What is a courtesy car?

Key points 

• A courtesy car keeps you on the road while your own car is being repaired

• Most standard car insurance policies include it

• It may not be the same type or model as your own car

• You can usually keep it for the duration of repairs

If you have an accident that damages your car and it needs to be repaired, depending on your insurance policy, a temporary hire car may be provided while yours is out of action.

Is a courtesy car covered under a standard insurance policy?

Most car insurance policies will provide cover for a courtesy car, so long as your car is being fixed by an approved repairer. A John Lewis Money Car Insurance policy offers a small courtesy car (such as a Vauxhall Corsa) for the duration of repairs, so long as there is one available at the time. 

Will the courtesy car be the same model as mine? 

Not always, some insurers may only provide whatever type of car they have available on the day unless you have a specific 'like for like' clause in your policy. For example, you might be given a smaller car than you are used to or one which doesn’t meet your family’s needs. There also may not be a clause that the vehicle has to match your car in terms of manual or automatic transmission.

What happens if I damage my courtesy car? 

Courtesy cars provided by your insurer or approved mechanic may be covered by the same insurance policy but have a separate excess that you would need to pay if they are damaged. Any damage to a courtesy car will often be treated separately to the existing claim for your main vehicle. Depending on your policy, damage to a courtesy car may not affect your no claims discount but will likely still need to be declared when you renew or change insurance.

Is courtesy car cover an add-on to my policy? 

With John Lewis Money Car Insurance a courtesy car is included as part of the core policy. It shouldn’t be confused with our Guaranteed Replacement Vehicle add-on, which is included with our Premier tier, but comes at an extra cost with our Essentials tier. The Guaranteed Replacement Vehicle add-on provides a replacement vehicle in cases where your car is stolen or is written off after an accident.

How long can I keep a courtesy car for? 

You will usually be allowed to keep it for the duration of repairs, but there may be a maximum time limit so you’ll need to check your individual policy wording to be sure.

This article is for promotional or information purposes only. You must not rely on it as advice.