Damaged my car - need help

Sgt_Pepper_2

LandyAndy wrote: »

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Erm. Wouldn't the OPs car just have the good doors from the other car?

I would have thought so. James suggested the engine transplant.

Den

The idea to find another car with good doors may work. But what is the chance to find it?! I think it was hard to offer an advice without any images that will support the damage. And it all depends on the car condition.

Off topic: My half just saw what I did to the car. She was very supportive.

James_Lahey

By all means just replace the doors and fix cosmetics if possible, I only offer it as an option if the cars chassis is bent and this makes the car uneconomical to repair (and potentially unsafe.)

slyracoon

Once you tell your insurance company your premiums are going up anyway regardless so you might as well claim, you'll also need to declare the accident to all future insurers.

If you have 5 years NCB you won't lose it all it will go down to 3.

Run some quotes from the comparison sites declaring the accident and giving 3 years NCB to give yourself an idea of what your renewal will cost if you claim. You can then use this to estimate your future increase in premiums vs the cost to repair privately.

My wife done a similar thing 3 years ago to a Peugeot 307, scraped down a bollard, required 2 doors, front wing repair and sill repair along the length of the car, repair cost was £2500.

Den

slyracoon wrote: »

My wife done a similar thing 3 years ago to a Peugeot 307, scraped down a bollard, required 2 doors, front wing repair and sill repair along the length of the car, repair cost was £2500.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Did you do repair via insurance or was it cheaper to do it at garage?

Den

James, I understood your idea from previous post. But I think it was also right by others to highlight your reply, because someone could take it initially and just swap an engine. Thanks

James_Lahey wrote: »

By all means just replace the doors and fix cosmetics if possible, I only offer it as an option if the cars chassis is bent and this makes the car uneconomical to repair (and potentially unsafe.)

fivetide

Den wrote: »

Thank you for sharing your experience. Did you do repair via insurance or was it cheaper to do it at garage?

Much cheaper at a garage. I scraped my car on a gate post. There was no gate but the old hinge bar stuck out so far it ripped (literally) a 6cm hole in the back wing.

Cost me £150 to have filled and sprayed though.

Prior to that a lorry scraped the side of my car turning a corner (car was parked) and a respray of the entire side plus panal beeting came to about £2000 on the insurance.

slyracoon is right, your insurance MAY go up, that will depend on your insurer but as they'll put up your premium if you sneeze down the phone at them these days it is likely although it shouldn't be a lot.

However, if you claim it will cost you the excess so at the moment you still have that £500 in your pocket.

eschaton

Den wrote: »

The problem that my insurance company will not be able to recover anything from the pole owner

I had to laugh at this, sorry. Why would they? It isn't the pole owners fault that you hit it

That aside, a car less than 3 years old and it sounds like serious damage - any pictures?

If the damage is that bad then it will probably be more cost effective to go down the insurance route and get a proper repair - not swap doors from other cars.

If increased premiums are not affordable then maybe you shouldn't have spent so much buying a new car in the first place.

If you need to pay for repairs to the pole, it won't be £50 and a can of spray paint.