Neighbour reversed into my empty, parked car

Ageing_Stick_Insect

I was in my garden yesterday when my next door neighbour came around and said she had reversed into my car. It was parked across the road from my house as I had garden people around doing some work and keeping the driveway clear was helpful to them.

Car was parked sensibly. She said her rear sensors never went off which made me think she relies on them rather than using mirrors or turning around. She lives next door so would have reversed across most of a suburban road. Cars are not normally parked there so perhaps she didn't pay enough attention.

Damage is limited to driver's door and comprises a lot of scrapes and a couple of dents. Electric window, locks and door mirror still work. Paint loss is fairly small. I said I would investigate getting it sorted without going through insurance.

But am I legally bound to advise my insurance company (LV=)? It's been over 30 years since I've had to do this sort of thing and I'm sure rules have probably changed a lot.

There are no witnesses to the actual incident but the workmen in my garden were within earshot when she told me the news should she later decide to change her story (hopefully not as a neighbour).

I intend to get two quotes - one from Honda and one independent. If either is to her liking we could then proceed with the repair without involving the insurance companies.

But the fact I have told my insurance company could affect my policy I have been told. If that is the case how should I proceed?

DCFC79

You should inform your insurer, whether you use the service they provide is up to you.

How much is your excess ? Is it low ?

FutureGirl

You'll probably find it's a term and condition of your policy that you have to notify your insurer of any incidents.

Quentin

It will be a condition of your policies you should (both) inform your insurers.


If you do, then you will have the incident on your record and have to disclose it to future insurers when asking for quotes.


It's your call whether you both comply - though if one of you does then the other needs to (as insurers use a shared database to check out applications to ensure no false applications)


If your neighbour decides to pay the repairs herself and the matter is resolved to your satisfaction, then many would see advantages in keeping this away from both insurers!

Ageing_Stick_Insect

£250. I'm still waiting for my neighbour to give me her details. I'll chase her up tomorrow pm.

Ageing_Stick_Insect

Thanks Quentin. If she pays for all repairs then I must admit I fail to understand why the insurance companies need to know. probably so they can whack up our premiums irrespective of who's to blame.

I shall ring mine tomorrow and log the basic details. Still don't know her surname so can't give precise info. In this day and age I suppose plenty of photos will help.

Ageing_Stick_Insect

Sent a photo of the damage to a local dealer who said it looks like the door needs replacing. £250 for the door doesn't sound too bad but eventual cost will be around £1K. That's too much for my neighbour so in all likelihood it will have to go through insurance.

I'm taking the car to that dealer and another nearby tomorrow just to confirm door needs replacing. If confirmed then we'll both contact our insurance companies.

Clive_Woody

Ageing_Stick_Insect wrote: »

Sent a photo of the damage to a local dealer who said it looks like the door needs replacing. £250 for the door doesn't sound too bad but eventual cost will be around £1K. That's too much for my neighbour so in all likelihood it will have to go through insurance.

I'm taking the car to that dealer and another nearby tomorrow just to confirm door needs replacing. If confirmed then we'll both contact our insurance companies.

Don't agree anything with the dealers until you have spoken with the insurers as they may not cover the cost of repairs at that particular workshop and will have their authorised repair shops.

To be honest I would let the insurers sort it out to minimise effort by yourself and to hopefully get a decent repair done.

Ageing_Stick_Insect

Clive,

I would prefer to use a repairer of my choice than one decided by the other parties' insurance. Here's the latest...

Went to Stockport and got two quotes this morning. £25 difference between them so that suggests the quote is fair. Gave all info on incident to my insurer plus reg no of other car. My insurer confirmed insurance valid so no excess of £250 needs to be paid.

Insurer and preferred repairer now talking to each other. Once everything cleared repairer will contact me for car to be booked in. Likely start date is 17 Oct as I wouldn't need hire car that week.

I appreciate your suggestion that leaving everything to insurance's preferred repairer is less hassle but the place I've chosen looks good and they have some high end cars in there so are obviously good at what they do.

christineperseus

I think rear sensors only work if you're doing less than 5mph.

Ageing_Stick_Insect

christineperseus wrote: »

I think rear sensors only work if you're doing less than 5mph.

She couldn't have been going that fast given the limited damage. Maybe it was the angle she hit my car.

Anyway, she's with the same insurer as me and I've heard from them. She's admitted liability and LV have agreed I can have the repair done at my preferred garage. Bit of a pain but thank god for insurance and a nice lady who has admitted her mistake.