Helphire services

If you are involved in a motor accident that wasn't your fault, why should you be inconvenienced? Helphire's services are based on the legal premise that the party not-at-fault in an accident is entitled to be put back in the position they were in prior to the event. Our services aim to keep you mobile by:

• Providing like for like replacement transport whilst your vehicle is off the road
• Arranging and funding your vehicle repairs
• Helping you to claim compensation for injury or losses you may have suffered

Call us on 0500 224455 if you've been involved in a non-fault accident.
Or, find out more about how we can help using the FAQ's below:

Who can use the Helphire service?

If you are involved in an accident that is not your fault why should you be inconvenienced? We can take on your case for you and:

• Provide you with replacement transport
• Organise and fund your repairs
• Help you claim compensation for injury or losses

Opening times: weekdays 8am - 8pm. Saturdays & Sundays 9am - 5pm.

How can Helphire help me?

Usually with one phone call, we can make a decision on whether we can help you. If we can, we'll take over all the hassle involved in having an accident from liaising with your insurance company, to providing you with replacement transport, organising your repairs and helping you claim compensation for any injury or losses you may have suffered.

What if my car is written-off?

We can help you if your car is written-off. We aim to keep you in the replacement vehicle until you receive and bank a cheque from your insurance company. We can also help you claim compensation for any injury or losses.

Who pays for the service?

You are legally entitled to the service Helphire provides after a non-fault accident, regardless of your vehicle insurance. The bill for any replacement vehicle we provide, or the repairs we organise and fund, are sent to the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident.
You may be asked to pay £10 for an insurance policy which guarantees that even if the insurance company of the driver to blame doesn't settle the bill, you will not end up paying.

What about my insurance company?

We will notify your insurance company on your behalf, or ask you to notify them once we have agreed we can help you. They will need to know for information only. The claim is actually against the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident - not yours!

What will happen to my car?

If your vehicle is driveable, we will organise a suitable repairer and repair date with you. You will then be asked to take your vehicle to the agreed garage, where a replacement vehicle will be waiting for you.
When your repairs are complete, you will simply need to drive our hire car to the garage and leave it there for collection while you drive your own car away. If your vehicle is un-drivable we can arrange for a replacement vehicle to be delivered to your home, work or any other suitable address. We will then organise for your un-drivable vehicle to be taken to a repairer.

What replacement transport will I get?

Wherever possible, you will be given replacement transport of a similar standard to your own, e.g. people carrier, motorbike, estate car, prestige car etc.
You'll need to show you have a 'need' for a similar standard vehicle, e.g. you may need a people carrier to transport children to and from school, or a prestige car because of your status at work etc.

What if I am injured?

If you suffered injury as a result of the accident you are legally entitled to claim compensation. You may have suffered whiplash, or an even more serious injury. We can help ensure you receive the compensation you are due, and what's more nothing will be deducted from any money you receive to cover legal costs.
You will receive 100% of the compensation awarded to you. In fact, if you have suffered injury as the result of an accident that was not your fault, anytime within the last three years, we can help you make a claim now. Call us free on 0800 0260900, Monday to Friday 9am-7pm
(Claims will be managed Angel Assistance Limited, a subsidiary of Helphire Group plc. Angel Assistance Limited is regulated by the Ministry of Justice in respect of regulated claims management activities; its registration is recorded on the website www.claimsregulation.gov.uk.)

What if my passengers are injured?

We can arrange for your passengers to claim any compensation due for injury as well. We will either take details over the phone when you call us, or you could ask them to call us direct on 0800 0260900.
(Claims will be managed through Angel Assistance Limited, a subsidiary of Helphire Group plc.)

How do Helphire make their money?

Effectively, Helphire is a hire car company, so we make our money by hiring cars and other vehicles from our fleet. The difference is, we hire the car to you but pass the bill to the insurance company of the driver to blame, at hire rates agreed with the UK's leading insurance companies.

How do you know if the accident wasn't your fault?

There are several accident scenarios that will never be seen as your fault:

• You are stationary at lights or a roundabout and another driver runs into you from behind
• You are driving along a main road and somebody pulls out of a side turning into your car
• You are parked and somebody runs into you.

Often, drivers know when they were not to blame for an accident. If in doubt, call us and we will see if we can help.

What do insurance companies think of Helphire?

We work with some of the UK's largest insurance companies to provide the service we feel is due after an accident that is not your fault. Why should you be inconvenienced if you were in no way to blame?
The insurance industry agrees that our service is a great step forward in customer care. We have agreed our hire rates with the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

How many people do you help?

Since 1992 we have helped hundreds of thousands of people involved in non - fault accidents. As more and more people hear about our service, our numbers are growing.

How long have you been in business?

We launched our service in 1992 and became a plc (Public Limited Company) quoted on the London Stock Exchange in 1997.

What if you take my case on, then decide I was partly to blame?

As long as you have told us the truth and continue to co-operate with us we will honour your case.
The £10 insurance policy you were asked to buy through us at the outset would protect you from having to pay.

Will I end up with a big bill?

Absolutely not! The charge for our hire car and, if applicable, repairs is passed to the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident. Even if they do not pay, you would be protected by the £10 indemnity policy we ask you to purchase at the outset.