London PCO accident: how repair, recovery and hire work in 2026

12 May 2026Easy Car Claims team7 min read

Bottom line: after a non-fault accident, a body shop and car garage like us deals with the practical side for a London PCO driver: recovery, a replacement vehicle and repairs. You pay nothing up front because we recover our charges from the at-fault driver's insurer (credit-hire terms apply, explained below). This guide walks through how it works, what each party does, and what to watch for.

What we do

A body shop and car garage like us provides repair, recovery and hire after a non-fault accident and recovers its charges from the at-fault insurer. This helps because:

PCO drivers need a suitable, TfL-licensed replacement vehicle quickly to keep earning
Arranging recovery, repairs and a licensed replacement takes time and effort
We organise that practical side in one place

We provide these services under hire and repair agreements and recovers the charges from the at-fault driver's insurer. The insurer reviews the costs and may pay less than the full amount. You sign the agreements, and you may be liable for the charges if they aren't recovered.

We are a body shop and car garage providing accident repair and replacement vehicles. We are not solicitors and we are not authorised by the FCA.

How a typical London PCO non-fault case runs

Day 0: accident

You ring our 24/7 line. We ask a few questions (the other driver's details, photos, your registration, location) and send:

A recovery vehicle, as quickly as we can, if your car isn't drivable
A TfL-licensed replacement vehicle (usually within 24 hours, subject to availability) so you keep working

Days 1 to 3: inspection and repair authorisation

We inspect the damage and tell you whether we can provide repair and hire. An engineer then either:

Authorises the repair (most common), usually at our in-house bodyshop
Declares the vehicle a total loss (write-off). The at-fault insurer values the vehicle. We provide repair and valuation evidence

We notify the at-fault insurer of our repair, recovery and hire charges. Often the insurer confirms its position within a few days; disputed cases take weeks.

Days 1 to 4: paperwork

Our team gathers:

Photos, witness details, police reference, accident location
Your driver details, licence and address proof
Vehicle details, MOT history and ULEZ status (from DVLA and DVSA records)
DVLA keeper information on the other vehicle, where the law allows us to request it
Your earnings evidence, if you want it passed to the solicitors who handle recovery (your loss of earnings is your own claim)

Days 4 to 20: repair or write-off

Your vehicle is repaired at our in-house bodyshop (with photographic progress records) or, if written off, valued by the at-fault insurer. You keep using the TfL-compliant hire vehicle throughout.

Days 20 to 60: the insurer reviews the costs

Once your vehicle is back (or you've sourced a replacement after a write-off), we close the hire and send our final charges to the at-fault insurer. The insurer reviews the costs, which typically takes 4 to 12 weeks depending on complexity.

What we recover from the at-fault insurer

For a straightforward non-fault case, we recover from the at-fault driver's insurer:

Our hire charges for your replacement vehicle, where reasonably needed
Our repair charges
Our recovery and storage charges

Your loss of earnings is your own claim. If you want, the evidence can be passed, with our charges, to the solicitors who handle recovery. They will explain their terms and any fee to you before acting for you.

That's why there's normally no upfront cost to you. The insurer reviews each item, and under the agreements you may be liable for charges that aren't recovered.

At-fault accidents: this model only works when the other driver was at fault. For at-fault accidents we can repair your vehicle as a paid job, and we quote before any work starts. Tell your insurer about the accident as your policy requires. Questions about your policy are for your insurer.

What we don't do

Give legal advice. We're not solicitors.
Conduct litigation. We do not bring court proceedings for you.
Decide liability. Insurers (or the courts) decide who was at fault. We provide evidence for our charges.
Sell or advise on insurance. We're not an insurance broker. Questions about your own policy are for your insurer.
Lend money. We do not lend or advance money.
Guarantee outcomes. We can't promise what the insurer will pay.

Why use us

There are several London PCO-focused providers. What we offer:

In-house bodyshop: we repair vehicles in our own workshop rather than subcontracting.
24/7 phone line.
TfL-licensed replacement vehicles.
Replacement vehicles usually within 24 hours in London, subject to availability.
Checked paperwork: we run DVLA and DVSA checks before our charges go to the insurer.

What's the catch?

Hire and repair with no upfront cost only work when the other driver was genuinely at fault. If fault is disputed or shared, or the charges aren't recovered, you may be liable for some or all of them under the agreements you sign. We're upfront about this from day one. See our Terms for the full detail on credit hire, cancellation rights and our complaints procedure.

Our income comes from the repair, recovery, storage and replacement vehicle services we provide. We may also receive payments from solicitors or other businesses in connection with work on your case. Ask us and we will tell you what we receive.

If you're considering us

If you've had an accident and you're comparing providers, call 0208 090 8872 for a free chat with no obligation. We'll explain how our repair, recovery and replacement vehicle service works and the likely timeline. If our model doesn't fit your situation, we'll tell you.

Get a repair and hire quote online if you'd rather start in writing.

Questions about your repair or hire?

Call us to talk about getting your vehicle repaired and back on the road.

0208 090 8872