Someone reversed into the side of my parked car, what should I do?

jonon

Hi, Someone reversed into the side of my parked car last night on the road outside my house. They stuck around and I got their details.



The damage isn't too bad, only cosmetic. But there are visible ripples where it's been pushed in. Which I could possibly live with but its super annoying. Car is 2006 plate



The driver has said they'd be keen to not contact their insurer as they are a new driver and student. And wants to cover the costs themselves.


Do I need to contact the police anyway? and contact my insurer as well? Just that I've read these things need to happen within 24 hours. and might need to cover my back if the driver goes quiet.



Thanks in advance

Bigphil1474

If the car is low value, then insurers may well write it off anyway, rather than repair. No need to speak to police. Your insurers should be told, but if both of you don't, then they are none the wiser - personal choice in my book. Maybe speak to a local garage and see if they can give you an idea on cost to repair to a reasonable standard (and check out that it is only superficial damage). The other driver might not be so willing to cough up if it's a few hundred quid, but if they stuck around to exchange details then may be that's a good sign.

Car_54

You are contractually obliged to report it to your insurer. If you don't, you're trusting the other party not to report it.



He is a total stranger, and has told you he is prepared to defraud his own insurer. Why would you want to trust him?

spadoosh

Contact your insurance. They require you to.

Ultimately when you give the student a bill for a new body panel fitted theyll realise they dont have the money anyway, its a long way from the £10 scratch kit they thought youd need. So will prefer going through their insurance which might increase their premiums by a hundred quid or so for a few years.

What youre suggesting is like fitting a fire alarm, having it go off and then deciding youre not going to listen to it.

shinytop

Get a quote. If you and other driver are happy, get it fixed. Don't tell insurance. If either are unhappy go through insurance. Simples.

What youre suggesting is like fitting a fire alarm, having it go off and then deciding youre not going to listen to it.

The fire alarm didn't go off. Your just burnt the toast but got away with it.

Aylesbury_Duck

Happened to my neighbour. A low speed parking collision into his door cost £1350 on insurance.

Inform your insurer - for information only at this stage. As someone said, you cannot trust the other party when they've already suggested themselves to be happy to deceive their own insurer.

System

Car_54 wrote: »

He is a total stranger, and has told you he is prepared to defraud his own insurer. Why would you want to trust him?

Well for a start he hung around and didn't do a runner like the majority of people who damage adjacent cars in supermarket car parks do so he at least has some morals.

In the real world where something can be amicably sorted out between both parties to both their mutual benefit, sorting it out between themselves without getting a profit motivated third party just looking at an excuse however tenuous to make more money out of both parties involved, it is what adult people do. In this case the benefit of the OP is their insurance doesn't increase which it will do for the next few renewals even if they were not at fault.

Car_54

Tarambor wrote: »

Well for a start he hung around and didn't do a runner like the majority of people who damage adjacent cars in supermarket car parks do so he at least has some morals.

In the real world where something can be amicably sorted out between both parties to both their mutual benefit, sorting it out between themselves without getting a profit motivated third party just looking at an excuse however tenuous to make more money out of both parties involved, it is what adult people do. In this case the benefit of the OP is their insurance doesn't increase which it will do for the next few renewals even if they were not at fault.

That seems to meet the definition of "fraud by failing to disclose information".

Cetshwayo

Car_54 wrote: »

That seems to meet the definition of "fraud by failing to disclose information".

Meanwhile in the real world....................

Car_54

Cetshwayo wrote: »

Meanwhile in the real world....................

Meanwhile, in the real world, the OP finds his ‘visible ripples’ will cost £1,000 to fix, and the student has no option but to involve his insurers ....

System

Car_54 wrote: »

Meanwhile, in the real world, the OP finds his ‘visible ripples’ will cost £1,000 to fix, and the student has no option but to involve his insurers ....

It is a 2006 car, chances are there's plenty of doors the right colour in breakers or on Ebay for £100 or so. So get one of those, pay for it fitted, happy days.

If it does cost £1000 to fix then the OP is in car write off hell due to it not being financially viable to repair, having to deal with possibly trying to find a decent car for the money the insurance pays out or in the event they keep it still going to a breakers yard/Ebay, getting a door the right colour and paying someone to fit it. The OP then also gets to benefit from suffering from higher insurance premiums for the next few years too.