Credit hire after a crash in the Royal National Park

Why the Royal National Park roads catch drivers out

The Royal National Park is a 15,000-hectare pocket of bushland between Sutherland and Wollongong, and the roads through it are not built for a Sunday morning lap in a performance car. The main run is the Royal National Park Road, known locally as Lady Wakehurst Drive, which links Loftus and Otford. It is narrow, unkerbed, shadowed by tall eucalypts, and popular with cyclists, walkers and wildlife. The Old Princes Highway through Engadine and Heathcote is faster but has driveways, bus stops and a 60 km/h limit that drops without much warning.

Three things cause most crashes. First, the surface: tree sap, leaf litter and shade keep patches damp long after rain, and rear-wheel drive cars with stiff suspension can step out on the exit of a tight corner. Second, wildlife: wallabies and wombats are active at dawn and dusk, and swerving into the oncoming lane is worse than a low-speed hit. Third, tourists: hire cars and campervans stop suddenly at trailheads like Wattamolla and Garie Beach, and the car behind is often following too closely.

The park has no street lighting and patchy mobile coverage. If you crash on a blind bend, get out of the car only if it is safe, move behind the barrier if there is one, and put your hazard lights on. Do not stand on the road side of a crest. Other drivers will not see you until they are on top of you.

What to do when there is no phone signal on the Nasho

Telstra and Optus both drop out in the deeper sections of Lady Wakehurst Drive, around the Audley turn-off and the Garie Beach climb. If you cannot call 000, you have three practical options. Walk to the nearest ranger station or park gate if it is close and safe, flag down another driver and ask them to call from the next town, or use the emergency call button on a newer car if it has one and the ignition still works.

If there is an injury, do not move the injured person unless there is fire or immediate danger. Send someone else for help. If the crash is minor and both cars are drivable, exchange details and photograph everything: both number plates, both licences, the other driver's insurer and policy number, the damage on both cars, and the road position. Take a photo of the other driver's rego sticker or CTP insurance certificate if they have it.

Once you have signal, call your insurer and the police if anyone was hurt, if a driver left the scene, or if the other driver is unlicensed or uninsured. NSW Police can be contacted on 131 444 for non-emergencies. If the crash is in the national park, the local command is usually Sutherland Shire Police Area Command, and they will tell you whether to attend a station or whether an officer will come to you. Do not leave the scene until you have exchanged details or police have told you to move on.

Getting a tow out of the park to Sutherland or Engadine

Towing from inside the Royal National Park is not like a suburban tow. The access roads are steep and narrow, and some tow operators will not enter the park without a confirmed location and a clear recovery plan. The nearest reliable yards are in Sutherland, Engadine and Heathcote. If your car is undrivable, the tow will usually take it to a holding yard first and then to your chosen smash repairer once you have spoken to your insurer.

Who pays for the tow depends on your policy. Many comprehensive policies include a roadside assistance or towing benefit, and if you are not at fault, the at-fault insurer may reimburse a reasonable tow as part of your claim. Keep the tax invoice and a photo of the car on the tilt tray. If you are a member of a motoring organisation, use that first, because it is usually the fastest way to get a truck to the park boundary.

Before the truck leaves, take these steps:

• Photograph the car from four angles and the damage close up.
• Remove valuables, toll tags, dash cams and garage remotes.
• Note the tow company name, driver name, truck rego and the yard address.
• Ask where the car will be stored and for how long before storage fees start.
• Tell your insurer the yard location the same day.

If the crash is on the Old Princes Highway between Engadine and Heathcote, the tow is easier because there is shoulder space and phone signal. If it is on Lady Wakehurst Drive, expect a longer wait and possibly a police or ranger escort.

Reporting the crash to police after the fact

In NSW you must report a crash to police if anyone was injured, if a driver failed to stop and exchange details, if a driver was under the influence, or if the damage is significant. For a minor park crash where details were exchanged, you may not need a police report for the CTP claim, but your insurer will usually ask whether one was made. If in doubt, report it.

You can attend Sutherland Police Station or Engadine Police Station in person, or call 131 444 and ask for the non-emergency line. Have your licence, rego, the other driver's details, the time, the road and the nearest landmark ready. Landmarks inside the park include Audley Weir, Bundeena turn-off, Wattamolla, Garie Beach and Otford. Police will give you an event number, which is useful when you lodge your claim.

If the other driver left the scene, report it as a hit-and-run as soon as you have signal. If there were witnesses, get their names and numbers before they leave. If a ranger or NPWS vehicle attended, note the vehicle number. For more on the first steps after a not-at-fault crash, see first 24 hours and what to do after a car accident not at fault.

Do not admit fault at the scene, even if you think you might have contributed. Liability is decided later by insurers, and a casual apology can complicate the claim. Stick to facts: what you saw, what you did, what the other car did.

Getting a replacement car delivered to Cronulla or Miranda

Once liability is accepted or your credit hire provider is satisfied the crash was not your fault, a replacement car can be delivered to your home or workplace. In the Shire, common delivery points are Cronulla, Miranda, Caringbah, Gymea, Sutherland, Engadine and Menai. If you work in the city, delivery to a CBD address or a North Sydney office is also possible. Delivery is usually free within the metropolitan area, and the car arrives with a full tank or a full charge.

To book, you will need your licence, the other driver's details, the police event number if you have one, and photos of the damage. If your car is a prestige or performance model, the replacement should match it as closely as possible. That is what like-for-like means: same class, similar size, similar performance and similar transmission. A base hatchback is not a like-for-like replacement for a rear-wheel drive performance sedan.

Bookings are fulfilled by Drive Tribe (drivetribe.com.au), the trading name of Australian Business Holdings Pty Ltd, and this site is part of that group. You can see the replacement process and start a booking at not-at-fault accident replacement. If you are comparing options, credit hire vs claiming your own insurance explains the trade-offs.

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How credit hire works when the crash is on a weekend

Credit hire is a simple idea: a replacement car provider supplies you with a like-for-like vehicle on credit while your car is being repaired or replaced, and the at-fault insurer pays the reasonable hire cost at the end. You do not pay upfront. You sign an agreement that sets out the rate, the terms and your obligations. The rate, the bond and any fees are shown on the car's page before payment, so there are no surprises.

Weekend crashes are common in the park, and the process still works. The main difference is that some insurers have reduced phone hours on weekends, so liability may not be confirmed until Monday or Tuesday. A good credit hire provider will start the hire on the strength of your account, the police event number and the photos, rather than waiting for the other insurer to say yes. That is how you get a car on Sunday afternoon instead of Wednesday.

The at-fault insurer pays the reasonable hire cost, not an open-ended bill. That is why the hire period should match the repair period, and why the replacement car should be like-for-like. If the repairer is waiting on a part from Germany or Japan, the hire can continue, but the provider should keep the other insurer informed. For the full process, see how credit hire works and what is credit hire explained.

If the other insurer disputes the claim, the provider usually handles the dispute. You may be asked for a statement or your photos. See when an insurer disputes a credit hire claim for what happens next.

What like for like means for a performance car

Like-for-like is not a marketing phrase. In NSW, courts have accepted that a not-at-fault driver is entitled to a replacement that is reasonable in the circumstances, and for a prestige or performance car that means a comparable vehicle. The leading case is Arsalan v Rixon, which dealt with the difference between a basic replacement and a like-for-like one. The principle is that you should not be left worse off while your car is off the road.

Practically, like-for-like looks at:

• Body type: sedan, SUV, coupe or wagon.
• Performance: power, torque and acceleration in the same ballpark.
• Drivetrain: all-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or front-wheel drive.
• Transmission: automatic or manual, and the number of gears.
• Size and seating: five seats, similar boot space.
• Badge and tier: a performance model replaced by a performance model.

If your car is a Porsche Macan GTS, a small SUV is not like-for-like. If it is an Audi RS 3 Sportback, a base sedan is not like-for-like. The replacement should feel and drive like the car you lost, because you are still paying for it, still insuring it, and still need to get to work, school and the shops.

For more detail, see like for like and credit hire for prestige and performance cars.

Booking a replacement car for Monday morning

If your crash happened over the weekend, aim to have a replacement car in your driveway by Monday morning. The fastest path is to lodge the credit hire request the same day, even if the other insurer has not yet accepted liability. You will need your licence, the other driver's details, the police event number, photos of the damage and the location of your car. If your car has been towed, tell the provider which yard it is in.

Delivery windows in the Shire are usually within a few hours. If you need the car at Cronulla by 7am, say so when you book. If you work in the city and need it at Martin Place or Barangaroo, that can be arranged. The car will come with a full tank or charge, and you will be shown the controls before the driver leaves.

Before you sign anything, read the agreement. It will set out the rate, the bond, the hire period and what happens if the claim is disputed. The bond equals the excess you choose, and paying by card carries a small surcharge while bank transfer and cash on the rental do not. If you are unsure, ask questions. For a checklist, see what you sign credit hire paperwork.

To check availability or start a booking, go to accident replacement vehicles or accident replacement car Sydney. If you are a repairer, solicitor or broker, see partners and referrals.

If the crash becomes a write-off

A hard hit on a tree or a guardrail in the park can push a prestige car close to a write-off. If the repair cost approaches the market value, the insurer may declare a total loss. That changes the credit hire picture. The hire usually continues for a short period while you negotiate the payout, but it does not run indefinitely. The at-fault insurer owes you the market value of your car, not a new one, unless your policy says otherwise.

If your car is a write-off, you have options. You can accept the payout and buy a replacement, or you can use the payout to settle any finance and start again. If you disagree with the market value, you can provide evidence: recent service records, low kilometres, factory options, and comparable sales. Do not accept the first offer without checking it.

For more on this, see repairs and write-offs and credit hire and write-offs what changes. If you are a business or fleet operator, see business and fleet and credit hire for business and fleet cars.

One more thing: do not let the car sit in a tow yard accruing storage fees while you decide. Storage can become a disputed cost. Move it to a repairer or a free storage location as soon as your insurer agrees.