Accident Exchange has expanded its Accident Aftercare Plus programme with a 21-day guaranteed mobility promise for drivers who are responsible for a crash.

It gives dealers and manufacturers the ability to offer a brand-for-brand (though not necessarily like-for-like) courtesy vehicle for the length of the repair.

The programme will be rolled out during the next two months to more than 1,400 exclusively contracted dealer and bodyshop partners of Accident Exchange.

Accident Exchange has also boosted its partner support programme with the introduction of a tactical support network across the UK.

The 34-strong team, headed by four regional directors, has strong experience in dealership or bodyshop management.

Chief executive Steve Evans said it will work with dealers to strengthen their businesses, identify strategies for growth and improve brand experience.

“We can help with a review of the whole market opportunities for dealers, especially in light of the problems they’re facing with the credit crunch,” said Evans.

Accident Aftercare Plus means that dealers and repairers would no longer be reliant on their own courtesy car fleet for at-fault accident repair work.

“It will reduce overheads, dramatically increase the level of retained body repair work, and increase profit-ability which may other- wise have been lost,” Evans added.

It is based on the success of the original Accident Aftercare service, which provides cover to more than 3.5 million motorists in non-fault accidents.

Accident Exchange identified the need for dealers to provide the same level of mobility to customers regardless of the liability.

Under the expanded service, Accident Exchange will also provide assistance with the recovery of the accident-damaged vehicles, initiate and manage the entire repair process and undertake the dialogue with insurers and third parties on behalf of the customer.