Is it cheaper to go throught insurance company?

DUTR

arcon5 wrote: »

Except ops asking whether it would be cheaper for them to go through insurance or pay for the damage, as such the car is vital as to whether its more cost effective to pay for it or not

A proper repair is often going to cost more than policy excess.

Rolandtheroadie

arcon5 wrote: »

That's not really a case for going with insurers. The cab driver probably saw a sharp increase in premiums for the claim irrespective of fault! Taxi insurance is far from cheap! Since insurers don't like paying out for projected increases in insurance then the only other sure thing way of making sure the idiot who crashed in to you doesn't see you financially harmed is a PI claim.

For all you know the taxi driver would have repaired his car, never told the insurer and everybody would have been happy!!!!!

Cab owner and cab driver were different people.

When the owner came on the scene, I heard him say to the driver "You'll get a nice wee claim out of this". He then suggested a cash settlement.
I could have found myself having paid the £650 myself, then been hit with the personal injury claim anyways. Then there's the problems that could have caused with my insurer.
When an accident happens, things are said. Once people leave, they then get advice from other people, or the liable party find out the 2 inch dent in a bumper is going to cost more than a few drinks for a backstreet repair guy to put right.
Insurance every time.

neilmcl

arcon5 wrote: »

Agreed. If I was the victim i'd take a private settlement on a small bump easy peasy. You make me involve my insurer and I won't be sparing [STRIKE]you [/STRIKE] your insurer any expense!


And there goes your credibility :rotfl:

Corrected that for you. In reality if you go through insurance then you'll have very little say as to what expense it is, unless that is you make a fraudulent claim.

neilmcl

DUTR wrote: »

A proper repair is often going to cost more than policy excess.

Except policy excess isn't payable on 3rd part claims, so your point is largely irrelevant.

force_ten

I fully understand what you are saying about wanting any make of car brought back to the same condition that it was pre accident

but from the Op,s point of view and paying for the repair themselves the repair cost of a newish 50 K BMW is likely to cost a lot more due to the fact that the owner will want it repaired at a Main dealers rather than a back street spray shop or a smart repair

DUTR

neilmcl wrote: »

Corrected that for you. In reality if you go through insurance then you'll have very little say as to what expense it is, unless that is you make a fraudulent claim.

Straight to the Accident management company, like for like vehicle whilst the car is in for repair.

neilmcl

DUTR wrote: »

Straight to the Accident management company, like for like vehicle whilst the car is in for repair.

And the insurer may tell you do do one because you're not mitigating your losses.

force_ten

DUTR wrote: »

You both may have missed the obvious point, if one crashes into a 3rd party vehicle, then it doesn't matter what marque it is. Go across on the estate and you will see plenty of beemers. If I had a Kia and someone crashed into it, I would still want it repaired to the state prior to the accident. Whether the other party wanted to pay direct, they can pay the insurance direct and hopefully consider being more careful in future.

if you took your Kia to the Kia main dealers and asked for it to be repaired to pre accident condition, and the guy next door took his BMW to the BMW main dealers for the exact same repair who would come away with the biggest bill?

you can bet your life that parts, paint and labour rates will be higher at the BMW main dealers

if you are talking about an older car that has fallen out of the dealer network then a smart repair or a back street body shop repair may well cost the same for most marques

neilmcl

OP, if I were you get a proper quote from the TP's garage/bodyshop of choice and armed with this do some dummy insurance quotes with this claim/accident to see how much your premium will be affected over the next 3/5 years. That should make your decision as to which is cheapest for you.

DUTR

neilmcl wrote: »

And the insurer may tell you do do one because you're not mitigating your losses.

Hasn't happened yet, don't wish to be in that situation again.