You’ve just been involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault. The other driver has admitted liability, details have been exchanged, and now you’re wondering what happens next.
Most people assume there’s only one option: phone your insurance company and let them handle it. But there’s another route that many drivers don’t know about—and it could save you money, stress, and weeks of inconvenience.
Using an accident management company instead of your insurer is increasingly becoming the smarter choice for non-fault claims. Here’s why.
Two Routes, Very Different Experiences
When someone else causes damage to your vehicle, you have two main options for handling your claim. Understanding the difference between them could save you hundreds of pounds and a significant amount of frustration.
Route One: Through Your Own Insurer
This is the path most people take by default. You call your insurance company, report the accident, and they begin their process. What many drivers don’t realise is that even though the accident wasn’t your fault, going through your own insurer can still have consequences.
Your insurer will typically ask you to pay your excess upfront—often £250 to £500—with a promise to recover it later. Later can mean months. In some cases, drivers never see that money returned, particularly if there are disputes about liability or the at-fault driver’s insurer is slow to respond.
Then there’s the impact on your premium. It might seem unfair, but insurers often increase premiums at renewal following any claim, regardless of fault. The logic from their perspective is that you’ve demonstrated a statistical likelihood of being involved in incidents—even ones you didn’t cause.
Finally, there’s the question of your replacement vehicle. Most standard policies offer a small courtesy car at best—typically a basic runaround that bears no resemblance to your actual vehicle. If you drive an SUV, estate, or anything larger than a supermini, you’ll likely find yourself squeezed into something entirely unsuitable.
Route Two: Through an Accident Management Company
Accident management companies work differently. Rather than claiming through your own policy, they pursue the at-fault driver’s insurer directly on your behalf. This means everything—repairs, replacement vehicle, recovery costs—is claimed from the responsible party’s insurance, not yours.
The result? No excess to pay. No impact on your No Claims Bonus. No premium increase at renewal. And typically, a much faster resolution than the insurer-to-insurer negotiation process.
The Replacement Vehicle Difference
This is where claims management companies really stand apart from the standard insurance route—and it’s particularly relevant if you have plans that depend on your car.
Picture this: it’s July, your family holiday is booked, and you need your seven-seater to get everyone to Cornwall. Then someone rear-ends you at a roundabout and your car is in the bodyshop for three weeks.
Through your insurer, you’d likely be offered a small hatchback as a courtesy car. Helpful? Barely. Suitable for your holiday? Absolutely not.
An accident claims company operates on a different principle: like-for-like replacement. If you drive a large SUV, you get a large SUV. If you have an executive saloon, you receive something equivalent. The vehicle you’re given should match what you actually drive—not the cheapest option an insurer can justify.
For families relying on their vehicle over the summer months, this distinction alone can be the difference between keeping plans on track and having to cancel altogether.
No Excess, No Surprises
One of the most common frustrations with the traditional insurance route is the excess payment. Even when an accident clearly isn’t your fault, your insurer will typically require you to pay your policy excess before they’ll begin repairs.
The promise is that they’ll recover this from the other driver’s insurer and reimburse you. The reality is often different. Recovery can take months, and if there’s any dispute about liability—however minor—your excess can end up in limbo indefinitely.
With an accident management company, there’s no excess to pay at any stage. Because the claim is made directly against the at-fault party’s insurer from the outset, you’re not fronting any costs that need recovering later. It’s a cleaner, simpler process with fewer nasty surprises.
Quality Repairs, Your Choice
Insurers have networks of approved repairers. These arrangements make commercial sense for the insurer—they negotiate bulk rates and streamlined processes. But the cheapest repair isn’t always the best repair, and you may have little say in where your vehicle ends up.
Working with an accident management company often gives you more control. At Infiniti Motor Group, for example, accident repairs are handled by experienced specialists who prioritise quality over cutting corners. You’re not just a policy number in a queue—you’re a customer who deserves their vehicle returned in proper condition.
This matters more than many people realise. Poor-quality repairs can affect everything from panel alignment to paint matching, and substandard work may only become apparent months later when problems start to emerge.
Speed and Communication
Insurance claims have a reputation for being slow, and it’s often deserved. When two insurers are negotiating liability and costs between themselves, you’re rarely the priority. Weeks can pass without updates, calls go unreturned, and the process feels entirely outside your control.
Claims management companies have a different incentive structure. Their business depends on resolving claims efficiently and keeping customers informed throughout. You’ll typically have a dedicated point of contact, regular updates, and a much clearer timeline for getting your vehicle back on the road.
When Does This Apply?
It’s worth being clear: the accident management route is specifically for non-fault claims. If you caused the accident, or if liability is genuinely shared, you’ll need to go through your own insurer.
But if someone else was responsible—they pulled out on you, rear-ended you at lights, or reversed into your parked car—then using an accident management company is almost always the better choice.
You’re entitled to claim directly against the at-fault driver’s insurer. An accident management company simply handles that process for you, ensuring you receive everything you’re owed without the stress of navigating it yourself.
The Bottom Line
Going through your own insurer might feel like the obvious route after a non-fault accident, but it often leaves you out of pocket, driving an unsuitable vehicle, and waiting longer than necessary for resolution.
An accident management company flips that experience entirely. No excess, no impact on your No Claims Bonus, a like-for-like replacement vehicle, and quality repairs handled by people who actually care about the outcome.
Had an accident that wasn’t your fault? Contact Infiniti Motor Group today and let us handle everything—so you can get back to your summer.
