Help - complete 'luddite' with 'claim' on car insurance

scottmcgarvey

Thanks in advance.

Just over a year ago, (as a named driver on my wife's policy), I was rear-ended by a lady behind me, who wrote our car off (I was also pushed into the car in front) - as we queued at traffic lights.

It took until very recently to settle (this was personal injury though).

When it comes to renewing insurance, what do we put for 'claims'?? (Neither of us had ever had an accident before, with 50+ years of driving between us).

So it was a 'non-fault' accident (the lady's insurance paid for everything), do we put down that I/we made a claim - or not? (Completely confused). I spoke to someone inbetween (whilst the claim was ongoing), but now I think of it, he was from the personal injury solictors, told me to enter a round figure of £1,000 "for now".

Have already insured the other car, and declared a 'non-fault claim' of £1,000 (as above) - now I think this in incorrect. We didn't make a claim - a) it was non-fault - but b) more importantly, no claim to 'our' insurers was made, as she admitted full liability, and paid up.

Would be grateful for advice on this - really don't have a clue, and looking on web, seem to just be 'hitting' (excuse pun), threads about claiming where 'non-fault' - but the party has had to claim from their own insurers (I presume as the 'guilty' party had no insurance or some such).

P.S. Yes to protected NCB. My wife 15 years+, myself 14 years.

Thanks a lot

Spicy_McHaggis

You did make a claim and it should be declared as such. Once you put the claim on a renewal it will expand and allow you to enter more details.

Aretnap

It's a claim - just not against your own policy. Also, the question usually asks (something like) "have you had any accidents or claims in the last x years". You've certainly had an accident, so it would have to be declared whether you'd made a claim or not. Enter it as a no fault claim.

InsideInsurance

Enter it as a non-fault claim.

Value of the claim makes very little difference in motor but its going to be a lot more than £1,000 as you are talking Car Value + Injury Value + Solicitor Fees. You obviously know the first and your solicitor should be able to ball park the other two.

Fluff15

Agree with all of the above - I had somebody go back into me. When using something like confused.com, there's an option for any accidents, I tick yes, and then there's a dropdown with what sort of claim it was. I still kept my NCB, but unfortunately it still adds something like £70 to my policy (I tested without declaring my accident). Obviously, you have to declare it otherwise you could get into trouble!

InsideInsurance

Fluff15 wrote: »

I still kept my NCB, but unfortunately it still adds something like £70 to my policy (I tested without declaring my accident)

If a non-fault accident affects your premium will vary depending on a number of factors. There was a person the other day sharing the fact a fault claim only added £30 to their premium which they were surprised about (less than 10%)

If however it does generate an additional premium for you then you would be able to add this to the uninsured loss claim from the third party. For years you can evidence this isnt too hard, where it tends to fail is where you also trying to claim for the next 2-4 years after this one and clearly cannot evidence what they will be due to the variability in the market and pricing variations etc

scottmcgarvey

Many thanks for the replies to clear this up.

So the total amount 'claimed' should be total for the car Plus personal injury Plus solicitor fees? Is that correct (although paid by the insurers of the person that hit me?)

InsideInsurance

scottmcgarvey wrote: »

Many thanks for the replies to clear this up.

So the total amount 'claimed' should be total for the car Plus personal injury Plus solicitor fees? Is that correct (although paid by the insurers of the person that hit me?)

Its arguable and if you want to be fully belts and braces then ask the insurer in question. Certainly if it was a fault accident I would expect it to be your repairs, TP repairs, TP uninsured losses inc hire, injury etc and the TP solicitor/ representative fees