really need help - accident and no MOT

marywooyeah

Hi I really need some help please:

I went into the back of a car yesterday, completely my fault, was going to change lanes but the car in the left lane saw this and sped up so I looked forward to see the car in front had now stopped - literally glanced to do my mirror signal manouevre then looked back ahead - so stopped as fast as possible but still shunted it.

the other driver was incredibly reasonable with me, my driver side headlight smashed but the bulb still works ok, she had 3 cracks in the back bodywork and a bit of glass from my headlamp had gone into the paintwork.

we rang the insurer, as I have third party fire and theft I was told I would have to pay my headlamp (fine by me) and they would pay her costs. Later a friend told me why didn't I just offer to pay her costs directly, phoned the other driver and she said this was fine, so I thought we will just cancel the claim I'll pay for all repairs and that's that.

today I was parking at home and a police car waited for me to reverse park, then pulled up and asked if I knew when my MOT was due - this month I told him (when I bought it the previous seller told me it was april) officer says no it was due in february but just get it sorted and took no further action.

now my dad has told me as I had no MOT this could affect my insurance, but if I just pay her directly will it? I'm so worried I accept I should have checked the MOT docs but honestly thought it was this month. going to take it to the garage on tuesday but I could really really use some help in the interim, I'd be grateful for any help you knowledgable MSE'ers could offer please!

Sgt_Pepper_2

It will only affect your insurance if your car is a total loss and they want to settle. A car with no mot is worth less.

blackshirtuk

Hi,
Sorry about your accident. Your dad is right, no mot would invalidate the insurance.

You are doing the right things. Pay for any damage, get new mot asap, then explain to insurance you will pay for the damage yourself and nothing for them to do, they may well take your "no claims" bonus as you made a claim!

But this is still better than them pursuing the claim and finding no mot.

They would probably cancel your insurance which could make it difficult/expensive to get insurance in the future.

dacouch

blackshirtuk wrote: »

Hi,
Sorry about your accident. Your dad is right, no mot would invalidate the insurance.

You are doing the right things. Pay for any damage, get new mot asap, then explain to insurance you will pay for the damage yourself and nothing for them to do, they may well take your "no claims" bonus as you made a claim!

But this is still better than them pursuing the claim and finding no mot.

They would probably cancel your insurance which could make it difficult/expensive to get insurance in the future.

This post is totally wrong

marywooyeah

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

It will only affect your insurance if your car is a total loss and they want to settle. A car with no mot is worth less.

hello my car is still driveable its literally the headlamp that is damaged, I'm acutally surprised how well both cars came off. I think my car should be fine with a new lamp and hers is more superficial, a few cracks which I presume hopefully can just be fixed and maybe a slight paint touch up. Even if my car was a total loss, as I have third party fire and theft as I understand it they won't pay anything anyway, but do understand that a car with no mot is worth less. It will probably cost me a fair bit now as it needs an mot and I'm sure they'll find something else on the way that needs fixing!

dacouch wrote: »

This post is totally wrong

could you please explain what was wrong with the post? I am not sure what is correct and what is not.

thankyou for the replies x

MX5huggy

blackshirtuk wrote: »

Hi,
Sorry about your accident. Your dad is Wrong, no mot would Notinvalidate the insurance.

I've edited it for you seem a bit confused, too many Easter eggs?

marywooyeah

MX5huggy wrote: »

I've edited it for you seem a bit confused, too many Easter eggs?

no not had any easter eggs! :rotfl:just confused as I've never been in this situation before and not really sure whats what. I really appreciate the edit, thankyou

dacouch

Because of this

"13. roadworthiness

Most motor policies contain an express requirement that the vehicle must be maintained in a roadworthy state. If so, where there is good evidence that the loss or damage was caused (or substantially contributed to) because the vehicle was unroadworthy, we are likely to consider it fair for the insurer to reject the claim.

In other cases, the insurer might reduce the payout on the basis that the vehicle was not in good condition. If so, where there is good evidence that the vehicle would have failed an MOT test, we are likely to consider it fair for the insurer to take this into account in assessing its value."

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/technical_notes/motor-valuation.html

marywooyeah

thankyou, so basically if I go get the mot and pay her costs directly, will it all be ok?! I'm so worried!

dacouch

How much are her costs

marywooyeah

dacouch wrote: »

How much are her costs

not sure yet on account of the bank holidays, she said she'd get it into a garage on tuesday and let me know the quote. I can't imagine it being over £400-£500 though its pretty minor, as I said I'm surprised how well they both came off I was expecting my front end to be all smashed in.