Replacement vehicle after an accident
If anyone is seriously injured or in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000) now.
Crash Guide is not an emergency service.
Call Triple Zero (000)Short answer
Can I get a replacement car while mine is being repaired?
There are two common routes. If your policy includes a hire car benefit, your insurer arranges it regardless of fault, usually for a limited period and vehicle class. If another party was responsible, specialist accident replacement providers can supply a vehicle and recover the cost from that party. Both are commercial arrangements with terms worth reading before you accept the keys.
Route one: your own policy
Check whether your comprehensive policy includes a hire car benefit and whether it applies to at-fault claims. Ask three specific questions: for how many days, what class of vehicle, and does it end when the repair finishes or when the claim closes.
Route two: not-at-fault replacement providers
Where another driver was responsible, specialist providers supply a like-for-like replacement vehicle and seek to recover the hire cost from that party or their insurer. For the driver, there is usually no up-front cost.
This is a legitimate and widely used part of the Australian motor claims landscape. It is also a commercial agreement, and the terms matter.
Before signing, ask: what happens if recovery from the other party fails or is reduced — am I personally liable? How long may I keep the vehicle? What are my obligations if I stop cooperating with the claim? Get the answers in writing.
Matching the vehicle to your actual need
- Seats and child restraint anchor points, if you have children
- A ute, van or tray if you carry tools or stock for work
- Towing capacity, if that is what the vehicle is for
- Accessible features, if a driver or passenger needs them
- Prestige or specific class, where that reflects the vehicle being replaced
Say what you actually use the vehicle for. A replacement that cannot do the job it is replacing is not much use.
What Crash Guide does here
If your answers in the Accident Assistant suggest another party may potentially be responsible and you need transport, Crash Guide can put you in touch with a replacement vehicle provider — but only if you ask us to. Nothing is shared with anyone without your explicit consent.
Common questions
Does it cost me anything?
Under a not-at-fault replacement arrangement there is typically no up-front cost to you, because the provider recovers from the responsible party. Read the agreement to understand what happens if that recovery is unsuccessful.
What if fault is still being decided?
Providers assess this themselves before supplying a vehicle. If fault is genuinely unclear, you may be asked more questions, or offered different terms. Be straightforward about the uncertainty rather than overstating your position.
Sources
Crash Guide checks state rules against primary government and regulator sources. If something below has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
- General Insurance Code of Practice — Insurance Council of AustraliaChecked 10 September 2026
- Australian Financial Complaints Authority — AFCAChecked 10 September 2026