Reporting smashed side window to insurer

a1260532

Hello MoneySavers,
A while back I had my cars side window smashed and a phone stolen. The side window was covered by my insurance with £75 excess. The phone I paid from my pocket. No claims was not effected by the glass. I have just discovered I should be reporting this for the next 5 years during renewal to any new insurer.

What is the correct way to report these incidents. On confused.com the claim types to choose from are:

"Theft from vehicle"
"Malicious Damage"
"Windscreen Glass"

If I report all incidents including theft how do I do it? Is that 2 claims "Theft from vehicle" + "Malicious Damage"
- AND -
If I wish to keep the phone theft to myself and only disclose the smashed glass, what do I choose then? Is that just "Malicious Damage"?

Thanks

Quentin

How did you report the broken glass circumstances when it happened? (The invoice may state the cause of the breakage)


If you didn't report the window broken as part of a theft (ie your insurer thinks it was accidental/vandalism and is unaware of the theft) then no need to disclose the stolen phone.

a1260532

Quentin wrote: »

How did you report the broken glass circumstances when it happened? (The invoice may state the cause of the breakage)


If you didn't report the window broken as part of a theft (ie your insurer thinks it was accidental/vandalism and is unaware of the theft) then no need to disclose the stolen phone.

My insurance have a special line to call for broken glass and it connected me to Autoglass. They handled the claim for me and just gave me an invoice for £75. Not sure what they disclosed to the insurer. Can I ask the current insurer for what claims they have for me on record?

Quentin

As long as you didn't report the theft to anyone, then all you have to disclose is the glass claim. (Though most repairers do state the reason for the glass breakage on the paperwork)

sinizterguy

When this happened to us, in 2007, the radio was stolen.

We told insurance (Elephant) that the radio was gone, but we're not claiming for it. Only the glass.

Glass excess was £70. Didn't affect my no claims. I did report it (glass claim) the next couple of times, but they kept telling me I don't need to tell them (next two years were also with Elephant).

If you claimed for your phone theft somehow then it may change things, but glass claims shouldn't make any difference or go under claims from what I have been told.

Quentin

sinizterguy wrote: »

......glass claims shouldn't make any difference or go under claims from what I have been told.

No.


All claims/incidents/losses must be disclosed to any new insurers you approach for quotes. This includes glass claims.

Hintza

The question is why put in a claim for a side window which could probably have been bought off ebay for £20-£50.

a1260532

Hintza wrote: »

The question is why put in a claim for a side window which could probably have been bought off ebay for £20-£50.

Cause I didnt know any better at the time. New driver, had the car for a week. Yobs found me!

Ectophile

a1260532 wrote: »

Hello MoneySavers,
If I report all incidents including theft how do I do it? Is that 2 claims "Theft from vehicle" + "Malicious Damage"
- AND -
If I wish to keep the phone theft to myself and only disclose the smashed glass, what do I choose then? Is that just "Malicious Damage"?

Thanks

You only made one claim and that was for the broken glass. So you tell the new insurer that you have made a previous claim for broken glass.

It's unlikely to have much effect on the premiums.

thescouselander

Quentin wrote: »

No.


All claims/incidents/losses must be disclosed to any new insurers you approach for quotes. This includes glass claims.

I think the point is glass claims often don't make a difference even when declared - I've certainly found this to be the case with my previous two insurers.

Hintza

a1260532 wrote: »

Cause I didnt know any better at the time. New driver, had the car for a week. Yobs found me!

The problem with cars is parts/glass tend to cost a fortune and for the likes of body panels that is especially true . Should have found us earlier

As others have said it shouldn't have much effect on your premiums.