Courtesy car damage - am I liable?

Jimuth

Hi guys

Last night, with our clio in for a service, we had an accident in the courtesy car where a stupid :mad: pheasant flew out & up as we were passing and took the passenger wing mirror with it. The mirror got completely smashed.

I've just phoned up the garage to ask what do we do and the guy on the other end wasn't sure, but hinted that we may have to pay cost to get it fixed.

I didn't sign anything before taking the car away and we're insured with Swiftcover for our car only on fully comp. I'm a bit worried that we're going to be footing a large bill! I'm pretty sure there's no wing panel damage but what if they say there is? Is there anything I can do to minimise our outlay on this?

I'm not calling our garage's honour into question... I know they won't add squillions to the cost but I'm just exceptionally annoyed that we're not covered by the garage's insurance (as we assumed) and we took the courtesy car even though we didn't absolutely need it (in hindsight!) and ... that I didn't go back and squish that stupid bird properly!!!!

Has anyone had experience of this? Should I be getting prepared to write a big cheque?
Fixing a wing mirror to a Modus - what would be the ballpark cost price?

Thanks in advance!

Conor_3

If you're not covered by the garages' insurance, whos insurance were you covered by?

Reggie_Rebel

Take pictures before you hand it back if you are worried about being charged for damage that isn't there.

Is the cost of a new wing mirror going to be more than the insurance excess? I'd be suprised if it is.

Thunderbird_2

Jimuth wrote: »

I'm just exceptionally annoyed that we're not covered by the garage's insurance (as we assumed)!

Who said you are not covered?

As I understand it, courtsey cars are like rented cars. You should be covered for driving it because the garage should have an insurance policy to cover the car for this purpose ( Lending the car for people while their cars are being fixed by the garage) . There might be unpleasant excess to pay, but you should have been covered.

whether you need to report this(later in life) to your insurer or not, I have no idea!

sturll

You should be covered fully comp on it. Check your docs.

logana

Normally the courtesy car is covered under your own insurance - the garage cover the risk to your car when it is in their "care". If they take it for a test-drive and wrap it round a tree then the garage's insurance would cover it. Seems reasonable so far.

The courtesy car will be covered under your own insurance (in place of the car in the garage) - so yes - you are liable for the damage to the car. Why would you not be ?

Andy_L

When I've had courtsey motorbikes (possibly different I grant you) the've made quite clear in the paperwork you sign that the garage provided insurance cover is 3rd party only. If you didn't sign anything then it's a grey area - worth contating any legal insurance cover you've got with your car insurance

Your insurance probably won't cover damage to it as it's not a replacement for your car whilst a claim is underway, it was just in for a service.

pompeyrich

Whenever I have had a courtesy car, they say it is covered but with £1,000 excess, which can be waived for £10-15 a day, not sure if this common practice but I pay it cos it would be the one time some unexpected thing happened as it did to you.

jeannieblue

You took a courtesy car but signed nothing? No papers, nothing?

In that case, where is the proof that you had the car? If you didn't have the car, then - what pheasant?? what mirror??

Very poor business practice.

In our case for example. You sign for a car, on our insurance, we charge £6 a day for the car incl of ins. Pheasant takes out a mirror - sorry, you pay, because our excess is at the moment £500 and the mirror is alot less.

specialK

pompeyrich wrote: »

Whenever I have had a courtesy car, they say it is covered but with £1,000 excess, which can be waived for £10-15 a day, not sure if this common practice but I pay it cos it would be the one time some unexpected thing happened as it did to you.

This was the same for me when I had a courtesy car, well the part about £1000 excess.

Alias_Omega

should wash car, and inspect damage, could be a mirror replacement which is about £80 for the mirror, another £30 for the backing cover, then £40 to paint it, then fitting. Maybe 2 hours @ £55 per hr..