New research conducted by Scrap Car Comparison has revealed that 3.4 million British motorists wouldn’t know what to do, if they were involved in a car accident.
In a survey to more than 1,000 motorists, the research found that many motorists are uncertain about the essential actions required in the event of a car accident, as well as other important details related to their insurance and breakdown coverage.
A seemingly small 6% of drivers said that they wouldn’t know what to do in the event of an accident, but when compared to the 52.5 million licence holders in the UK, that amounts to over three million drivers currently unprepared for the worst. This number rises for millennials (25-34-year-olds), the most unprepared of any age group, with 11% stating they wouldn’t know what to do in the event of an accident.
1 in 10 drivers can’t remember who their car is currently insured with
The research also revealed that over five million British drivers can’t remember who their current car insurer is. A major concern, when insurance plays a key role in any car accident or road-related damage.
Interestingly, with insurance costs usually higher for younger drivers, it’s those aged between 17-24 that have the hardest time remembering who their insurance is actually with, as 21% of Gen-Z motorists drivers can’t recall who their insurer is.
Beyond this, an overwhelming 61% of insured drivers—amounting to nearly 32 million Brits—don’t know their insurer’s contact details.
A further 1 in 10 Brits don’t know who their breakdown/roadside assistance provider is, while 41% don’t have their contact details to hand
While the contact details of a car insurer are quite easy to find via the likes of Google, perhaps more concerning, are the high numbers of drivers that don’t know who their roadside assistance and breakdown cover is with.
Similar to the number of drivers unaware of who their insurance company is, the study also found that 1 in 10 drivers have no clue who their current breakdown provider is either. A further 41% admitted they had no idea what the contact details were for their roadside assistance. This creates a real worry, considering there were around 750 breakdowns per day in the UK in 2023. With many breakdowns potentially taking place in areas with little or no internet reception, this would make it difficult to look up any contact details and therefore heighten concerns of getting stranded at the side of the road.
Again, this rate is highest among young drivers, with half of those (51%) driving between the age of 17 and 24, lacking essential contact details before getting behind the wheel.
1 in 5 motorists do not know the next steps in the event of a write-off
Finally, 20% of motorists are uncertain about what steps to take or who to contact following their vehicle getting written-off, meaning that a significant portion of drivers could face added stress and confusion during an already difficult situation. The data also highlights that more female drivers report feeling unsure about the process (25% of women say they’re not sure what they would need to do, versus 17% of men), pointing to a need for more accessible information and support tailored to all motorists, on accidents and breakdowns.
With this in mind, the motoring experts at Scrap Car Comparison have compiled their advice for anyone in the immediate aftermath of an accident, or wondering what to do with a crashed vehicle.
- Ensure safety: Most importantly, safety should always be the first step. If the accident is minor and you can do so safely, move your vehicle to the side of the road to prevent further accidents. Make sure to turn your hazard lights on – this helps to alert other drivers to the situation.
- Call for help: Once you are aware of the condition of everyone involved in the accident, call 999 to alert emergency services. For minor accidents or bumps, consider just calling your breakdown provider. They will be able to help you if your car is damaged, and you are unable to move it.
- Document the scene: Collect information and take pictures of the scene to document the damage. If the accident involves another driver, collect their name, contact information, insurance details, license plate number, and vehicle make/model. If anyone witnessed the accident, politely ask for their contact details in case their statements are needed later.
- Report the accident: Accidents with injuries or significant damage must be reported to the police and they’ll create a report, which can be helpful for insurance claims. Ensure to contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to report the accident and share the documentation you gathered from it.
If you are looking to sell a crashed or damaged vehicle, there are several options to consider. One of the options are salvage yards, which usually purchase cars primarily for their parts and metal value. These businesses often accept severely damaged or unfixable cars.
Alternatively, some dealerships also accept damaged vehicles as trade-ins or direct sales. Lastly, if you do have some mechanical knowledge, it is also possible to remove and sell valuable parts like the engine, transmission, or electronics separately.
David Kottaun, Operations Manager at Scrap Car Comparison commented: “Taking a look at this unique data to get a better understanding of how well British drivers are prepared in the event of a car accident has uncovered some very interesting trends. It’s quite staggering to see that over three million motorists aren’t confident when it comes to dealing with the aftermath of an accident, and many don’t know who they are insured with, or who will be able to help them in the event of a breakdown”.
“This highlights the need for greater education for drivers, especially at the learner driver stage of becoming a road user. In the meantime, we hope that our practical tips will help motorists to feel more prepared and serve as a reminder to keep contact details of their insurer and breakdown assistant to hand in case it’s ever needed. But most importantly to remember that safety should always be a priority – a little preparation can go a long way and hopefully make an already stressful situation more manageable”.
For further information, visit: https://www.scrapcarcomparison.co.uk/scrap/how-to-scrap-a-car/
