Car insurance renewal - after minor scrape, no claim

Kavajo

My wife had a minor bump reversing into someone in a car park. We told the insurance in case the other driver claimed against us. We decided not to claim ourselves as it was cheaper to repair ourselves than pay the excess.

Now it is time for renewal. Do we need to declare this as an accident even though we didn't claim? We don't know if the other driver claimed as our insurer hasn't told us.

kingstreet

Check the documentation from your insurer.

Most ask you to report all incidents and accidents, whether you make a claim or not.

System

Do insurance companies define reportable accidents in the same way as road traffic law?

Norfolk Police web site says:

"The law defines a reportable road traffic collision as an accident involving a mechanically-propelled vehicle on a road or other public area which causes:

• Injury or damage to anybody - other than the driver of that vehicle,
• Injury or damage to an animal- other than one being carried on that vehicle (an animal is classes as a horse, cattle, !!!, mule, sheep, pig, goat or dog).
• Damage to a vehicle - other than the vehicle which caused the accident.
• Damage to property constructed on, affixed to, growing in, or otherwise forming part of the land where the road is."

Quentin

Kavajo wrote: »

My wife had a minor bump reversing into someone in a car park. We told the insurance in case the other driver claimed against us. We decided not to claim ourselves as it was cheaper to repair ourselves than pay the excess.

Now it is time for renewal. Do we need to declare this as an accident even though we didn't claim? We don't know if the other driver claimed as our insurer hasn't told us.

Yes you do need to declare this.

It isn't just "claims" you are required to disclose.

(And as you already have reported it, then it will have been recorded)