What knock-for-knock actually means
Your insurer used a term you had not heard before and you want it explained simply.
Knock-for-knock is an arrangement between insurers where each pays its own policyholder’s vehicle damage. Neither side argues first over who caused the accident. It gets straightforward repairs moving quickly. It does not establish who was at fault.
Why insurers use it
Disputing fault for every minor accident is slow and costly for both insurers. Each covering its own policyholder avoids that argument for routine vehicle damage. For a minor bump with clear damage, your car is usually repaired faster.
What it does not decide
Knock-for-knock settles who pays for the vehicle repair, nothing more. It does not decide who was legally at fault, even though the word “knock” may suggest so.
If you were also injured, that claim runs on its own track against the driver at fault. Knock-for-knock has no bearing on it.
The effect on your no-claim discount
Your own insurer pays under this arrangement, so the claim can still be recorded against your policy even where you were not at fault. Your no-claim discount and a claim explains this in more detail.
When it does not apply
Insurers can step outside knock-for-knock. Where liability is clearly one-sided, or the vehicle damage is large, an insurer may pursue the other insurer directly. Whether it applies to you depends on the practice of both insurers.
What to do next
If your insurer mentions this term, ask whether it will affect your no-claim discount before you agree to proceed. Treat any injury from the same accident as a separate matter. Claiming for your own vehicle damage and the wider road accident claim process cover both sides.
If your injury claim is being pushed aside by this arrangement, an independent lawyer can take it on for you. Send the accident date, where it happened, whether anyone was injured (yes/no) and the police report status.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
What does knock-for-knock actually mean?
It is an arrangement between insurers to each pay their own policyholder's vehicle damage without first arguing over who was at fault. It is designed to get repairs moving faster, not to decide blame.
Does knock-for-knock mean nobody was at fault?
No. It simply means the insurers agreed to skip the argument over fault for the purpose of paying the vehicle damage. Fault can still matter for a separate injury claim, which knock-for-knock does not touch at all.
Will this affect my no-claim discount even though I was not at fault?
It can, depending on how your insurer records a claim paid under this arrangement. See [your no-claim discount and a claim](/ncd-and-claims/) for how to think about this before you decide how to proceed.
Does knock-for-knock always apply?
No. Insurers can step outside the arrangement where liability is heavily one-sided or the amount is large, and pursue the other insurer directly instead. Whether it applies to your case depends on both insurers involved.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.