Advice on car prangs please

charlottesmum_2

Sods law, in 12 yrs of driving hubby has never had a prang, but today when he was driving the courtesy car i've got while my car is being repaired for the prang I had 2 wks ago (insurance say it was my fault, b****r) he reversed into a car in a car park. Typically, he was trying to be helpful - he had parked within the lines, and a woman wanted to park in the space next to him. She had a people carrier, and asked him if he could re-position to give her a little more room. Hubby, being the lovely friendly chap he is, reversed back to move over a bit but didn't brake in time and put a scratch and dent in her car. Given the circs of the hire car, we figure we're better off paying for her damage (£380) as it was his fault, to avoid insurance co's and protect hubby's no claims. However, what should we do about the damage to the courtesy car? There's a scratch which might polish out if it's not too deep, and a scrape which I'm not sure about. Should we take it to a garage for a quote? I'm not sure how long we will have the courtesy car. Should we just tell them I backed in to a post? I'm already screwed in terms of no claims, due to the first prang. It was the first time I've had insurance in my own name too...

Any advice on this would be most welcome.

Thanks

Cumbrian_Male

Might be worth getting a quote from one of the chip repair companies such as chipsaway.

They can usually repair small scratches if the bodywork is sound.

I have a hire car at the minute as mine is in to have the headgasket replaced. The excess on it is £500.

I am not sure about claiming you were driving as if you pay for the other drivers repairs and then they decide they are not happy with them and call the ins. co. in then you could face insurance fraud which will totally screw things.

gazza975526570

you have to be carefull and a lot of garages wont touch courtesy/hire cars as they generally have contracts for who will repair them anyhow.

Id sjust give them a call to explain. You can always pay back the insurance company direct for the cost of the repairs so as not to affect your NCD further

MarkyMarkD

I don't see that it's going to affect your husband's NCD whoever was driving - presumably he was driving the courtesy car on YOUR policy's insurance?

Astaroth

I take it you have the courtesy car as yours is in for repairs? The garage will almost certainly be able to repair the car themselves and you pay them directly for it rather than going through the insurance but in addition to the cost of the repairs (which will be at full price but should exclude VAT) they may also charge you for loss of use of the vehicle if it has to go in for longer than the repairs to your own vehicle will take.