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When a car is damaged in an accident, the repair is one part of the problem. The next morning may still involve getting to work, taking children to school and arriving at an appointment on time. Working out those trips can help you decide what replacement transport needs to do.

Handle immediate safety and reporting matters first. Once those are addressed, make a short plan for the days ahead and ask the people managing the repairs what information is available. You can arrange the essentials without knowing the final repair date yet.

Keep the accident information together

Save the details you have collected in one place, including contact information, photographs, claim references and the repairer’s details. Keep a note of who you have spoken to and what they asked you to provide next.

The NSW Government’s road crash guidance explains immediate responsibilities on NSW roads, including exchanging details and when emergency services are needed. If the accident happened elsewhere, check the relevant local rules. Those immediate responsibilities come before arranging a car for the rest of the week.

If you don’t yet have every detail a service provider asks for, tell them what is missing. A clear list of outstanding information is easier to work through than several unfinished calls. Keep copies of documents you send so you can refer to the same information later.

Work out the journeys that cannot wait

Write down the trips you need to make in the next few days. Include passengers, luggage, child restraints and anything else that affects the space you need. A car that works for one commute may be less suitable for a household’s full routine.

You may be able to postpone a shopping trip or combine errands. Work, care arrangements and fixed appointments can be harder to move. Ask family members what they need too, so the transport plan covers the whole day rather than the first journey.

If you are considering borrowing a vehicle, using a repairer’s courtesy car or arranging a hire, check availability and conditions before relying on it. Confirm the drivers, allowed use, costs and return arrangements for the option you choose.

Compare suitability as well as availability

After a not-at-fault accident, Right2Drive may be an option. The AU service provides eligible drivers with a similar vehicle, subject to availability, and arranges delivery and collection. Vehicle hire costs are recovered through the at-fault driver’s insurer, with the hire covering repairs or the wait for a total loss settlement under the service terms.

Explain your everyday needs when you apply. Ask about the space for passengers and belongings, and discuss any particular requirements before the handover is arranged. Clarify the agreement, customer obligations and any usage or other charges that may apply. Approval and availability need to be confirmed before you plan a trip around a particular vehicle.

If several people normally share your car, check whether each person can drive the replacement. A verbal assumption about that can create a problem later. Keep the approved-driver information with the hire paperwork.

Allow time to learn a different car

Before the first journey, check the seating position, mirrors, lights, wipers and parking controls while stationary. Familiarise yourself with the vehicle’s size and any driver-assistance features. If you don’t understand a warning or control, ask the provider to explain it.

For further reading, see this discussion of driver-assistance features and accidents. For the vehicle you receive, use its own instructions and the handover explanation to understand how the features operate. A familiar badge doesn’t mean every model behaves like your own car.

Set up a route before moving and leave time for the first drive. If you need to fit a child restraint or transfer other equipment, arrange that before the school or appointment deadline. Ask for help where necessary rather than trying to finish the setup in a rush.

Check in with the repairer and vehicle provider

Ask the repairer how updates will be provided and who to contact if the expected completion date changes. Keep the vehicle provider informed according to the hire agreement, including any progress towards a total loss settlement.

When your car is ready, confirm the collection arrangements before changing the household schedule again. Make sure you know where to return or hand over the replacement, what fuel or charge level is required and which belongings need to be removed.

Before the replacement leaves, check the boot, door pockets and storage compartments. Remove paired phones or saved personal details where the vehicle’s controls allow it, and keep the final paperwork with the accident records. That leaves the transport arrangements closed off as you return to your usual routine.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and/or interviewee(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Ocean Road Magazine, its publisher, or its staff. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, Ocean Road Magazine makes no representations or warranties of any kind regarding its completeness or reliability. Readers should conduct their own due diligence before making any decisions based on the content of this article.