Car Insurance query: hit by uninsured driver.

bitemarx

Recently, I was driving my wife's car, and a young driver on a scooter hit the car on the front passenger side bumper, causing enough damage to warrant replacement of the bumper.
I reported the incident to my insurer (Hastings Direct) promptly, and on follow up ten days later, was told that the driver of the scooter was uninsured. The company tell me that this means I can have the bumper replaced by them whilst protecting my no claims bonus and waiving my policy excess.

Since its an insurance company, I cannot help but wonder if there is a catch to this! Does anyone know more?

Thank you
M

pramsay13

That doesn't make sense.
The driver is uninsured but your own insurance company will pay to replace the bumper and not charge you an excess and you keep your no-claims bonus?

molerat

A few - DirectLine for one - do this when hit by an uninsured driver. You will still have a claim on your record so your base premium will still go up.

Zorillo

Hastings Direct advertise an 'uninsured driver promise' so this would be legitimate, and there is no catch.

As Molerat has said, your premium will increase, but you're still a lot better off than you would be with an insurer who doesn't offer this promise.

bitemarx

Zorillo wrote: »

Hastings Direct advertise an 'uninsured driver promise' so this would be legitimate, and there is no catch.

As Molerat has said, your premium will increase, but you're still a lot better off than you would be with an insurer who doesn't offer this promise.

Thanks for the reply.

By this you mean, of course, that my premium would go up at renewal next year? I've paid in full for the year, and I will most likely do a comparison and move insurers when my current policy ends next year. I just need to confirm that this claim wont affect any policy I may take out next year.

Edit: If my NC bonus is protected, does it mean I do not have to declare it on future applications?

bitemarx

pramsay13 wrote: »

That doesn't make sense.
The driver is uninsured but your own insurance company will pay to replace the bumper and not charge you an excess and you keep your no-claims bonus?

SOunds almost too good to be true?

That's why I asked the question.

Apparently, almost 48% of insurers offer no claims protection and waiver of excess fees if you are hit by an uninsured driver, and the accident is not your fault.

forgotmyname

We don't know who your going to use for insurance next year so how can anyone say if it will affect your premium.

You have a claim to declare so im guessing it will affect it.

Zorillo

You will need to declare the claim.

Regardless of whether you stay with the same insurer or move, the base premium will increase because of the claim. Your intact NCD will then reduce that premium, but it will still likely be more than you've paid this year.

There's no point worrying about it, just shop around at renewal.

bitemarx

Zorillo wrote: »

You will need to declare the claim.

Regardless of whether you stay with the same insurer or move, the base premium will increase because of the claim. Your intact NCD will then reduce that premium, but it will still likely be more than you've paid this year.

There's no point worrying about it, just shop around at renewal.

Thank you.
Makes sense, what you say...I tend to overthink things, sometimes!

bitemarx

Hi again, I've just been contacted by the insurance company to inform me that their underwriters have concluded that this incident is my fault because the guy on the scooter was on the major road. Therefore, irrespective of any other facts, he has right of way! It looks like he has made a claim despite not being insured, and my third party will have to cover it. :-/

I am feeling a bit cheated here, tbh, so I was wondering how serious an offence it is to be driving a scooter without insurance. I had initially reported only to my insurance company. If I report this to the police now,will there be any consequences for the other driver?

Yes, I am a little bitter about the fact that I am essentially paying for someone negligent enough to be speeding and driving without insurance.

Zorillo

It's the same as any other driving without insurance charge. Points and a fine if you can persuade the police to be interested.