Claim on own or third party Car Insurance

csgohan4

Someone reversed into my parked car overnight and left a note and admitted liability. Gave them the option to settle privately or through their own insurance.


Damage was bumper damage only, slight dent estimated repairs 900 pounds.


Got a call this morning form their insurances saying they are admitting liability ad claiming on their insurance and would like to help me out


Do I use their insurance or call my own?


I understand there might be a conflict of interest if I use theirs even though I will not be billed.

Quentin

No real conflict - you can insist on your own choice of repairer if you want to


You are in a better position than claiming off your own policy (no excess to pay/no temporary loss of NCD), and the third party insurer will get you a replacement car whilst yours is off the road if you need one


(You must now inform your own insurer of the incident - tell them you won't be claiming at this stage and you are informing them for their info only)

csgohan4

Quentin wrote: »

No real conflict - you can insist on your own choice of repairer if you want to


You are in a better position than claiming off your own policy (no excess to pay/no temporary loss of NCD), and the third party insurer will get you a replacement car whilst yours is off the road if you need one


(You must now inform your own insurer of the incident - tell them you won't be claiming at this stage and you are informing them for their info only)

As it was a non fault accident, I wont have any excess or loss of NCD on this occasion. I figured better to claim from my own insurers as it will be repaired by my own dealership.

Quentin

Don't know why you started this thread for advice if you have refused the offer from the third party already (just half an hour after asking here for help!)


Have your insurers told you no excess to pay etc? If so this is unusual as your excess isn't covered by your insurance, and NCD is usually reduced until the third party insurer pays your insurer in full.


As posted, you can always get your car repaired at your own choice of repairer when using the third party insurer, though when claiming off your own insurance and wanting to use your own choice they put obstacles in the way (eg - higher excess/no courtesy car)

teddysmum

Even if claiming from the other party's insurer, it may well affect your next insurance quotation, as some providers admit that they always increase the premium for anyone with a no fault accident, even if it costs the claimant's insurer nothing. Some say that they don't penalise at all, some only penalise for a 'no fault' claim where they lose out as there is no one to blame (eg a falling tree), while other sallow a few no fault claims.


I had a no fault, where the other party admitted liability and Saga wanted to add 25% to our policy, but when my husband objected, a 'manager' dropped the addition to just £8.

mattk_180

If you go through your insurance, it will be taken as a worst case scenario (fault) until a full recovery is made as until your insurer has their money back, there's no guarantee's.


For that reason, you would usually have to pay your excess to your insurer, then claim it back off of the third party once the claim is settled. As it's deemed a fault incident until that time, if your renewal date comes up before the claim is settled, then yes you will have a reduced NCB/higher premium which will then be reinstated to normal when/if it is settled in your favour.


Although you still have to disclose it no matter what, for the reasons above it is sometimes better to go direct through the third parties insurance company.


You should note, however, that once you start claiming directly through the third party, your own insurance company won't be able to help you if you come into trouble further down the line.

Quentin

mattk_180 wrote: »

You should note, however, that once you start claiming directly through the third party, your own insurance company won't be able to help you if you come into trouble further down the line.

Not so.


If the third party insurer decides not to deal with the claim for any reason you can still then make a claim against your own policy.

mattk_180

Wasn't referring to if the TP refuses to deal with it, but the limitations to once they DO deal with it. Once the claim is underway it's not easy to close it and start again through your own insurer.


Such as if the work completed by a company the TP appointed, their own insurer isn't going to pick up the complaint are they? Or if they're unhappy with the way the TP insurer handles it, it would have to be a complaint directly to the TP rather than through their own insurer.


Just takes away some of the service they would normally receive further down the line.