How stupid is this? - Insurance.

111KAB

Daughter's car was run into whilst she was stationary. Driver of other vehicle admitted liability etc however said he had no money to pay for estimated repairs of £640 (bumper re-spray and dent in rear wing) and wanted to put it through his insurance. Contacted daughter's insurance company with all the details and told to arrange a quote and then take the car to said garage where it could be inspected by one of their engineers who would authorise the repairs and then they would claim from third party. Informed the car may be at the bodyshop for up to 4 days before engineer could inspect - thereafter the garage concerned have said they will need the car for another 4 days to do the repairs. I then asked what my daughter was entitled to during the time her car was off the road - "go to Enterprise and sort out a car and they will agree price with us and bill us and we will bill third parties insurers accordingly". Not that I am really bothered but it now appears the third party insurers will have a bill well in excess of £640 which I think is stupid and pushing all our premiums up. So as I have a spare car at home (insured with same firm) I asked how much extra it would cost to put my daughter on this insurance - zero. I then asked if the engineer could visit us at home (car obviously still able to be driven) - not possible I was told. So it appears the third party insurers are going to get clobbered with extra costs which could be avoided BUT daughter's car insured with Aviva and third party vehicle insured with Aviva!

maninthestreet

The car insurance industry is dysfunctional, as you have discovered.

jaydeeuk1

Its the way insurance works. Hire car comp wins. Body repair shop wins. Daughters insurance comp will win, as they can put her premium up even though not at fault, and although other insurance has to pay out, in the long term they'll win due to higher premiums.

Only people who lose are the motorists on the receiving end, but thats the way business works.

Should do what they do in brazil imo where 3rd party insurance all part of the road tax.

TrickyWicky

Remember at the next election that the tories and labour are more than happy with the way the insurance market works.