Scratched company pool car - will it affect MY insurance?

Northerness

Hi guys,

Around three years ago I had a "parking malfunction" and scratched a company pool car against a neighbour's parked car. Oops. It was very minor damage (literally just a scratch) yet both cars went through the company insurance - and they may have taken some money out of my wages...not sure. I know I never signed anything.

Having only casually driven company pool cars in the past - I am now buying my first ever car at the grand old age of 29 (I've had a licence for 5years). I'm also looking at suitably girlie cars that will be cheap to insure

The question is - do I need to declare this little scratchy incident? I'd rather not as I didn't tell my dad about it at the time - and he'll be helping me sort my insurance (as dads do, even when you're 29!).

Any advice will be appreciated, I'm ok at sorting house insurance but cars are not my thing!

paddedjohn

you will have to declare when asked any accidents you have had in the last 5 years (sure its 5)

sharpy2010

If they went through company insurance, I don't think I'd bother telling them personally. I'm pretty sure your supposed to, but I know I wouldn't bother.

Northerness

paddedjohn wrote: »

you will have to declare when asked any accidents you have had in the last 5 years (sure its 5)

I wouldn't really call it an "accident" though...I could have done more damage with my handbag

Maybe it'd be ok if I "forget" about this incident? Hmm. It really was quite insignificant that most people would have forgotten about such a minor work-related claim.

I'm just not sure if it'd show up on a record? For example, if you scratched the door of a hire car - would that show up on a record?

sharpy2010

I'm not even sure there ARE any records... I really dont believe that there is some sort of central insurance database (although all insurance companies will tell you that there is!).

Northerness

sharpy2010 wrote: »

I'm not even sure there ARE any records... I really dont believe that there is some sort of central insurance database (although all insurance companies will tell you that there is!).

I think the same, I'd be really surprised if they somehow knew about it. Still, guess we'll find out then when I submit my insurance application - I'll let you know! :cool:

sharpy2010

Oh they definitely won't query it at the time you incept the policy, its only if you need to make a claim will you find out if they know about it or not!

This is because: they want your money! If at inception they tell you they know about it, then you might not go with them. If they take your money at policy inception, and then at some point you need to make a claim, they can then say "hang on, we did a bit of research, and found out youve got a previous claim". Or, they might not.

Its all a bit of a gamble!

Northerness

sharpy2010 wrote: »

Oh they definitely won't query it at the time you incept the policy, its only if you need to make a claim will you find out if they know about it or not!

This is because: they want your money! If at inception they tell you they know about it, then you might not go with them. If they take your money at policy inception, and then at some point you need to make a claim, they can then say "hang on, we did a bit of research, and found out youve got a previous claim". Or, they might not.

Its all a bit of a gamble!

I see what you mean. I don't see how an insuance comoany could prove it was me though. So many people used those cars and I don't think I ever signed anything, I just flagged it and HR sorted it out. The cars were always getting bashed by staff, it's just I told my employer when I made a mistake as it also affected my neighbour's car. Wish they'd talked me through what it meant though...as I can't find any info online about how pool car claims affect personal car insurance. Bit of a quandary really....

sharpy2010

Again, like I said previously, I'd be tempted to take the chance :-)

rs65

sharpy2010 wrote: »

I'm not even sure there ARE any records... I really dont believe that there is some sort of central insurance database (although all insurance companies will tell you that there is!).

There is.

http://www.insurancedatabases.co.uk/default.aspx

OP, if you follow that link you can pay £10 to see if your incident is recorded.

Northerness

rs65 wrote: »

There is.

http://www.insurancedatabases.co.uk/default.aspx

OP, if you follow that link you can pay £10 to see if your incident is recorded.

Thanks, I don't think I'd be able to use that though as you have to write to this organisation - and it's likely I'll need insurance this week.

I don't actually even know any of the details of this business claim (month, car-make etc) - and very much doubt my old company still has this info (plus I don't want to flag it up in case they ask the insurers - and they then keep a record of the enquiry). Such a minefield!