Declaring 'accident' to new insurers?

whizzybee

Hi folks

My car insurance is up for renewal in mid june but I am already searching for quotes and getting a feel for how much I will eventually have to pay. Back in Dec 2011 I was involved in a very minor car accident, which I believed to be the other car driver's fault and there was minor damage to the driver's side wheel arch ( we probably came together at about 5mph). We swapped details as per usual and I phoned my insurer straight away (AXA) to let them know what had happened and that I had absolutely no intention of claiming for any damages. What I wanted to do was get my side of the story across straight away and let the insurer know that I was not at fault. The other driver also went through her insurers and AXA informed me that they would advise her not to claim. So neither of us did and AXA informed me that they considered the case closed three months later. And so did I.

The question is: do I have to declare that I was involved in this accident to any new insurers, despite noone being found at fault because noone bothered to make a claim? Im only doing this now because I renewed with AXA last year as they were still the cheapest so didn't need to make any declarations. Its just that when I do try and be honest, there isn't really the option to explain this.

I just want to be as honest as possible and cover my back to avoid any costly repercussions!

rev_henry

There should be an option to declare an accident but without a claim.

McKneff

You do have to declare it, if you have another one in the future, the earlier one will flag up and then the doin's will hit the fan for non disclosure, always best being up front with insurance companies.

EMG22

In September my car was parked at the side of my house, down a lane that leads to two other properties and access to two others. Delivery vans come at all times of the night and during the night my car was badly damaged. The driver who did the damage must have known what they'd done, as they had completely stoved in the back wing. Anyway, they drove off. I woke early the next morning and saw the damage. That evening I rang the police non emergency number (BTW the paperwork never arrived, a promised visit by the police and/or the community PC in my village was never followed up by the police!) and I also rang my insurance company, as I wanted to establish my excess. I'd recently renewed online and since I was adding my son to the policy (under 25) I went for what I thought was £500 excess. In fact it was £800 - to keep the insurance down. I couldn't afford to have the car repaired via insurance and couldn't do it myself, as I am now self employed. I still have the dents in the car to date.

When my renewal came through in March this year, I checked everything and noticed a claim on my insurance. I challenged Aviva, as I hadn't made a claim but in September, I'd told them about the problem and asked for advice. They said it was part of the car and my driving history and had to remain on my policy.

There is nothing I can do about this and it seems from this thread that you have to notify them of everything.

They assured me that it woulnd't affect my NCD or policy.

rdwarr

A lot of people worry about declaring minor incidents like this.

When they do declare, it rarely makes a difference to the premium.
When they don't the insurance will become null and void if the company find out (which they will if there's an accident) and future insurance will be harder to find and more expensive.

mattyprice4004

On the chance they'll find out and void your policy, declare it.

I had similar - a woman in a Ka was in the wrong lane of a roundabout, drifted across into my lane and before I'd had chance to react I collected her.

Good job I was in a tank, her car was totaled. I just needed a wing! Her insurers advised us both not to claim as it'd get messy and would likely go 50/50. I bought a new wing for £8 and carried on as per.

I bet she won't do that again..!

whizzybee

Many thanks for the advice, I will be as upfront as possible! It doesnt appear to be affecting my premium which I am glad about but it was just a little tricky navigating some of the websites to be able to declare that a. I didnt make a 'claim', just reported it and b. it wasn't my fault. But I will get there in the end!

ConsumerMatt

Definitely declare anything that is within 5 years (or however long specified).

I made the mistake of not doing it once. A van reversed in to my parked car while I was standing outside of it, in 2006. It was a silly mistake, driver owned up and his insurer paid for the minor repair. No problem, no fuss, no fault by me.

Because it was so minor I completely forgot about it. Then in 2010, I'd taken out a new policy in April then to my surprise in June I got a letter from my insurer saying I'd violated their policies because I'd 'fraudulently not delcared an accident in order to get a cheaper quote'. They cancelled my policy! Not only that but they refused to hand over my no claims document (despite it being valid) to my previous insurer (who I went back to). They kept sending me to an Indian call centre and would never let me talk to the person I needed to. I won't name the appaulingly rubbish company but lets just say after that I've caused at least 50 people to cancel their policies with them :rotfl:

That may have been irrelevent but just to enforce it - declare everything or you could be breaking the law. My girlfriend had an accident while driving my car once. I wasn't even in the country at the time but because she was a named on my policy I have to delcare that.

oldagetraveller

My daughter is a named driver on my policy and had a no fault, no claim accident in December 2008. The other driver, to his credit, admitted blame and the damage to her car plus a courtesy car was paid for by his insurance.
I declare this accident each renewal and just out of curiosity checked the renewal both without her added and without an accident declaration. For the former it reduces the premium considerably and for the latter makes no difference to the premium compared to declaring it.
More than five years at next renewal so hopefully shouldn't need to declare.
So yes, declare it or it could come back and bite your bum in the future!

smjxm09

When they do declare, it rarely makes a difference to the premium

I think you will find it does. Just use a comparison site and entre the same fictitious details twice including one with a no fault accident.

McKneff

Whilst it doesn't affect NCD it will very likely affect the premium.

Most do, but some don't,