Help!!! Help!!!! Just Crashed a Courtesy Car - Help!! Help!!!

roney

I just had an accident whilst driving a courtesy car.

It happened on the other side of the road and it is likely I am going to be found at fault even though I think the other driver should take an equal share of the blame.

Anyway I was wondering if anyone could let me know the implications of all this.

I am 24 and have 4 years no claims bonus which was not protected. I also have a CDW (Crash Damage Waiver) on the hired car with an excess of £150. Both cars are definite write off's by the way but I have a feeling the other car can be repaired.

Now my problem is will it be more economical for me to pay off the other driver off (about £1,500 - £400 of which would have been my excess)

or


should I just let my insurance handle it and risk loosing my hard earned no claims bonus?

and what about the hired car - what does CHW mean - am I covered adequately on that one?


any assistance will be very much appreciated

roney

I am extremely desprate, any help at all would be very much appreciated

brazilianwax

Were you driving a courtesy car (ie your car is in the garage and you're driving one of the garage's cars) or a hire car? They aren't the same thing.

How did the accident happen, exactly?

maemaesmummy

It shouldnt affect your NCD as I assume the hire car co insured the vehicle hence the CDW?

You will need to declare the accident to your insurers and they may load the premium at renewal BUT your NCD will not be affected unless this car was insured under yout own policy as a TAV (temp additional vehicle)

HTH

roney

Yes my car is being repaired and I have been given a hired car as a courtesy car by another insurance company.

A car had broken down in the middle of the road and all other car were going around it as traffic were no cars on the other side of the road. When it was my turn to creep around the broken down car, a speeding car from the opposite direction sped and hit me head on using me as a crush dummy.

brazilianwax

Definitely your fault. You shouldn't have crossed the centre line if there was a car coming.

What does the hire car paperwork say about damage/accidents?

roney

maemaesmummy wrote: »

It shouldnt affect your NCD as I assume the hire car co insured the vehicle hence the CDW?

You will need to declare the accident to your insurers and they may load the premium at renewal BUT your NCD will not be affected unless this car was insured under yout own policy as a TAV (temp additional vehicle)

HTH

I have reported it to my insurers, who are willing to claim damages from the other driver on my behalf but they ,ve advised me that since the accident happened on the other side of the road its also likely that I could be found at fault.

I never actually phoned my insurance company to put the rented car on my policy, however when I went to pick up the rented car they asked for a copy of my insurance certificate which I gave to them. Is this what is considered as a TAV?

roney

brazilianwax wrote: »

Definitely your fault. You shouldn't have crossed the centre line if there was a car coming.

What does the hire car paperwork say about damage/accidents?

it has my name and it has my name and the name of my insurance company - £150 CDW

dipsy

i would think, might be wrong, but you were insured under your policy to drive the courtesy car.. only say this cos otherwise you pay a hefty £60 + fee to hire their car...if you were in your own car you would be responsible.. you know you did wrong admit it and move on if you have protected no claims its one strike.. good luck x

roney

dipsy wrote: »

i would think, might be wrong, but you were insured under your policy to drive the courtesy car.. only say this cos otherwise you pay a hefty £60 + fee to hire their car...if you were in your own car you would be responsible.. you know you did wrong admit it and move on if you have protected no claims its one strike.. good luck x

The insurance company covered all the costs, all I had to pay was a refundable £50 deposit.

And also like I pointed out, my no claims discount was not protected - if it was I would have moved on and wouldnt be stressing sooo much.

svmitche

Well, I know it's a shame to lose the no claims, but is this not what the insurance is for??? Where is the sense in taking out insurance and then when you need it not using it as you don't want to lose the discount?

I know you will lose the discount but, speaking for myself, I would prefer to pay a higher rate of insurance which I could spread over the monthly payments than pay out the lump sum that I can't afford to pay off the other driver.