Guide
Claims Company vs Solicitor: What's the Difference?
A claims company and a solicitor are not the same thing. In short: a claims management company helps you start a claim and connects you with the right people, while a solicitor is the regulated professional who actually runs your case. You do not have to use your own insurer's panel. Here is how it all fits together.
Last reviewed: Reviewed by the Auto Crash Claims editorial team
The short answer
A claims management company is a business that helps you check whether you have a claim and connects you with a regulated specialist who can take it forward. A solicitor is the regulated legal professional who actually runs your claim, gathers evidence, deals with the other side's insurer and negotiates your compensation. (Auto Crash Claims itself is a marketing and introducer service rather than a claims management company, but the introduction step works the same way.) You do not need to find a solicitor yourself first, and you do not have to use the solicitor your own insurer suggests.
What a claims company does
Starting a claim can be simple: you give a few details about your accident, and you are connected with a regulated specialist suited to your case, often on a no win, no fee basis. Auto Crash Claims is a marketing and introducer service, not a regulated claims-management company or a law firm. We help you check whether you have a claim and connect you with a regulated specialist, but we do not give legal advice or run your claim ourselves.
What a solicitor does
A solicitor is regulated (in England and Wales by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and in Scotland by the Law Society of Scotland). They handle the legal work: obtaining medical evidence, valuing your injury and losses, corresponding with the at-fault driver's insurer, and negotiating or, if needed, litigating your claim. The specialists we connect you with are regulated in this way.
Do you have to use your insurer's solicitor?
No. When you have a non-fault accident, your own insurer may offer their panel solicitor, but you are free to choose who handles your claim. Using an independent specialist means someone focused on getting you the right outcome, rather than the option that is most convenient for an insurer.
Claims company vs solicitor vs your insurer, side by side
| Who they are | What they do | Regulated by | Runs your legal claim? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claims company | Checks if you have a claim and connects you with the right specialist | FCA regulates claims-management activity | No, they introduce you |
| Solicitor / specialist | Values your claim, gathers evidence, deals with the insurer, negotiates your compensation | SRA (England & Wales) / Law Society of Scotland | Yes |
| Your own insurer | May offer their panel solicitor after a non-fault accident | FCA | Sometimes, but you don’t have to use them |
The simplest route is usually to start with a claims company: answer a few questions, and you are connected with a regulated specialist who runs everything from there, with no obligation to go ahead and no upfront cost under a no win, no fee agreement.
Key takeaways
- A claims company connects you with help; a solicitor runs the legal claim
- Auto Crash Claims is a marketing and introducer service, not a regulated claims-management company or law firm, and does not give legal advice
- You are free to choose your solicitor and do not have to use your insurer's panel
Frequently asked questions
Is a claims company the same as a solicitor?
No. A claims management company helps you start a claim and connects you with the right regulated specialist; a solicitor is the regulated legal professional who actually runs it. Auto Crash Claims is a marketing and introducer service — not a claims-management company or a law firm — that connects you with regulated specialists.
Do I need a solicitor to make a car accident claim?
For anything beyond a very simple, low-value claim it is sensible to have a regulated specialist run it for you, so the claim is valued and negotiated properly. You do not have to find one yourself, and we can connect you with one, usually on a no win, no fee basis.
Do I have to use the solicitor my insurer recommends?
No. After a non-fault accident you are free to choose who handles your claim. You do not have to accept your insurer's panel solicitor.
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