Bump in Car park

Rewind_Bo

Hi, Am new to the forums but have been a reader for a while.

My mum has just started driving and bumped into a car in a shopping car park. There was no damage that could be seen (and wasnt a big bang) but she would like to get in touch with the other driver. Unfortunately she didnt have anything to write down to leave a note - so she just took the other drivers license plate number.

Do she just have to get in touch with the DVLA for the persons address or will they have to do this through the insurance company? There is no damage on the other car (they may not even know) - how bad would it be for her not to get in touch with the DVLA/insurance?

steveo3002

report it to the police, they will contact the owner

Cumbrian_Male

ckerrd

If there was no damage to either car why would she want to get in touch with the other driver?

Rewind_Bo

what if there is something wrong inside?? It wasnt a big bang but what if someone saw and says she drove off without doing anything.

owey

as it was in a car park the police could not do much because its off the public highway, I wouldn't bother contacting them if there was no damage. You never know, after your mum had gone, someone else might of hit the car and done a runner, then your mum could get the blame. But it nice to know your mum cares.

Rewind_Bo

If she didnt get in touch - and the police did contact her for driving off (and then not contacting the police within 24 hours) what what happen to her - she obviously doesnt want to get banned after only passing not long ago.

Bossyboots

She could always pass the registration number to her insurance company who would be authorised to apply to DVLA. They would also be able to find out who the insurer for the other vehicle is.

As this is not a reportable accident (in respect of the police), informing her insurance company should cover her against any accusation of driving off. If anyone gets in touch with her, she can tell them she has reported it to her insurer and they should get in touch with them. It is not in her control whether her own insurers obtain the details of the other vehicle and contact their insurer.

tigs78

I'm afraid your Mum really does need to report this to the Police, it's quite possible that another person saw the collision and left details for the owner.

If the owner makes a report to the Police (even though there was no visible damage) they are obliged to take a report and the registered keeper of the 'offending ' vehicle, which I'm guessing is your Mum, will be sent a Notice of Intended Prosecution for: Careless driving, failure to stop at an accident and failing to report an accident. Although to be fair it's very unlikely that she would end up actually being prosecuted for these offences it's better not to take the risk!

If your Mum reports it herself they will still take a report but there will be no NIP sent and no offences.

Hope this helps.

jaster

Well... the police are useless! (if there was no injuries) :mad:

My car was parked in a car park, someone scraped and dented the passenger side door, and left. A witness (bless him) saw it and left the offending party's license plate number on my windscreen. Guess what, reporting it to the police with witness's mobile number is just a waste of time.

The police wrote a letter some 2 months later saying that they can't do anything about it and I should contact DVLA to obtain the other party's information! :mad: :mad: :mad:

So, I advise that since there is no visible damage, you don't need to do anything. If there is any visible damage, do report it. It causes other pple alot of grief to come back to a damaged parked car.

Rewind_Bo

Hi - Passed all the info on to my mum. She has now contacted her insurance company and given all the details. She told the company there didnt seem to be any damage on the other car, so they said 'So you've called for no reason' - of course she responded with 'No, doing the right thing' which i thought was great.

They have now logged everything (dont think they will do anything about it) but at least now she has covered herself in case someone does get in touch.

They couldnt give a reference number or anything though which is a bit strange so hope they dont in future say she never called.