OT: Who is responsible for an accident caused by someone driving a hired car?

The hire company's insurance.

Peter

The message from Reilly contains these words:

A driver is always responsible for his/her actions, but of course the insurers carry the can. The hire company has sod all to do with it, generally, though of course you may have to approach them to get the details of the driver.

And more importantly, details of the insurance company.

Peter

If you've got the reg. and a witness or two then just ring HelpHire and let them sort out who they're going to claim from...

Darren

The message from "AstraVanMan" contains these words:

I don't know how hire cars work - I ain't done it for about twenty years, but isn't it your own insurance you drive on?

Whoever caused the accident is responsible, neither the hire company or their insurers (if applicable) are.

You can feel free to notify the hire company that their vehicle has been involved in a collision, they will however NOT release details of the driver. They will probably not release their insurers details to you over the phone (due to fraud) but if you submit a request in writing with your own insurance details, details of the accident etc. they will pass it to their insurers who will contact your insurance company direct. That is providing the driver was covered by their insurance??

Alternatively just give all the details to your insurance company and let them pursue it, that's what they are paid to do.

Clearly, it's the driver who is responsible for the accident where he is at fault.

Of course, providing the accident is not criminal, then the insurance company will deal with the financial side, whether it is a hire car, company car, or owned car - that is correctly insured.

You raise an interesting point though - how on earth does this reflect NCB, 'at fault' accident history, etc.? considering insurers in the UK only insure the vehicle, and not the driver, as the prime risk.

Aren't hirers supposed to declare claims and losses when filling in the forms ?

THe driver is responsible. The company providing insurance for him driving it will be the people who pay out.

Usually not.

No they don't. The driver is the prime risk.

But it is an interesting point, regarding NCB and such like. A while back, when getting insurance, I mentioned an accident I'd had in my Dad's car, stating that it was my fault, but it was whilst named on someone else's insurance, and didn't affect my NCB. The guy said "you don't need to tell us about that then". Now, obviously I technically do - but my theory is that he said that with a knowledge of how their systems work, and when they run checks on people they only search for claims made with policies held by that person. Just a thought anyway.

Peter

The message from "Frank McWurter" contains these words:

You sure about that? I'm sure it's the driver they're more interested in.

The message from Conor contains these words:

Ah. You live and learn.

Frank McWurter ( snipped-for-privacy@virgin.net) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

That'll explain why a 17yo lad costs the same to insure for a given vehicle as a 50yo woman, then?

Unless it's a courtesy car while yours is being fixed - then it usually *is* on your insurance...

Just on a side note..

Here in Ireland we have to display an insurance disc alongside the usual tax disc.

It takes all the hassle out of situations like this ...

It displays....Insurance Company...Policy Number, expiry date and reg. number.

The police will sieze your car on the spot if it's not displayed.

I'm surprised that this has not been adopted in the UK.

Me too. As you say, it solves the problem.

Ok. I did manage to get the driver's name (a company actually) from the van hire company.

The design of the vans leaves much to be desired. The loading platform sticks out about a foot beyond the rear bumper - and just the right level to make a mess of the bonnet of the car behind when some idiot tries to park it in a tight space on a residential street.