Independent guide — VIP Claims is not affiliated with LV=.
How to Make an LV= Car Insurance Claim
Liverpool Victoria Insurance Company Limited
The short answer
LV= asks customers to call its claims line once they're home and safe after an accident, taking all necessary details over the phone rather than through paper forms. The line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Official LV= claim contacts
These are LV='s own contact details, published on LV='s website. They are not VIP Claims numbers.
Claim online at LV=- New car insurance claim0330 678 5550
Official LV= contact number · 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
You can ask someone else to report the claim on your behalf, but LV= will need to speak to you about it afterwards.
Policy types: LV= car insurance policies are sold directly and are also distributed via partners such as Age UK, which can mean slightly different servicing arrangements even though claims are still handled by LV='s underwriting business. Check your own policy documents for the number and process that applies to you if your cover was arranged through a partner.
VIP Claims — independent
Was the accident not your fault?
If another driver was at fault, you may have options beyond claiming on your own LV= policy. VIP Claims Ltd is an independent accident management company and can check, free of charge, whether we're able to manage the claim for you. Eligibility depends on the circumstances of the accident, and nothing is guaranteed.
This is a VIP Claims contact number, not an LV= number. VIP Claims Ltd is not affiliated with or endorsed by LV=.
Step by step
How to start a LV= claim
- 1Make sure everyone is safe, then exchange details with anyone else involved, including names, addresses, phone numbers and vehicle registrations.
- 2Note down details of any lorries (cab and trailer insurer/policy numbers) or foreign-registered vehicles (country and green card number) involved.
- 3Avoid discussing who was at fault at the scene.
- 4Take photographs of the scene or damage if it's safe to do so, and note any CCTV cameras covering the area.
- 5Record the names and addresses of witnesses, and any police details if they attended.
- 6Once home and safe, call the LV= claims line; all details are taken during the initial call and there are no forms to complete.
Before you call
Information to have ready
- Policy number and vehicle registration
- Date, time and location of the accident
- Names, addresses and contact details of everyone involved
- Registration numbers, makes and models of other vehicles
- Witness details and any police reference
- Photographs of the scene or damage, if available
Our car accident checklist covers what to record at the scene.
What happens next
After you report the claim
- LV= takes all the details it needs during your initial phone call rather than by form.
- If someone else reports the claim for you, LV= will still need to speak with you directly afterwards.
- LV= will confirm your claim reference and explain the next steps for repair or recovery.
Costs
Excess and your no-claims discount
Excess amounts and the effect of a claim on your no-claims discount depend on your individual policy; check your schedule and policy wording, or ask your claims handler, for the details that apply to your cover.
Your policy schedule sets your compulsory and voluntary excess — check it before assuming an amount. See also our guide to non-fault claims.
Staying mobile
Courtesy car or replacement vehicle
Courtesy car provision depends on your policy's cover level and any optional extras chosen; check your policy documents to confirm what applies to you.
Provided under your own cover, usually only while the car is with an approved repairer, and typically a small standard model.
Where another driver is at fault and you are eligible, a like-for-like vehicle may be arranged as part of the claim against them.
A hire vehicle supplied on credit, with the cost pursued from the at-fault insurer. Subject to eligibility and your obligations if the claim fails.
None of these is automatic. Read more in our replacement vehicle guide.
Repairs
Approved repairers and your choice of garage
LV= can arrange repairs through its approved repairer network as part of the claims process; ask your claims handler about repairer options when you report your claim.
Your options
If the accident wasn't your fault
After a non-fault accident you generally have three routes. Which suits you depends on your cover, your excess, and how quickly you need a vehicle.
Claim through LV=
- Simplest single point of contact.
- Your excess is usually payable first and recovered later if liability is admitted.
- The claim is recorded against your policy, which can affect renewal even when you are not at fault.
Claim against the at-fault insurer
- No excess payable to your own insurer.
- You deal directly with the other side, which can be slower if liability is disputed.
- You are responsible for evidencing your losses.
Use an independent accident manager
- VIP Claims can handle repairs, recovery and the claim where you are eligible.
- Services are subject to eligibility and the circumstances of the accident.
- Not guaranteed, and not a substitute for your policy obligations.
Whichever route you choose, most motor policies require you to notify your own insurer of the accident, even if you do not make a claim on your own policy. Check the notification condition in your policy wording.
VIP Claims — independent
Was the accident not your fault?
If another driver was at fault, you may have options beyond claiming on your own LV= policy. VIP Claims Ltd is an independent accident management company and can check, free of charge, whether we're able to manage the claim for you. Eligibility depends on the circumstances of the accident, and nothing is guaranteed.
This is a VIP Claims contact number, not an LV= number. VIP Claims Ltd is not affiliated with or endorsed by LV=.
Existing claims
Tracking an existing LV= claim
If you've already reported a claim and need to follow up, contact LV= using the claims number provided when you first reported it, or check your policy documents for the relevant contact details.
If something goes wrong
Complaining about a LV= claim
For complaints about car, home, travel or pet insurance, LV= directs customers to its General Insurance complaints page, which is separate from the complaints form used for its life, pensions and investment products. If a complaint can't be resolved directly with LV=, it may be possible to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Questions
LV= claims: frequently asked questions
Do I need to fill in a claim form with LV=?+
Can someone else report my accident to LV= for me?+
What should I avoid doing at the scene of an accident?+
Is the LV= complaints process the same for insurance and investments?+
Where this came from
Sources
The LV= details on this page were taken from LV='s own published information on the dates shown. Insurers change contact details and processes, so please confirm anything important in your policy documents.
- LV= - What do I do if I have a car accident and how do I report it? — checked 5 June 2025
- LV= - Making a car insurance claim — checked 5 June 2025
- LV= - General insurance complaints — checked 5 June 2025
Read our editorial policy and correction process.
Related guides
- Non-fault claims explainedYour rights and options when the accident wasn't your fault.
- What accident management isHow an independent accident manager differs from your insurer.
- Replacement vehiclesCourtesy cars, like-for-like hire and who pays for them.
- Car accident checklistWhat to do and record in the first minutes after a crash.
- Write-offs and total lossHow valuations work and how to challenge a low offer.
Other insurer claim guides
VIP Claims Ltd is an independent UK accident management company. We are not affiliated with, appointed by or endorsed by LV=, and we are not an insurer. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice.
Our services — including replacement vehicles, repairs and excess recovery — are subject to eligibility and the circumstances of your accident, and are not guaranteed. You should check your own policy for its accident notification requirements.