If you've been offered a credit hire vehicle after a non-fault accident, you may have seen the letters "GTA" and wondered what you're agreeing to. This guide explains what the General Terms of Agreement is, how daily rates are set, and — most importantly — who pays valid hire charges on a non-fault claim.
What Is the GTA?
The General Terms of Agreement (GTA) is the industry framework between most credit hire companies and most motor insurers in the UK. Its purpose is simple: to settle credit hire claims quickly and consistently, without each case turning into a rate dispute.
Under the GTA, credit hire companies agree to charge published daily rates by vehicle class, and insurers agree to pay valid claims at those rates without a protracted fight. For you, as the non-fault driver, it means the whole arrangement is standardised and transparent.
How GTA Daily Rates Work
Each replacement vehicle is assigned a class based on its size, engine and specification — roughly mirroring the insurance groups used for your own car. Indicative daily rates are:
- Micro / Mini (Group A) — £55
- Small / Compact (Group B) — £70
- Intermediate (Group C) — £95
- Large / Estate (Group D) — £115
- Executive (Group E) — £145
- SUV / 4x4 (Group F) — £160
- TfL-plated PCO vehicles — from £95
The daily rate normally includes delivery and collection. Hire runs from the day your replacement vehicle is delivered until it is collected — typically when your own car is repaired, or when your total loss settlement is paid.
A worked example
Your Group C car is hit while parked and needs nine days in the bodyshop. Your replacement Group C vehicle is billed at approximately £95 per day:
- Total hire: 9 × £95 = £855
- Paid by the at-fault driver's insurer: £855
- Paid by you: £0
That's the whole point of the GTA: the at-fault insurer reimburses the credit hire company directly, and on a valid non-fault claim the invoice goes to them, not to you.
Why Like-for-Like Matters to the Rate
The GTA expects the replacement vehicle to be like-for-like — broadly equivalent in class to your own car. This protects both sides: you get a car that genuinely replaces yours, and the insurer isn't billed for a luxury upgrade. If you drive an executive saloon, you get an executive saloon at the Group E rate. If you drive a PCO vehicle, you get a TfL-plated replacement that keeps you working (see our guide on credit hire vs a courtesy car).
What Could Make a Claim Contested?
GTA claims are rarely disputed when the paperwork is right, but insurers can query:
- Liability — if fault for the accident is unclear or disputed
- Need — whether you genuinely required a replacement vehicle (if your own car was still drivable, tell us — honesty protects your claim)
- Duration — whether the hire period was reasonable for the repairs involved
- Impecuniosity — for higher-spec vehicles, whether you could reasonably have afforded to hire yourself in the interim
A good credit hire company handles all of this for you. Courtesy Cars UK gathers evidence at report stage, keeps records that satisfy GTA audits, and negotiates with insurers directly — you track it all in your claim portal and never deal with the insurer yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I ever receive an invoice for hire?
Not for a valid non-fault claim. Charges go to the at-fault insurer under the GTA. You'll see this explained before you sign the credit hire agreement — always read what you sign, and ask us anything on 020 7052 5403.
Do GTA rates change?
The schedule is periodically reviewed by the industry. Rates shown here are indicative — your agreement states the exact rate for your vehicle class before anything is signed.
Does the GTA apply to PCO drivers?
Yes. TfL-plated replacements are billed under the same framework; the class reflects the plated vehicle provided.
What if the at-fault insurer refuses to pay?
Insurers signed up to the GTA pay valid claims at agreed rates. Where liability evidence is solid, refusal is rare — and it is our problem to resolve, not yours. We pursue recovery through negotiation and, where necessary, legal proceedings.
The Simple Version
You were hit, your car is off the road, and the bill goes to the person who hit you — that's what the GTA delivers in practice. Report your accident online in about 3 minutes, or call 020 7052 5403, and we'll match your vehicle class and handle every penny of the recovery.