Had a car accident, will my insurance increase

[lexilex]

I am just trying to work out my budget, and calculating how much I need to save for car insurance.

I had a car accident last Decemeber, totally other drivers fault. She admitted liability, all sorted through insurance.

Obviously I have to tell my insurance about the accident, but I'm just wondering if my premiums will go up, even though I was not at fault.

Thanks

[MX5huggy]

Yes they will go up but you might be able to mitigate against that by shopping around.

[mchale]

No cost wont go up as you didnt claim

[Quentin]

No cost wont go up as you didnt claim

This can't be guaranteed. And whether or not a claim is made makes no difference. The incident has to be reported.

Having the incident alters your profile, and this is what is used in setting the premium. Many find that (annoyingly) a no fault incident still results in a loading at renewal.

You can see the effect (if any) now by doing on line "virtual" quotes with and without the incident to see if the premium is affected.

[dacouch]

Check what no claims bonus your Insurers have allowed you as they normally reduce your no claims discount until you or they recover costs

[AdrianHi]

You need to check what your insurers policy is on "no fault claims".
If you are a Direct Line customer you will not have any problem, with some other insurers I know the premium will increase.

[skylight]

Yes. OH has 4 claims on his insurance, all of which were not his fault and the other people paid out. Some places wont even quote him as he has "more than 3 claims".

You just have to shop around as you would do normally.

[lisyloo]

I don't think people can say for definite.
I had a claim that was my fault last year.
My insurance did NOT go up (I verified quotes both with and without) but I had protected full NCD.

Others on here have clearly had claims that are not theire fault and have had rises.

So no-one can give you a definite answer.

[lexilex]

Thanks all, I did get a letter saying my no claims were no effected. Will have a play about on some of the comparison sites and see what comes up.

[Bowdyjan18]

You can see the effect (if any) now by doing on line "virtual" quotes with and without the incident to see if the premium is affected.


Done this myself and it makes no odds to the cost :)

[lisyloo]

I did get a letter saying my no claims were no effected

This doesn't mean your premium is unaffected.
Qiock (extreme) example.

Premium with zero claims £500
NCB discount 50% makes £250.

Permium with 1 claim £1000
NCB discount 50% makes £500

It's exaggerated but shows that your NCB can be unaffected but the premium is affected.

[Quentin]

Done this myself and it makes no odds to the cost :)

It seems to depend on individual circumstances.

Here's another anecdote where a non fault incident in a car affected the renewal of the victim's bike insurance:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1702377

[Bowdyjan18]

It seems to depend on individual circumstances.

Here's another anecdote where a non fault incident in a car affected the renewal of the victim's bike insurance:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1702377


Another insurance companies way to scam...

i have had 2 non faults in the past 5 years onece got hit off my bike by some numpty doing a u turn in a bus lay by ...And my car got hit parked up...Neither have ever affected my insurance. :)

[Quentin]

Wouldn't say it was a scam.

Premiums are based on risk. So someone who has a completely "clean" history is less of a risk than someone with incidents on their record, no matter what the liability for the incidents is eventually settled.

[Bowdyjan18]

Wouldn't say it was a scam.

Premiums are based on risk. So someone who has a completely "clean" history is less of a risk than someone with incidents on their record, no matter what the liability for the incidents is eventually settled.


So because some bellend hits you your more at risk ?

[dacouch]

Yes you can be perceived to be more of a risk of having further accidents (Statistics often confirm this).

Even if any future accidents are not your fault they will still cost your Insurer a few hundred quid in admin to deal with it

[Bowdyjan18]

Yes you can be perceived to be more of a risk of having further accidents (Statistics often confirm this).

Even if any future accidents are not your fault they will still cost your Insurer a few hundred quid in admin to deal with it

But they reclaim that money back....strange my policy has stayed the same with or without adding the claims :)

[Quentin]

There are still costs involved in dealing with the claim, then recovering the money from the liable party. But the main issue is your profile is altered.

It isn't strange it hasn't affected you. Just not guaranteed that everyone else will be treated the same as you have been.

[Bowdyjan18]

It isn't strange it hasn't affected you. Just not guaranteed that everyone else will be treated the same as you have been.


So it goes back to "if they can get more money out of you they will"

[Quentin]

Not really - it goes back to the principle of assessing the risk and charging accordingly.

If they charge you too much for the risk you are, then they know you can go elsewhere.

[Bowdyjan18]

Not really - it goes back to the principle of assessing the risk and charging accordingly.

If they charge you too much for the risk you are, then they know you can go elsewhere.


We ain't going to agree on this lol

[Quentin]

Don't need to agree with you.

Just got involved here to point out that your original post that having no fault incidents won't affect future premiums is not guaranteed, and depends on individual circumstances and companies.

It was you that took it ot to discuss scams etc.

[lisyloo]

So because some bellend hits you your more at risk ?

Most accidents can be avoided by ANY party.

I actively avioid rear enders on my bike by
1) being in neutral so if I am hit the bike doesn't shoot off.
2) Leaving a gap so I have somewhere to go
3) Rear observation so I might be able to anticipate it

If you have an accident and certainly if you have many then you are a higher risk because
1) You might tend to drive amongst people, places and times where accidents are more likely.
2) You aren't skilled at avoiding them (see example above).
3) You tend to put in insurance claims.

As a motorcyclist I go for the avoidance because I don't have a lot of metal to protect me. Car drivers have less direct motivation, but yes having accidents (even if not liable) is a sign that you are more likely to claim in future.

A rear ender is not an easy one to avoid, but the person whose had 4 accidents should consider taking some anticipation and avoidance training even their own driving is perfect.