Should I pay for the damage or claim? Will my premium go up?

ch33kster

I recently went into the back of a car who had suddenly stopped on a blind corner. There was slight scuffs to the back of his rear car and damage to the front of my vehicle. I took multiple shots of the bumper and the gaps around it to show no signs of buckling.

We exchanged details and I mentioned that I didn't want to go down the insurance route due to cost and premiums etc. and would be happy for the car to be looked at by independent car body repair specialist and pay.

His final words to me, with a grin, was "S*** happens". At that point I could see pound signs in his eyes.

I had my car checked and the cost would be £700 to get it repaired. The quoter said that he would go and evaluate the other car. I contacted the other driver to tell them this and left a message. I called the driver on numerous occasions during the first 24 hours and then sent a text.

After two days the driver texted me back and said he didn't care about the damage to his vehicle but "he had to leave work early that day" and that he would be going down the insurance route.

As soon as he said that he was going through his insurers I immediately contacted my insurer (LV) and gave them all the details and stated that he was going to fraudulently claim for whiplash with the comment and grin that he made.

My predicament is this:

My car will cost £700 to repair without going through my insurer, although I have contacted LV and given them heads up.

If I went through my insurer I would have £500 excess to pay.

Would I be best to claim and pay £500 to my insurer and my premium goes up (I have 5 years no claims protected).

OR

Would I be best paying the £700 for the repair....will my premium still go up?

Unsure on what to do????

thanks for your help in advance.

Quentin

Your premium will be going up anyway after the third party you hit makes his claim, and your insurer accepts liability. (Even were he not to claim, the incident is now on your record and has to be disclosed to future insurers).

You can find out an idea of what difference one claim makes by doing dummy quotes online with and without the claim in your history.

If you get your car repaired by your insurer it will still all count as just one claim.

ch33kster

Pay £700 for my repairs and NOT claim?

Thanks Quentin. Just out of interest, does the final cost of the repair work effect the premium? Cheers

Quentin

Probably not in this instance.

Your dummy quotes will allow you to insert costs, so you can see for yourself. Though making a claim over just £200 is pointless.

luci

You only need to pay your excess if you get your own car repaired through your insurance. There is no excess to pay for the third party's repairs.

ch33kster

Pay £700 for my repairs and NOT claim?

This is crazy....it seems such a simple yes / no answer but is such a Catch 22.

Basically no matter what I do my premium is going to go up no matter what. So I would be best paying my excess of £500 and saving the additional £200 to throw at my increase next year.

In other words, would I be best to pay the excess and bite the bullet???

StuC75

yes, because your repairs are £700 alone, then you have the 3rd Parties costs that your insurance company would be paying.

Quentin

Your poll asks if you should make a claim over £200, which would be pretty pointless.

But you face a claim from a third party, so your poll is irrelevant to the circumstances!

You will lose one life from your protection whether you claim your own repair or not.