Car damaged overnight - best plan of action

sugar-hill

Hi there I wonder if anyone can help. Unfortunately someone has driven into my car overnight and damaged both passenger doors.

Obviously they didn't leave a note and there was no CCTV.
I have comprehensive insurance with protected no claims.

Is its best to claim through my insurance (I know my premiums will probably go up), or should I try and fix it myself (I've had one quote for £1500 it's I was going to fix it myself)? Am I also correct in thinking I've got to tell my insurance company even if I'll fix it myself?

I'm not sure if the link will work for the pictures but have attached them in case they do :
https://ibb.co/Hx1QS7H
https://ibb.co/pxcV7kc

Thank you in advance for your help

Aylesbury_Duck

How much does it bother you? If it's safe, structurally sound and watertight, is leaving it like that an option?

sugar-hill

Ideally I'd like it repaired. The front passenger door has become difficult to open because the handle has become slightly detached from the rest of the door. The window only winds down about 5 inches, so will need to be replaced anyway. (I'm aware the window situation is not the biggest problem in winter, ha ha).

Aylesbury_Duck

Ok, it does need fixing then. Use your insurance. It's what it's there for. No point paying premiums every year if you're not going to use it when you need to.

chrisw

You could search online first and see if you could find second hand doors, preferably in the same colour.

The rear door looks the worst and the front not too bad. If you are having problems with the front, it might only need tweaking a bit.

Your insurance policy probably says you must tell them regardless. However, if you fix it yourself and there's no way of them knowing then the decision is yours.

ratrace

2 used doors from a breakers £150 each job done


tons of them on ebay


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-2012-HONDA-CIVIC-FRONT-PASSENGER-SIDE-BARE-DOOR-BLACK/264496346035?hash=item3d9535f3b3:g:tyYAAOSwknpdodQR

sugar-hill

Hey thank you for taking the time to do that, it's really appreciated.

Do you roughly know how much a respray would cost. I can't find the actual colour of my car. The closest colour is black.

ratrace

sugar-hill wrote: »

Hey thank you for taking the time to do that, it's really appreciated.

Do you roughly know how much a respray would cost. I can't find the actual colour of my car. The closest colour is black.

Where i live the bodyshop i use they charge £150 a panal, if i was you i would get 2 used doors in the same paint code and just get them fitted on the quote for £1500 is a rip off

your colour code should be in one of the handbooks that came witht he car if not see the boot area where the spare tyre goes there should be a sticjer there telling you the code or it may be on inside of the pillers once you open the doors

if you cant find it ring honda main dealers with your reg plate and ask how they should tell you,


or just go on a honda forum people there will know, on my astra the pait code is in my hand book

Belenus

ratrace wrote: »

...on my astra the pait code is in my hand book

Off topic but that is an odd place to put the paint code as handbooks can easily go astray.


PS I like your signature. Are they your words or are you quoting someone?

ratrace

Belenus wrote: »

Off topic but that is an odd place to put the paint code as handbooks can easily go astray.


PS I like your signature. Are they your words or are you quoting someone?

1) They put it on the car and in the book, same sticker like my car it also tells me the optional extras that were selected when the car was built but not all cars have them in the book some do some dont my dads skoda only has it in the boot wheel well, and that has faded over time

2) My words...:)

james007ago

my car was also damaged last Thursday evening and driver did not stop. My neighbour took some pictures but its not good quality, and there is no way to see clearly the reg plate.
I was quoted £550 for 4 panel if I have it repaired myself? If I claim through MIB, would I need to declare claims come renewal, and would my insurer be able to know it?