Should I claim on car insurance or buy second hand bits to try & fix it myself?

Korkyb

Hi all

My 2007 MK3 Mondeo Ghia X had an altercation with a deer yesterday.

The car won the battle but not without a couple of battle scars - namely the front bumper is cracked / broken and the rear bumper is split.

I am insured fully comp with guaranteed no claims (£250 excess).

I have had continious car insurance for about 22 years and have never had any claimsd - my last years cover cost about £240 for the year.

So my options are:

- Live with the damage. (car looks sorry for itself but I'm told it shouldn't affect it getting through its MOT.)

- Buy second hand bumpers & try to get them fixed cheapishly.

- Claim on my insurance & get it fixed properly. (£250 excess).


Answers on a postcard.

Any advice from someone who knows about these things appreciated (cos I'm clueless).

forgotmyname

If its cracked/broken to leave sharp edges then it may fail the MOT.

Duck tape/Gaffa tape usually sorts that but its hard to get to colour match.

If you have a £250 excess then i would sort it myself. Bumpers are easy to fit.

Should be plenty of MK3 bumpers at the breakers. You may even find on in the exact colour.

Korkyb

I'll check with my local breaker & see if they have any kicking & how much they are. If none colour match then spraying them aint gonna be cheap (I imagine).

I was also wondering how claiming on the insurance might affect my future insurance premiums given that my no claims are guaranteed.

Would I continue paying for the claim through higher premiums for the next few years??

Quentin

Do dummy quotes online with and without this in your history to see what the difference it makes to the premium.

rs65

Depending on how bad they are broken/split, repairs are possible.

ps How did a deer manage to get front and back bumpers?

Aretnap

rs65 wrote: »

ps How did a deer manage to get front and back bumpers?

Reversing over it to make sure it's dead before you put it in the boot?

Hope that at least you have some nice venison hanging in the garage for your trouble.

The claim would have to be declared for the next 3-5 years (depending on insurer) and this would likely have an effect on your future premiums - just not as big an effect as it would be if you lost some of your NCD as well.

payless

You might not lose your no claims discount, but the base quote may well increase.

Korkyb

Cheers all

I'm going to live with the damage for a while.

The deer went under the car & I think a leg or something much have caught the back bumper.

udaysm2209

Although you are fully insured, you should definitely claim your insurance. You have the money or don't, but claiming your insurance is your right and is must.