I would get confirmation from the credit hire company that you will not be personally liable for the charges regardless of the eventual outcome of the claim.

If they can't give you this send the car back - £450 a week soon mounts up, especially if the claim is contested. The credit hire company have no interest in reducing the hire term as it boosts their profits.

Hi,

I had a vaguely similar case earlier this year (I also have a Mazda 6). Had small accident just 4 days from the end of my existing ins policy. I had already renewed with another ins co, so once the accident had occurred I had to ring my about-to-be new ins co and tell them that the original details I'd gievn them 3 weeks previously had changed, and that I was currently involved in a claim.

they then charged me ~£150 as they knocked off 2 yrs NCB, but said that if all the costs are recovered from the other persons ins co then the NCB will be re-instated and also the money refunded.

2 months later I had notification that my now previous ins co had indeed recovered all their costs and that I was not liable to pay anything. Upon passing this information onto my ins co my NCB got re-instated and sure enough the ~£150 I had paid out was indeed refunded...and without trauma, which was quite unexpected.

So slightly painful at the time, but it all got sorted out. was also good that the other party admitted liability to their ins co as well, which doesn't always happen....

BTW that daily car charge is a proper rip-off, we use Vauxhall Astras from a well-known national car hire firm and are charged £25/day. Make sure you are most definately not held liable for the costs in the event that the other ins co doesn't pay.

cheers

Stu