Main dealer accident management vs insurer

MrGlassHalfFull_2

I was reversed into in a supermarket car park yesterday, by a new driver, recently passed her test. She admitted liability, offered to pay for the damage and I felt really sorry for her. I was happy to accept a private settlement for the repair but wanted to get quotes incase she changed her tune and it needed to go through insurance.

When I took it into the main dealer to have it looked at for an estimate, the body shop person just went into auto-drive and literally took over taking all the details, photographs and before I knew it was calling the other driver.

They now seem to think they are managing the claim through their partner 'Sytner Drive'.

The girl's insurance co. have called me to say she fully admits liability and they really want to arrange for the car to be repaired trough them. They are happy to pay for main dealer body shop and like for like hire car.

Seems silly that the new driver opted to go through insurance as it will ruin her chances of affordable insurance, not to mention put my premiums up. Seems that Sytner put her off by telling her how much it would cost to repair, before I had a chance to look elsewhere.

The main dealer body shop tell me to to just tell the other insurance company that they are dealing with the claim and they should contact them directly, but the other insurance company are desperate to handle the repair though themselves.

Question is can anyone shed any pros and cons of letting the insurance company handle it or letting the main dealer handle it. I take my car there all the time so don't want to sour the relationship.

Any hint,tips or cautions would be appreciated.

Quentin

There are no cons as far as you are concerned, but from the insurers pov they may end up with higher costs if the garage's claim handler deals with this. (eg they may have corporate rates for the hire car)

If you leave it with your garage to sort, then you remain the "customer", (even though you won't be paying the bill), rather than the third party insurer calling the shots.

Christopher7

Sytner Drive will be credit hire. It is organised through Helphire/Albany.

The main dealer will be taking a referral fee for passing your details to Helphire / Albany, probably in the region of £200.

There are many pros and cons when using credit hire or credit repair, a quick search of Helphire or Albany on here will provide a good insight.

Although don't think for one minute that either your insurer or the other parties insurer have your best interests at heart. Both credit hire companies and insurance companies are businesses out to make money.

Insurance companies will make more money if they repair your car as cheaply as they can. How do they do this? they will repair panels with filler rather than pay for replacement parts. If they do replace parts they will instruct the garage to fit non genuine parts (or non OE). In short they will cut as many corners as possible to save on the overall cost of repair.

My advice, don't use Sytner Drive but do use the main dealer for the repair, make sure you know what they will replace and what they will repair. Finally make sure they use genuine manufacturer parts.

For a replacement vehicle, you can ask the dealer to provide you with a courtesy car (Free) or ask the other sides insurer to pay for a hire vehicle whilst your car is being repaired.

Muscle750

Anything over three years old and insured with Admiral will have copy parts fitted where possible which usually dont fit and are of sub standard quality yet Admiral dont take less money of the policy holder when the cars three years old or more because theyve instructed the repairer to fit this rubbish.
If you have a accident and its not your fault would you want your car turned with copy parts etc ...............i didnt so the car got thrown straight back at the repairer who even decided to glue my headlight back together in a fashion and the car was then repaired using original parts
Best part of it are the garages still using dodgy parts on stuff under 3 years and invoicing for genuine ?

Parking_Trouble

Highlights the pitfalls of accident claims. The new (at fault) driver is now stitched up by the garage because their insurer is now aware.

Yes, I know they should tell their insurer anyway but no harm in the OP getting an estimate without it triggering the whole claims management and kickback (aka referral fee) process.

Who is really looking after the OP's needs without trying to make a few extra bucks?

McKneff

~Seems like youve been bulldozed into this using this claims company, if you have not signed anything agreeing to them doing it for you then cancel it immediately. If the other party has admitted responsibility then deal directly with them.

My first time was like this, I realised the second time that I could just deal with it myself, it was far less stressful. These claims companies are leaches and their costs are enormous which is why the ins. co. want to deal with your direct and you cant blame them, this is why our premiums are sky high lately.
If the garage took all this over without a by your leave tell them to cancel it and complain tothe management about them.

The easy way
Insurance company rings you to get a quote
Garage rings them with a quote.
Insurance company tells them to fix it.
They fix it
Yu pick it up
Garage pays the bill

The insurance company will organise you a hire car if you need one.
It is that simple.

Go through the claims company and you can add weeks toit.