Car insurance - first (and hopefully only!) accident

SkittyKat

Hi all - I'm a long-time lurker, first-time poster (with new profile as I can't remember my original one) - please be gentle with me.

I reversed into a parked car at the weekend, causing some damage that the owner is claiming for through insurance.

I called my own insurance company after the accident took place, just to let them know what had happened.

As well as the damage to the parked car (a dent in a panel) my own car also has some damage - one of the back lights needs replacing and my bumper is scuffed and has slightly 'popped out' of where it joins the car panel on the rear corner.

I know that my insurer will pay for the damage to the car that I hit (minus the excess that I have to pay), but does this also cover the damage on my own car? Are both cars fixed as part of the one claim (so one excess payment)?

Sorry this is such a basic question, but I've never been in this situation before, and can't find much online to help.

Hintza

There is no excess on the third party claim. You will only pay an excess on any claim you make for your car so do the maths.

If you add yours all up and it is less than excess do it yourself if it is more than the excess you might as well claim as it will affect your premiums anyway particularly since you are at fault.

HappyMJ

Yes both cars can be fixed on the one claim and you only have one excess to pay.

Could it be cheaper not involving the insurance companies at all and paying for the damage to both cars yourself?

Quentin

SkittyKat wrote: »

Are both cars fixed as part of the one claim (so one excess payment)?......

.


Yes.


And having both cars repaired won't make any difference to the impact this has on your loss of NCD or future premiums - it's all counted as just one claim on your record.

SkittyKat

Thanks everyone. We were going to try and solve this without involving insurers, but the other car owner only knew of one place that could fix her car, and they had a long waiting list - so we're going via insurance. My other half offered to do the work on my car, but if I can get it done professionally - and I'm paying the excess anyway - then it would make sense to do it via the insurance (I think)?

I feel like such a child asking such basic questions on this.

Quentin

SkittyKat wrote: »

... My other half offered to do the work on my car, but if I can get it done professionally - and I'm paying the excess anyway - then it would make sense to do it via the insurance (I think)? ......

You misunderstand about when (or if) your excess will have to be paid!


You will only pay the excess if you have your car repaired (ie if your other half can repair it for less than your excess then that will be a cheaper alternative for you!)


(There is no excess to pay on claims paid out to third parties who's property you damage)

SkittyKat

Thanks Quentin - I did totally misunderstand that. I didn't realise I wouldn't pay the excess for the third party.

So I just get my car fixed (it should be less than the excess even if I use a professional) and my insurer covers the full cost of the damage to the other car.

Thanks again. I'm now not feeling quite as clueless.

Quentin

SkittyKat wrote: »

...So I just get my car fixed (it should be less than the excess even if I use a professional) and my insurer covers the full cost of the damage to the other car......

Correct .