Hire car shared by 2 employees, and returned damaged

wantsajob

This has been playing on my mind and really getting me down.

Shared a hire car with another employee who I only really knew as another face located in the same building. This was to work at another site staying overnight. I did not fill in any paper work, though did give my driving license number and confirmed age to other party, who did the paperwork. As such we shared driving, and I am not aware what excess applies on the insurance.

The car was practically brand new when we got it with what seemed nothing more than delivery miles on it. I noticed on returning the car to my employers it had some serious damage on the sill. Damage I suspect will cost more than a few hundred to repair and would have been obvious it had been caused at the time to occupants in the car.

I remembered I had taken a photo of the car the first day we got it. This was taken from a suitable angle to determine the damage was not there at that time. I drove the car without the other driver present one night, and they drove the car without me present on a few occasions. They did not mention the damage at all. I did not mention it to them when I found it, as I didn't want to come across as accusatory.

I know for certain I did not cause that damage.

What I am worried about is the employer will ultimately pursue us for the cost, and that the other employee will see how much it costs, decide they don't want to pay, and pass the blame to me - at which point it becomes one person's word against the other and a case of pay up or keep arguing the toss.

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? (Other than to refuse to share a hire car under such circumstances again).

sniggings

sorry but I think you were daft to not mention the damage as soon as you saw it, the other party might have owned up, now after the event they have calmed down and may just play dumb.

The best think you can do now is ask the other party for their side of things, if they say it wasn't them, all you can do is explain yourself as you have done here and offer to pay 50% of the costs.

wantsajob

Yes regret not saying now. I could still try grab them tomorrow morning and hope its played on their mind more than it has mine over the weekend. The news of the damage might still be better coming from me, than being relayed by the employer along with a cost of repair. They might not have a clue what the cost of such a repair might be and may be more willing to admit.

sniggings

Worth a try, I'm guessing the damage could only have been caused by him? could a 3rd party not have done it?

I think you now know what the worst outcome is, which is you paying 50%, so with that in mind you should be able to reasonably ask him tomorrow, if he sees you are not angry with him, he may own up.

Just be certain that it was him as he could be doing the same as you, thinking it's you and not saying anything.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Did you not take out insurance?

wantsajob

Due to the location on the sill I'd be very confident the damage could only have been caused by moving the car itself against a high kerb or similar road obstruction. As the sill is a reinforced section on a car and given the extent of the damage (amount of denting and length), I am very confident the damage would have been noticed, as it isn't a small ding/scrape.

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

Did you not take out insurance?

Other driver dealt with paperwork as they had hired cars before using the company's procedures, and I had no experience of doing so. I did not get to see it so don't know if the insurance/reduced excess was taken out.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Thing with hire cars, they get you on every tiny thing if possible, there is little chance of them missing that. However your colleague might just pay the excess knowing it was them that did it and presumably them on the paperwork?

marlot

The other driver may well have taken our full collision damage waiver, which would cover the repair