Notifying car insurance of accident but then not claiming - premiums?

pault123

When you claim arn't you supposed to go through your insurance who contact the other parties insurance on your behalf?

I wasn't aware I could ring his insurance company and claim without going through mine at all. I'm confused!

Quentin I will ring them again to day and try and do the notification process.

Also with him hitting my rear wheel and pulling out from a minor road onto a major I wouldn't have any excess to pay surely if I did go the claim route.?

Quentin

You aren't obliged to use your own insurer over a claim that you expect the third party to pay. And as posted, the comparatively small amount of money involved means it isn't really viable to claim off your own policy.

If you claim off your own insurance you will pay the excess (it isn't covered by your own insurance).

You then claim this (along with all other uninsured losses you have as a result of the collision) off the third party's insurers, who will pay up providing they accept liability. (If you have uninsured loss recovery cover as an extra on your policy you can make use of this to get your out of pocket expenses recovered).

It is doubtful the third party insurers will entertain a telephone claim from you.

But you can write to them (enclose a quote for the repairs) and tell them you hold their insured responsible for the incident, and ask them to confirm they will reimburse all your costs incurred. Offer them an opportunity to inspect your car before you get it repaired.

bryanb

Remember that your No claim bonus is not a No blame bonus. If you go via your insurance co. they are entitled to adjust your NCB in accordance with your T&Cs. That doesn't mean they will.

dacouch

Here is Honest John's advice on this situation and unusually his advice on Insurance is right.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/caradvice/honestjohn/6266364/Insurance-renewal-shock.html

pault123

The gent gave me his details and was adament he was insured but wouldn't tell me who he was insured with! So thats why I presumed if I ring my insurance they would do the claim for me but get the money from his insurers.

Will have a read of the honest john link.thanks :money:

edit just read the honest john article which is a bit concerning!

So the best action would be to try and find his insurance company out and write to them. I wish it was as simple as phoning or emailing, writing is so time consuming and with royal mail at the moment full of delays!

Quentin

pault123 wrote: »

edit just read the honest john article which is a bit concerning!

So the best action would be to try and find his insurance company out and write to them. I wish it was as simple as phoning or emailing, writing is so time consuming and with royal mail at the moment full of delays!

You will get the facts about you having to report incidents (rather than only claims) by reading your own policy!

You can discover who the third party is currently insured with for £3.50 here:

http://www.askmid.com/askmidenquiry.aspx

(Expect this to be a drawn out affair with the insurer, even without any postal strikes)

From bitter experience, it's best to use recorded delivery and to keep copies of all correspondence!

pault123

Ok i've read my policy and contrary to what I was advised on the phone it does say I need to "notify" my insurance company of an accident even if not submitting a claim.

So i'm thinking of notifying my insurance, but then claim direct through his insurance.

Am I best to claim based on an official quote, and then get the repair done when the CHQ arrives. Or get the work done first then claim based on the invoice? (at a risk they turn it down?)

Finally at what point when involved in an accident that wasn't your fault do you decide to let your insurance company handle the whole process? Would it be when the cost of the repair goes over a certain value?

Thanks! :beer:

Quentin

Write to the third party as already posted (#13).

Await their confirmartion they will accept liability.

Most third party insurers operate by reimbursing you when you forward the receipted invoice, though some will instruct the repairer themselves saving you having to pay and claim.

To answer your last point really depends on the circs. If your car is badly damaged and undriveable, then probably best to go straight to your own insurer and get things moving, then sort out a claim for uninsured losses subsequently.

But at the other end of the scale when the money involved is so low (as in your £100 damage) it's just not cost effective to claim off your own insurer, it may even be worth just paying yourself then deciding how much time and effort you are then prepared to put in pursuing the third party.

bryanb

pault123 wrote: »

The gent gave me his details and was adament he was insured but wouldn't tell me who he was insured with!

He has broken the law by refusing to give his insurance details. Make of this what you will.

Quentin

bryanb wrote: »

He has broken the law by refusing to give his insurance details. Make of this what you will.

Which law?

There is no legal requirement to pass on your insurance details to third parties in cases like this (ie where no injury is involved).