Car Accident: Shall I Accept Third Party Offer to Repair the Car

clarkenuttal

I had a car accident last week where someone drove at the back of my car while I was stationary at traffic lights and reported the accident to my insurance who called me on Friday offered me repair at their approved user once I paid Excess. They said once they have the other party accept liablity I would receive my Excess back and this would not be marked as FAULT accident on my claim. I asked them to wait until Monday as I wanted to send all the evidence about liablity to my insurance first. (Excess is Only £100 so its not a big deal at all).
Then on Saturday I received a phone call from Third Party's insurance who said their client has admitted the liablity and therefore they are willing to repair my car at their approved garages and happy to provide me a courtesy car and if I chose to go ahead I wont even have to pay EXCESS. I said to them I will need to discuss this with my insurance first then give them an answer on Monday. Third party advised me to inform my insurance they have admitted liablity.

I need to ask few questions if someone can kindly help:
1) Is this something normal for third party to call and offer repairs and courtesy car as it sounds very fishy?
2) Who should I choose to repair my car i.e. my insurance or third party insurers (EXCESS is not an issue as its only £100)
3) By looking at damage I took quoatation from few local repair garages and it is in Excess of more than 75% of my car's value. In this case will my car be written off? I would prefer my car not to be written off as its a perfect runner and I've always looked after it.
4) Which insurance is least likely to write my car off? Third Party or My insurance?
5) Because It will now be recorded as an accident on my insurance it is likely to affect my future premiums as some insurance companies think once in accident is more than likely to be in another accident regardless of fault or no fault. Can I in this case claim for increase in my car insurance premium from the 3rd party insurance? (I know this sounds very wierd question but I see increase in premium as a direct consequential loss of the accident caused by the 3rd party insured).

I am therefore very confused and any help in this matter will be highly appreciated.

Regards

dacouch

Which Insurer are you with and who is the third party Insurer?

Roughly how much is your car worth and how long have you owned it?

How long have you got left on your current Insurance?

clarkenuttal

Owned the car for last 4 years and is worth £2000. Have 10 months left on insurance and 3rd Party insureres are direct line.

tberry6686

If you go with the third parties insurance you will be able to choose which repair garage it goes to. You don't have to use their choice.

dacouch

clarkenuttal wrote: »

Owned the car for last 4 years and is worth £2000. Have 10 months left on insurance and 3rd Party insureres are direct line.

Who are your own Insurers?

clarkenuttal

The biggest question at the moment is question number (3) Will my car be written off if damage is worth more than 75% of the value. (if so who is more likely to write it off?). And question (5) Now because of the accident my insurance is more than likely to be affected for next 3-5 years can I claim for increase in my premium as this is a non fault claim?

loskie

if at all possible claim off the third party insurer directly BUT make sure you notify your own. If your car is "an economic write off" you can buy it back for about 8% of the write off value and have it repaired yourself with the payout minus the 8%.
If you do not need them to give you a hire car you can claim £20 a day in lieu of that, also worth haggling the write off value.
If your insurer has no cost there should be no increase in your premium but you must declare it.

EdGasket

But you don't have a right to buy it back; it depends on the inurance company if they'll let you

dacouch

EdGasket wrote: »

But you don't have a right to buy it back; it depends on the inurance company if they'll let you

and no right to £20 a day if you have alternative transport so don't need a hire car

Ectophile

For question 1, no it's not fishy at all. They want to keep the costs down, as they have to pay them. Your insurer, on the other hand, has no interest in reducing the cost of the repairs. They could find you a courtesy car from a very expensive car hire company who pays them a big commission in return for the business..

gilbert_and_sullivan

If you want a big BMW for several weeks and cost the other insurer (which we all end up paying for) £x0000's whilst they mess about as long as possible to up the credit hire charges then let your own insurer flog your details to a claimsRus mob.

In practice the third party insurer will bend over backwards to sort your car out quickly and at no inconvenience to you, and it's cheaper all round for all of us because a bunch of sharks won't be cashing in.
Plus by letting Direct Line sort it out you won't have the very real danger of them refusing to play ball when a bill for £3000 for extended for no reason car hire lands on their doorstep and the sharks come to you for it instead.