Repairs to car on insurance - other party involved can't be found!

shomk

We were involved in a collision last week where the other driver was at fault. We innocently took his name and number to call and discuss it that evening only to find that the line is dead and neither he nor the car can be traced - the car reg is either incorrect or false. So it looks like we are going to loose out financially.
We have an excess of £250 and will go from 5 yrs no claims to 2. we think our car is worth about £1700 and have had an estimate of around £1500 to get it fixed.
As we don't have that kind of money would you agree it's best to claim on our insurance and loose our no claims?
As we went to an independent garage we think they might have quoted for a few extra jobs on the insurance! If we go through the approved garage will they do the same or do the bare minimum?
Also, on the paperwork it says that if it can't be economically fixed they will pay towards new car and scrap ours. What do they class as economical?
Lots of questions your advise would be appreciated on! Thanks

GrowingUp

at those figures, they will just write it off, and give you a payout (based usually on trade value)

so think twice. and only claim if you have to.

InsideInsurance

Generally speaking, but not exclusively, if you say it is for an insurance job garages will increase their quote not reduce it but at the same time insurers will then negotiate the prices.

For example the local coachworks to me quoted £650 if I paid them cash, I decided to go through insurance and they happened to be an approved repairer and the final bill came in at £1250 ish. I obviously dont know how much of that is inflation for having a courtesy car, the fact they replaced a panel they'd said they could easily fix or if there was more damaged revealed when they stripped it down.

If you think your car is worth £1,700 I would suggest its worth a fair bit less as far as an insurer is concerned. Anecdotally owners always over estimate and insurers always under estimate. If the repairs without contingency is £1,500 I'd agree it is almost certainly a total loss.

Wywth

shomk wrote: »

We were involved in a collision last week where the other driver was at fault. We innocently took his name and number to call and discuss it that evening only to find that the line is dead and neither he nor the car can be traced - the car reg is either incorrect or false. So it looks like we are going to loose out financially.
We have an excess of £250 and will go from 5 yrs no claims to 2. we think our car is worth about £1700 and have had an estimate of around £1500 to get it fixed.
As we don't have that kind of money would you agree it's best to claim on our insurance and loose our no claims?
As we went to an independent garage we think they might have quoted for a few extra jobs on the insurance! If we go through the approved garage will they do the same or do the bare minimum?
Also, on the paperwork it says that if it can't be economically fixed they will pay towards new car and scrap ours. What do they class as economical?
Lots of questions your advise would be appreciated on! Thanks

£1500 worth of damage you say?

Do you have any independent witnesses to the accident?

forgotmyname

Have you reported the vehicle / Driver to the police?

shomk

Thanks for your advise.

The only witness stopped momentarily to say something to the other driver and then drove on, so we got the number plate but the insurance company said its not enough to look her up on.
We reported it to the police but doesn't look hopeful as the only person by that name locally doesn't have a car registered to them. I have tried looking the name up to get an address or anything but am not getting anywhere. I have tried looking around where he was driving from in case he lived around there and he was parked up but no luck!!

InsideInsurance

Did it look as if the witness knew the other driver?

A reg plate is enough to get her address from the DVLA. The police would be the best ones to do it but your insurers may be willing to or you could even write to the DVLA yourself using the appropriate form http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/AdviceOnKeepingYourVehicle/DG_4022067

vaio

if you can identify either the car or the driver then you can claim from the drivers or car insurance or if they don't have any the MIB will pay.

None of these options will need you to pay your excess or impact on your NCB.

If you can't identify either then your options are more limited and sadly there isn't one that isn't going to cost you ££££.

If you claim on your insurance they will write it off so before you do anything have a read of your policy to see what happens in the case of a total loss payout as some policies end (with no refund) which, depending on your premium & remaining time, might mean that it's not worth claiming.

learningaboutinsurance

hamptonbay wrote: »

I have brought a new car and want to insure it but I am little confuse that which insurance company is best. Can any one suggest me which company is best.?? I'll wait for your reply.

it will best to start your own Post regarding this as you will get more appropriate answers to your query.

this post is regarding Repairs on an Insurance claim and OP has the right to the specific advise to her query without you hijacking her post

Wywth

shomk wrote: »

Thanks for your advise.

The only witness stopped momentarily to say something to the other driver and then drove on, so we got the number plate but the insurance company said its not enough to look her up on.
We reported it to the police but doesn't look hopeful as the only person by that name locally doesn't have a car registered to them. I have tried looking the name up to get an address or anything but am not getting anywhere. I have tried looking around where he was driving from in case he lived around there and he was parked up but no luck!!

So you have details of this independent witness who is prepared to act on your behalf if necessary?

If so, the police should be looking into this for you. Sounds right dodgy to me.
You may have the wrong index number, (and with two people having the same details it's likely to be incorrect plates on the vehicle!), but you will know what type of vehicle this was and what colour it was.
With £1500 worth of damage to your car, this other vehicle will have fresh damage to it also.
There may be other avenues the police can pursue to identify this car and driver (e.g. CCTV)
Hope you got an incident or crime number from the police, and they should be investigating this further. The other party are obviously up to no good, and the police need to catch them sooner rather than later. Perhaps they could put out a public appeal if necessary to at least identify the other damaged vehicle.

vaio wrote: »

if you can identify either the car or the driver ...

Then I suggest the OP gives this information to the police without delay