Rear ended accident, Car worth £400, what next?

robparry252

Hi

Yesterday I was rear ended by a van driver. His fault (I was stopped at a red light waiting for it to go green then BANG!)

Took it to a repair shop and they said it's a write off. Car is only worth about £400, repairs much more.. (Boot floor bent, boot itself on the Peugot 206 dented with the handle and opening mechanism gone - Boot won't open).

No going for whiplash. My own excess is £500.

Here's my questions, as I'm unsure of best option:

1: If I was to claim, do I claim through his insurance, thereby saving paying my excess and risk losing my No Claims bonus?.. or do I contact my own insurer first?

2: I get a courtesy car with my insurer - I guess if I claim through his, I wouldn't?

3: If he wanted to settle outside of insurance, how much should I ask of him - the cost of repairs (potentially £1k+) or the value of the car £400) - Do I sell the car to him then?..

4: My car is driveable - ie: It still moves, as to whether it's roadworthy with the rear end damage I'm unsure. Am I still OK to be driving it?

5: I'm assuming as it's not my fault, regardless of whether I claim through my own or his insurance, I wouldn't lose my No Claims nor have to pay the excess?

6: What's the best outcome here:
Accept an agreed sum outside of insurance and keep the car? (How much - The value of the car or less?) Therefore both of us not affecting insurance premiums, no claims, etc..

or

Go through insurance and have the car written off possibly me getting £400?.. but we'd have our insurance premiums affected (would I?..) I assume he wouldn't have to pay his excess as it's me making a claim?

Confused. com!! (ironically where I got my insurance through!) :rotfl:

Any help or advice regards this would be great.

Many thanks

Quentin

1) His insurer


2) Assuming no dispute over liability then the third party insurer will pay your costs incurred because of this including a hire car till the repairs are completed or you get a settlement payment for a write off


3) All you can get as far as the value of your car is its pre accident market value, plus as advised all your other costs incurred


4) If you are concerned about whether its road worthy or not get advice from a specialist (eg MOT garage)


5) Correct


6) Your call. If you go through the third party insurer then you can expect all your costs to be reimbursed as mentioned, if you keep the car then you get the market value pre accident minus a sum for its salvage value. Also consider using a claims handler.