Car insurance - who to claim through?

andygjones

Hiya

I was wondering if anyone could help. Is it better to make a non-fault claim through our own insurer or the 3rd party's?

My partner had an car accident yesterday in which someone drove into the side of her (was completely the other persons fault).

She has contacted her insurance company (elephant) and as she is fully comp they can process the claim and claim the costs back from the 3rd partys insurer. They said once they recover the costs it will not affect her no claims and she would get a full refund of the excess.

This morning she received a call from the 3rd party's insurer (e-Sure) and they are willing to process the claim directly as the other driver has admitted full liability.

Who is it best to claim through? The car is brand new (only a week old)! In the event of being unhappy with the quality of the repair of the car would we be in a better position of getting it resolved if we claimed with out own insurer?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Andy

hjb123

I would go through your insurance company as they are more likely to know what to do and when to do it and all the ins and outs etc. If anything goes wrong thats what the insurance company is there for

Hope your partner is okay

mattymoo

At the end of the day she has payed additional premium for comprehensive cover and presumably legal expenses. I would be minded to put that to use and let them do the leg work. If she is not happy with the repairs she has a better chance of making a complaint heard against her own insurers.

jimmo

I had an accident a week last Thursday. I backed into a neighbour's parked car and it was obviously my fault. She was working nights and we did not exchange details until the followiong day,Friday.I then phoned my insurance company who agreed to have her car repaired.

She did not have to pay her excess, whereas if she had claimed through her own insurance she would have. No doubt she would have got that back eventually.

Her car went into the repairers on Wednesday and she was given a courtesy car. She got her car back on Saturday morning and it had been washed, waxed and valeted.

She was delighted and it now looks better than when she bought it about 4 years ago.

I think the reputable insurance companies are honourable. They use the major repair organisations and you can be confident that the repairs will be done to a professional standard.