What happens if you crash a courtesy vehicle?

What happens if you crash a courtesy vehicle in Australia depends on whether it is a repairer loan car or insurer-provided hire car, but in both cases you are liable for excess and must follow procedures. If you crash a repairer-provided courtesy car, which is a free loan car from the smash repairer, the repairer's insurance will cover damage to other cars and property, but you will be liable for the excess stated in the loan agreement, typically $1,500 to $3,000, and you must pay for that out of pocket. The repairer will ask you to complete an incident report, provide photos, licence and details of other parties, and they will lodge a claim with their insurer. If you were at fault and the courtesy car is damaged, you pay excess and the repairer arranges repair. If you crash an insurer-provided hire car from Hertz, Avis or Budget that your insurer arranged after your accident or theft, the hire car's rental agreement includes insurance but with a high excess of $2,000 to $4,500, which you must pay if you are at fault. Your own comprehensive insurance on your own car does not cover damage to the courtesy or hire car unless you have specific extension. If you bought excess reduction for $20 to $35 per day, your excess may be reduced to $300 to $500. If the crash was not your fault and you can identify the other driver, the other driver's insurance will pay for damage to the courtesy car and you may not pay excess. In all cases, you must report to police if required, not admit liability, and notify the repairer or rental company immediately.