A cash offer at the roadside can feel like the simple option: no insurers, no paperwork, no fuss. In practice it is the decision drivers most often regret, and here is why.
You lose the record
Without an exchange of details and a report, you have no confirmed version of events. If the other driver later claims against you, you are defending yourself with nothing.
↑ Back to contentsIf you still want to settle privately
Get the vehicle inspected and a written estimate first, exchange full details anyway, notify your insurer for information only, and put any agreement in writing before money changes hands.
↑ Back to contentsFrequently asked questions
The insurance questions drivers ask us most
Straight answers on premiums, excess, write-offs and replacement vehicles, written by our Bristol repair team.
- Non-fault accident: what it means and what to do (UK guide)A plain-English UK guide to non-fault accidents: how liability is decided, your repair and replacement vehicle options, and the mistakes that cost drivers money.
- What to do after a car accident that wasn’t your faultThe exact steps to take at the scene, in the first 24 hours and in the first week after someone else hits your car in the UK.
- Will a non-fault accident affect my insurance? (UK)How a non-fault claim can show on your record, what happens to your premium and what to check with your insurer.
- Do I have to pay my insurance excess?When an excess applies after a non-fault accident, and the practical routes that can avoid paying one up front.
Your next steps
Based on what you have just read, these are the pages most drivers go to next.
Prefer to speak to someone now?
SAR Group is a repair-led accident support and bodyshop business, and your first point of contact after a non-fault accident. We are not an FCA-authorised claims management company: every non-fault case is handled through our authorised and regulated partner network.