I was hit in Melbourne storm season, who pays for my car if it wasn't my fault?

12 October 2026

I was hit in Melbourne storm season, who pays for my car if it wasn't my fault?

If your car has just been rear ended or sideswiped on wet Melbourne roads, the first thing you usually want to know is simple. Who is paying for this?

If the crash was not your fault, you should not assume the repair bill has to land on you first.

At Reclaim For You, we help Victorian drivers recover repair costs from the at fault driver's insurer, and we arrange a replacement vehicle while your car is off the road. This is especially important at the start of Melbourne's storm season, when more people are driving in heavy rain, poor visibility and slippery conditions.

Melbourne's storm season is not just a feeling, it is published

There is clear published material showing why October onward matters in Victoria.

RACV says, "Summer is peak season for storms in Melbourne and Victoria." The same RACV page also says, quoting the Bureau of Meteorology, "The BoM reports that while severe thunderstorms can occur year-round, they are more likely to occur between October and December."

That lines up with what the Insurance Council of Australia says nationally. It states, "Extreme weather can strike at any time, however insurers see a greater number of events between October and April." It also says, "Since 2013, 78 per cent of all declared insurance catastrophes have taken place between October and April" and "90 per cent of catastrophe-related losses have been incurred in those months."

So if you are in Melbourne and bracing for wet roads from October into summer, that concern is grounded in published evidence.

Wet weather raises the chance of somebody else's mistake hurting your budget

There is no published Victoria specific figure for how much crash risk rises in the wet, so we will not put a number on it.

What the published material does show is that severe thunderstorms are more likely between October and December, that summer is peak storm season in Melbourne and Victoria, and that insurers see more extreme weather events between October and April. In real life, that is when more drivers are dealing with sudden rain, reduced visibility and less grip.

And when another driver misjudges braking distance, merges badly or loses control in the wet, you can end up with the damage even though the crash was not your fault.

If it was not your fault, you may not need to carry the repair bill yourself

A lot of drivers assume they have to pay first, chase later, or go without a car because they do not have the right cover on their own policy.

That is not always the position.

If another driver caused the accident, we work to recover the repair cost from the at fault driver's insurer. We also arrange a replacement vehicle while your car is being repaired and off the road.

That matters if you are uninsured, under insured, or simply do not have hire car cover on your own policy. It also matters if your budget is already tight and you cannot afford to pay for repairs and wait.

What we can help with

We are a Melbourne based accident recovery service for not at fault drivers. Depending on your situation, we can help with:

• recovering the cost of the repair from the at fault driver's insurer
• arranging a replacement vehicle for as long as the repair takes
• dealing with the at fault driver's insurer so you do not have to
• helping whether you are insured or not, including businesses, rideshare drivers and cars you do not own

We help people across Melbourne and Victoria, including private drivers, business owners and fleet operators whose vehicle was hit by someone else.

Who this service is for

This service may suit you if:

• you were not at fault in the accident
• the accident happened in Victoria
• you are based in metro Melbourne
• your car now needs repair
• you need transport while your vehicle is off the road

You do not need to guess your rights based on general internet advice. Every accident turns on its own facts, and insurer decisions can depend on fault, vehicle details and the available evidence.

What to do right after a wet weather crash

If you have already been hit, focus on the basics first.

• Make sure everyone is safe.
• Exchange driver and vehicle details.
• Take photos of the damage, the other vehicle and the road conditions.
• Keep any claim or reference details you receive.
• If your car is not safe to drive, stop using it and get advice on the next step.

If you are unsure whether your car should stay on the road, that depends on the actual damage and on Victorian road rules. Ask before you keep driving it, because a broken light, a cracked mirror or a door that will not latch can matter even when the car still drives.

Already speaking with a repairer or insurer?

You can still ask us to check whether we can step in and help with the repair recovery and replacement vehicle side of the matter.

Some drivers contact us on the day of the accident. Others call after they have realised the at fault claim process is dragging out, or after they have been told they need to sort transport themselves. Either way, it is worth checking your position.

Check whether you are eligible

If you were not at fault, the accident happened in Victoria, and you are based in metro Melbourne, you can check your eligibility with Reclaim For You in about two minutes.

Call our accident helpline on 0495 032 111. It is answered 24 hours a day. You can also text the word ACCIDENT to 0495 032 111 and we will send you the step by step checklist.

We will talk through what happened, the damage to your car, and whether we can assist with repairs and a replacement vehicle while we recover costs from the at fault driver's insurer.

If you are searching because October rain has already turned into a damaged bumper, guard or door, you do not need to assume the cost is yours just because your own cover is limited.

Storm season in Melbourne is real, and so is the pressure that follows a crash you did not cause. If that is where you are right now, speak with us and find out whether your repair costs and replacement car can be handled through the at fault driver's insurer.