Wrong fuel put in car- should we claim on insurance?

DrFluffy

Mark7799 wrote: »

Regardless of the maths, you'd be in effect paying a higher premium in current years as well and would have to declare it on your claims history which may affect premiums if you move elsewhere.

Bite the bullet, it may be cheaper in the long run to borrow elsewhere if you haven't the funds to absorb the cost now.

Not to mention what will happen if you need to claim on your insurance again with in a short space of time... That could really cost...

My friend found her car damaged (parked at the side of the road), not a lot of damage - cost £250 to put right, she worked out the effect on her policy etc would be = in cost to claiming, so decided to claim (so as not to have to pay out a large amount at once, and pay it out slowly in slightly increased insurance costs).

6 weeks later she ran in to the back of someone in heavy rain. 2 claims in 6 weeks = massive insurance costs hike... Accidents happen, and happen when they want to...

shelly

harryharp wrote: »

Many thanks for your advice. Apparently we do have protected no claims, but the guy at the insurance company said it didn't apply to this sort of claim (only to 3rd party claims I think?)

I'd call the co back and try to speak to someone else. That doesn't sound right to me either (agreeing with alant1000) Last year I reversed into a post on our driveway, totally !!!!!!ed up the whole of the passengers side, from door to rear wheel arch. No-one else involved, just me. We made a successful claim.
We did cost it ourselves but would cost £4000K+ so we claimed.

Also agree with alant1000 in that your premiums *might* not go up. Ours didn't. I shop around every year and rarely stay with the same co 2 yrs running and we never pay more at renewal than we did the previous year.

Mark7799 wrote: »

would have to declare it on your claims history which may affect premiums if you move elsewhere.

But it might affect premiums if you stay with the same co too. It pays to shop around IMO.

wannabedebtfree wrote: »

BUT as the OP said it would have to stay on record as a claim for 3-5 years dependant on the insurers, and if he was shopping around it might make things more difficult.

It shouldn't be difficult. If in 4 yrs time the OP is asked about any accidents/claims/losses in the last 3 yrs they can honestly answer no but if unsure give the date of the claim. But if asked in 4 yrs time if there have been any a/c/l in the last 5 yrs OP would have to answer yes.

harryharp

alant1000 wrote: »

do you have protected no claims discount?

Just phoned insurance co again to check- and it turns out we don't actually have protected no claims anyway.....oh well! I'm still undecided..