Car loan, what can I do?

macman

USA motor insurance is presumably much higher because of potential personal injury costs. If you injure someone or are injured yourself, the insurer is going to have to pick up the medical bills, which here would mainly be paid by the NHS. And the implications of that also result in higher legal fees when liability is disputed.

Neilhmtn

macman wrote: »

USA motor insurance is presumably much higher because of potential personal injury costs. If you injure someone or are injured yourself, the insurer is going to have to pick up the medical bills, which here would mainly be paid by the NHS. And the implications of that also result in higher legal fees when liability is disputed.

I was under the impression that the NHS charges in full for medical treatment as a result of a car accident. If that is the case, your argument here wouldn't be valid.

I did a quick check - just a quick check on Google, mind - and it looks as if what I thought was the case may have been changed with the 1998 Road Traffice (NHS Charges) Act, which surprised me, so maybe you're right.

Having said that, I don't remember any great uplift in car insurance costs after 1998, but then I was about 22 then, so I probably wouldn't have noticed. I'd be interested if anyone knows any more.

iolanthe07

I was under the impression that the NHS charges in full for medical treatment as a result of a car accident. If that is the case, your argument here wouldn't be valid.

Except that medical costs are huge in the US, much more than the NHS would charge here. My wife spent two days in a hospital for tests, and the bill came to $14,000. Luckily we had good insurance.

bigadaj

iolanthe07 wrote: »

I was under the impression that the NHS charges in full for medical treatment as a result of a car accident. If that is the case, your argument here wouldn't be valid.

Except that medical costs are huge in the US, much more than the NHS would charge here. My wife spent two days in a hospital for tests, and the bill came to $14,000. Luckily we had good insurance.

And I would suggest the actual claims for personal injury for whiplash etc would be a multiple of uk costs in the states.