasonable-need test is applied per vehicle class against the actual use of the off-road vehicle, not a generic rate card.
- How are repair specifications different for commercial vehicles compared with private cars?
- Commercial vehicles - vans, trucks, taxis, fleet vehicles - typically have higher-spec repair requirements (load-bearing structure, ply-lining, livery, signwriting, telematics reinstatement, tachograph) and stricter return-to-service inspections. PAS 125 / BS 10125 still applies but the bodyshop must be accredited for the relevant chassis. We route commercial repairs to bodyshops with the matching certification, not just any approved network repairer.
- Are motorbike accident claims treated the same way as car claims?
- The legal framework is the same - Road Traffic Act 1988, Limitation Act 1980, credit hire and credit repair authority - but the practical handling differs. Motorbikes have lower vehicle values, higher write-off ratios, and personal injury frequency is much higher than four-wheeled vehicles, so the injury referral and personal protective equipment (helmet, leathers, gloves, boots) inventory matters. Replacement is usually a like-for-like bike of the same class (commuter, tourer, sports), not a car.
- If I drive a taxi or private hire vehicle, can I claim for lost earnings while I'm off the road?
- Yes, in principle. Loss of profit is a recoverable head of loss for licensed taxi and PHV drivers - supported by accounts, fare records and licensing authority sign-off - but in practice we put a licensed like-for-like replacement on the road so the driver keeps earning rather than relying on a loss-of-profit claim. See /taxi-accident-claims and /private-hire-accident-claims for the licensing and plate-transfer detail.
- Are electric vehicles handled differently because of the battery?
- Yes. EVs need a specialist EV-trained bodyshop because high-voltage battery diagnostics, isolation procedures and post-incident battery integrity reports are required before the vehicle can be safely repaired or moved. Recovery operators must use EV-rated equipment. We route EV repairs through bodyshops accredited by the manufacturer or by the IMI TechSafe scheme for electrified vehicles, and engineer inspections include a battery integrity report.
- If I run a fleet, can CityGrip handle the whole fleet rather than individual incidents?
- Yes. Fleet operators typically run a single incident reporting channel into one accident management partner who coordinates recovery, repair, replacement and insurer notification across the whole fleet, alongside the operator's own insurer. See /fleet-accident-management for the fleet-specific reporting workflow, telematics integration and consolidated reporting.
- What vehicle details should I have ready before starting the accident form?
- Have the registration, make, model, fuel type, transmission, mileage, MOT status, use class, insurer, policy type and any business or licensing use ready. For vans, taxis, PHVs and fleet vehicles, also provide operator details, licence or plate details, route logs, telematics and any earnings evidence that shows why a like-for-like replacement is reasonably needed.
- Does a written-off vehicle change the replacement-vehicle decision?
- Yes. Hire normally remains reasonable until the vehicle is repaired, a fair total-loss settlement is paid, or the claimant has had a reasonable period to replace the vehicle. Once a total-loss offer is made, the claim file needs retail comparables, engineer valuation, salvage category and payment timing so hire does not drift beyond the recoverable window.
- Can you support vehicles used for work or business?
- Yes, but the insurance and evidence requirements are stricter. Business use, carriage of own goods, hire and reward, taxi licensing, courier work and fleet use must match the policy schedule. We ask for documents early because the at-fault insurer will challenge hire, loss of profit or repair cost if the vehicle's actual use is not evidenced.
Talk to a real person
Speak to UK accident supportUK accident support, end-to-end.
The fastest way is to call. Or start the digital accident form and our team will pick it up. Available across England, Scotland & Wales.
Calls may be recorded for quality and compliance. We do not provide legal advice. Personal injury enquiries are referred only with your consent to authorised partners.
Visit our team
London office
124 City Road
London, EC1V 2NX
Coverage
- Phone & accident form24 / 7
- Recovery dispatch24 / 7
- Repair coordinationMon-Sat 8:00 - 18:00
- SundaysEmergency only
45+UK cities
9vehicle types
GDPRcompliant
Tip: submit the accident form first - our team will call back with a reference and next steps.