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Accidents are always inconvenient and upsetting - but imagine getting into a car accident while driving your company car or work vehicle. Things can certainly be more complicated, so we’ve outlined what you should do.

Contact your employer
If you’ve had an accident in a company vehicle, it’s important that you let them know first what has happened. As the company vehicle is probably insured through your company, you will need to provide these insurance and contact details and not your own personal insurance details. 

Gather evidence 
With any accident, it’s important to make a record of what has happened. Evidence is important for the insurance claim, to help explain the car accident after the fact. 

Were you hurt?
Accidents can leave you with physical injury. If you’ve been injured, it’s important to seek help from a Doctor or GP who will assess your injury, prescribe any treatment(s) necessary as well as advise on recovery times. For more information on the steps you should follow, check out this earlier post.

Determining fault and responsibility
As your accident was in your work’s car, the next question that will need to be answered is what were you using the vehicle for at the time of the accident. Were you performing work related tasks, such as transporting goods for your job or driving between sales meetings, or were you driving the car for personal errands. If you were driving around for personal errands, then you may be held responsible and your own insurance provider may need to be involved.

Tell your employer about Carbiz
If the accident was not your fault then you have the right to drive - we will help you get back on the road as quickly as possible with a like for like accident replacement vehicle. 

Car crashes are one of the most stressful situations to be a part of. From high strung emotions to not knowing what to do, it’s often the case that even simple fender benders turn nasty.
We’ve put together a few simple car accident etiquette rules to keep in mind the next time you get into an accident.
Stay calm 
In the heat of the moment it can be very easy to let your emotions get the best of you. Take a few deep breaths and remember that it's more important to remain calm. Just after an accident, it’s best to be emotionally available to assess the situation, call for help and take in everything that’s happening.
Be polite
Even if you are nervous, anxious or angry, it’s best to stay polite immediately following your accident. There’s no need to shout at the other driver or to be rude - accidents are just accidents. Another important thing is to refrain from saying sorry - this may be taken as admission of guilt later on when fault is determined.
Move and call for help if necessary
If no one is seriously injured and you are able to move your car, then it’s best to move out of the way of traffic and turn on your hazards to warn of danger.
Exchange information and gather evidence
Remember to exchange information with all the other parties involved. At the same time, gather evidence on what happened to cause the accident. We’ve put together a list of things you need to gather for your claim. Not at fault? We’ll help you.
Contact Carbiz as soon as possible
If the accident wasn’t your fault, then you shouldn’t be out of pocket. Our team is ready to help you with your accident claim, getting you back on the road as quickly as possible. 
Give us a call as soon as possible, we’ll help you 📞1300 889 256

Ever had to deal with smash repair lingo that’s left you feeling a little more confused than confident? We’ve put together a quick guide to brush up on your smash repair lingo.
Aftermarket parts - While aftermarket parts can be appealing as they are generally cheaper than genuine ones, they are not made by the original equipment manufacturer. Choosing aftermarket parts can be cheaper in the short term, but they can leave you out of pocket later on. 
Filling - filling, or putty filling can be used to restore original contours in a panel. A putty paste is mixed and then put onto a surface to dry and harden. Once the putty filler has hardened, the surface can be smoothed and shaped through sanding.
Genuine parts - genuine parts can be the most expensive replacement option and will carry the brand logo of your car manufacturer. These parts are not typically manufactured by the car manufacturer themselves, but rather from another company who adds the car makers logo.
Non-structural repairs - these repairs are more cosmetic and generally affect the panels or exterior parts of your vehicle.
Sanding - sanding is used to smooth, shape and contour panels. Sanding is also one of the last steps in preparation for spray painting.
Stretching and shrinking - this is a process where heat is applied to any damaged metal panels. A hammer is then used to reshape the panels back to their original shape.
Re-alignment - force from an accident can cause the under body of your car to be out of alignment. Re-alignment is the process that ensures that everything is properly aligned and that your car is safe to drive.

Stressed after an accident? Besides the stress of the post-accident trauma, you’re also probably worried about how long your car is going to be in the repair shop. Understandable - being off of the road, stuck without a car can really put a spanner into your plans. 
Getting to work, making sure the kids get to school on time, picking up groceries - and all the other things you’ve got on your to-do list - being without a car is really not an option. There is a solution for you - an accident replacement vehicle.
Interested in learning how? There are a few different scenarios, we’ve investigated the most common ones below.
You were not at fault
If you were not at fault then there is a bit of good news. In Sydney, you have the right to drive. This means that you are able to get back onto the road as quickly as possible with an accident replacement car - costs to be covered by the party at fault. It’s important to remember that you will need to provide the at fault party’s details to the team at Carbiz so that we can assist you with your claim. 
You were at fault but you don’t have replacement vehicle cover
If you were responsible for the car accident, you are liable for the costs involved - and if you do not have car hire cover, you will need to pay for the cost of an accident replacement vehicle should you want one.
You were at fault but you have replacement vehicle cover with your insurance policy
If you were at fault but you do have cover for accident replacement vehicle costs while your car is being repaired, then your insurer will take care of the costs. This all depends on your specific cover and insurance policy.
Need help after your car accident? We’ll help you. 📞1300 889 256

Fault after a car accident is very important to determine. It determines who is liable for the costs incurred from the car accident. These costs can include towing, repair or replacement of your car, hire-car costs, and lost wages or profits for income-earning cars.
Sometimes, this can lead to a dispute on who is the liable party - so what should you do if you get into this type of dispute?
Immediately following your accident and once you’ve secured the scene by making sure no one is seriously injured (and if they are, you need to call 000), it’s important to follow these steps carefully as they make things easier later on:

• Document the accident scene by collecting evidence and taking photos. A few key pieces of information you need from the other drivers include their name, surname, address, insurance company, registration details and details of the vehicle owner (especially if this is a different person to the driver).
• Take note of the time of the accident, where it happened, and what the traffic, lighting and weather conditions were.
• If anyone refuses to provide their details, call the police to assist you.
• It’s important to report your car accident within 24 hours, so if there were no police on scene you will have to visit your local police station to do this.
• If your car can no longer drive and needs to be towed, you will need to contact a tow company and stay on scene until they arrive. It’s a great idea to keep the details of a trusted and reputable towing company saved as a contact on your phone – even better, contact Carbiz Assist as soon as possible and let us help you.

Making the claim and determining fault 
If you are not at fault, you may be entitled to a like for like accident replacement vehicle at no cost to yourself - but what is the process and how is this all handled? More often than not, fault is clear - either through admission of one of the drivers or following a quick investigation. Our team can help you with this - it’s important to wait for professional assistance when determining fault.
Disputes can happen - why and how to get through them
A dispute happens when the one of the drivers involved disagrees that it’s his/her fault. The steps following a dispute can be complex - and it’s advisable to have our team helping you through the process.

• Fault may need to be determined by a court
• More details may be requested from the parties involved in the accident
  • Details of any witnesses
  • Physical evidence (photos/footage, damage reports, skid marks on roads etc) and
  • Interpretation of the road rules

Not at fault? Contact Carbiz, we’ll help you. 📞1300 889 256

Car accidents can really take their toll. Trauma experienced from a car accident can be both emotional and physical. Emotionally and mentally - it can take years to overcome the fear and anxiety from an accident. And while most accidents are minor without physical injury, it does happen. You can get seriously injured from a car accident - even if it wasn’t your fault.
If you’re injured in an accident that was not your fault then here’s what you need to know.
Immediately following your accident
First priority following an accident is to ensure that no further injury occurs. If you’ve been injured, it’s important to remain calm and to receive first aid and medical attention. If you have been injured, you do not have to drive or move your car if your injury affects your ability to drive or your car is no longer safe to drive.
It’s also important to make sure that you gather evidence from the accident scene. We’ve put together a list of things to gather. Here’s a quick recap 

• Document the accident scene by collecting evidence and taking photos. A few key pieces of information you need from the other drivers include their name, surname, address, insurance company, registration details and details of the vehicle owner (especially if this is a different person to the driver).
• Take note of the time of the accident, where it happened, and what the traffic, lighting and weather conditions were.

Seek medical help 
If you’ve been injured, it’s important to seek help from a Doctor or GP who will assess your injury, prescribe any treatment(s) necessary as well as advise on recovery times. It’s also important to ask for a medical certificate about your current injury and fitness. There is a preferred form of certificate called a SIRA certificate of fitness. You will need this certificate should you want to make a claim.
To make a claim for personal injury suffered, you should contact the State Insurance Regulatory Authority for more information
It’s also important to remember that there is a time limit to make your claim, this can be as short as 28 days following your accident.
Not at fault? Contact Carbiz, we’ll help you. 📞1300 889 256

The shock. The disappointment. The damage! The realisation that it wasn't your fault. In a split second things can happen - and car accidents can leave you wondering “what next”?
The first reaction of most after an accident is to immediately call their insurer, but what happens if the accident was not your fault? Does that change what you should do?
The truth is yes - it should. 
Accidents that are not your fault shouldn’t leave you inconvenienced and out of pocket. The fact of the matter is that Australian common law has provided for this eventuality - you have the right to drive. With the right to drive, you may be entitled to the recovery of all the costs incurred as a result of your accident from the at fault driver (or their insurer should they have one). 
The truth is that you are able to get back on the road as quickly as possible.
But it matters which team you use to help you - ideally, a team that can help you from the time at your accident scene right until your newly fixed car is delivered back to you. 
There are a few things to remember when making a “not at fault” claim. There must be at least two cars involved and you must ensure that you’ve gathered all of the relevant details from the driver at fault - we’ve put together this handy list for you. 
The team at Carbiz is ready to help you after your accident. Contact us as soon as possible and we can help with:

• Driving your damaged car to a repairer that suits you, not the insurer.
• Providing you with an accident replacement vehicle until your car is fixed.
• Management of the repairs.
• Getting you back on the road in less than an hour*
• Handling your not at fault insurance claim.

Not at fault? Contact Carbiz, we’ll help you. 📞1300 889 256

Car accidents are never fun - especially if you are not at fault. And what’s worse than the other driver not stopping to exchange details? All drivers are obliged to stop after any type of car accident and exchange details - but this doesn’t always happen.
So what is a hit and run accident?
A hit and run accident can be as simple as coming back to your car after a shopping trip and finding a scratch down your bumper, with no note left - or as scary as those stories we hear of pedestrians being hit by a car and left for dead as the driver flees the scene. 
A hit and run accident refers to any motor vehicle collision or accident where one of the drivers leaves the scene without exchanging details or checking to see if everyone involved is ok. It happens - and it generally happens when the fleeing driver is scared of any potential financial or legal consequences. 
If the hit and run is your fault
If you collide with another car and flee from the scene, you won’t be able to claim from your insurance. By driving away, you have committed a crime and your insurance won’t cover any claim you put forward.
If your car is damaged and the other driver flees the scene
If you are the victim of a hit and run, and you have comprehensive car insurance then you will more than likely be covered. Your own comprehensive car insurance may cover damages to your car from a wide range of sources, including other drivers and car accidents. 
If however you are found to be at fault, then you may need to pay an excess to make your claim. In order to be found “not at fault” you will need to provide evidence as well as details of the other driver - which is tricky in a hit and run situation. This is where things can become frustrating. There are a few ways that you can identify the other driver, including asking witnesses if they saw anything or finding CCTV footage of the area where your accident occurred. If you saw the other driver’s car make, model and registration, then you can pass this information onto the police and file a report.
Perhaps you are unlucky in finding or identifying the other driver and decide against making a claim for the damages, but you still need to let your insurance know about the accident. Here are the options you can follow if you can’t find the other driver

• Pay for the repairs yourself, or
• Make a claim on your comprehensive car insurance and pay any applicable excess. This option could also result in your premiums being increased.

Not at fault? Contact Carbiz, we’ll help you. 📞1300 889 256