Accident Recovery: What Happens to Your Car After a Crash

At the roadside

Your first concern is people, not the vehicle. If anyone is hurt, or the road is blocked and dangerous, call 999. Once it is safe, turn on hazards, and move yourself and any passengers away from the traffic. Do not stand in a live carriageway to take photos.

If you can do it safely, photograph the scene, the vehicles, their positions and any visible damage, and swap details with the other driver. A recovery operator will then assess whether the car can be driven or must be lifted onto a flatbed. Damaged steering, wheels, suspension or leaking fluids all mean the car should not be driven, and it is safer to have it transported.

• Make sure everyone is safe and call 999 if anyone is injured or the road is blocked.
• Take photos of the scene and damage if it is safe to do so.
• Do not drive a car with damaged steering, brakes, wheels or leaking fluids.
• Tell the operator what happened and whether the car will roll and steer.

Where the car goes first

After an accident, a vehicle typically goes to a secure storage location, to a bodyshop, or to your home, depending on its condition and your instructions. Some insurers have their own arrangements for recovery and storage, and may ask you to use a specific provider. Others allow you to choose. Read your policy or call your insurer to find out what applies before agreeing to anything.

You are not always obliged to accept the first suggestion made at the roadside, but you should not ignore the practical need to get the car off the road promptly. If you are unsure, ask the recovery operator what they offer and check with your insurer, and keep records of who took the car and where.

Storage, assessment and your insurer

Once a car is stored, an assessment usually follows. An engineer or assessor looks at the damage, decides whether it looks repairable, and prepares an estimate. Hidden damage to the structure, suspension, airbags and electronics is common after a collision, so the first impression at the roadside may not tell the whole story.

If the cost of repair is judged to be more than the car is worth, the insurer may treat the car as a total loss. That decision rests with the insurer and your policy, and we cannot give insurance advice, but it helps to know that the car may be assessed before any repair starts. Storage can attract charges, so ask early how long the car can stay where it is and who is responsible for any fees.

Taking the car to a bodyshop

If the car is to be repaired, it goes to a bodyshop for the work. You may be asked to use a repairer from your insurer's list, or you may be able to choose your own. Which applies depends on your policy, so check it. Where you do have a choice, ask the repairer how they handle the repair, what parts they use and how they communicate progress.

The recovery operator's job is to get the vehicle safely from the scene to wherever it needs to go. At Banks of the Tyne in Hebburn we offer accident recovery, and we can deliver a car to a place of your choice, such as a bodyshop, a storage location or your home, subject to the arrangements with your insurer.

Practical tips to keep things simple

Keep everything in writing where you can, including names, claim reference numbers, photos and receipts. Ask for the recovery paperwork so there is a record of the vehicle's condition when it was picked up. Remove valuables and personal items from the car before it is moved, if it is safe to do so.

Do not sign anything you do not understand, and ask questions when something is unclear. If you have a child seat in the car, have it checked or replaced as advised, because seats involved in a collision may be compromised even when they look undamaged.

Frequently asked questions