Oops - damaged car in drive - house insurance or car insurance

Mistermeaner

had a little mishap and caused some bodywork damage to a friends car in my driveway

Just wondering if it is expensive could it potentially be covered by house insurance, rather than car insurance?

Car_54

It depends. Was the collision caused by your negligence, or that of the wall (or whatever you collided with)?

born_again

 a little mishap

By what?
Car or something dropped of house?

Sea_Shell

If, for example, you caused damage by personally accidentally hitting it with a random object, then if found negligent, it could be treated as personal occupiers liability which may be included under your HH ins.

However, if you hit it with your (a) vehicle, then it would be motor.

AIUI, in either case, the third party would need to make a claim against you in the first instance.  You can't bring a claim.

Depending on the exact circumstances (liability) either insurer may or may not pay out, if they can defend your liability.


ETA, or were you driving/moving it?

Mistermeaner

the story of what happened would be dependent upon the most cost effective route for resolving. 

SpudGunPaul

Mistermeaner said:

the story of what happened would be dependent upon the most cost effective route for resolving. 

So you're prepared to commit insurance fraud? 

There is the truth about what happened which is a fact and there is a story aka an untruth.

Sea_Shell

Mistermeaner said:

the story of what happened would be dependent upon the most cost effective route for resolving. 

Potential fraud aside...

2 choices.

You either sort it personally, between friends.

Or they need to hold you negligent for the damage and formally make a claim against you.



Unless you were driving their car, then it would be a claim on their own policy.


Technically, they should probably notify their car insurer of the damage, however caused.

Mistermeaner

say for example i was pushing a wheel barrow full of stuff and it collided with their car that was parked in the drive, causing damage to their car

facade

Mistermeaner said:

say for example i was pushing a wheel barrow full of stuff and it collided with their car that was parked in the drive, causing damage to their car

Assuming that it collided because of some negligence on your part- tbh I can't think of how it couldn't be negligence on your part though if the car wasn't moving.

They either

1) claim on their own fully comprehensive insurance, and you pay their excess (or they claim their excess from you). There is a possibility that their insurer will try to recover the cost of the claim from you.(Your liability insurance should cover you)

2) They claim directly from your liability insurance if you have it.

3) They put in a court claim against you, if you are lucky your liability insurance will deal with it .

4) They use their (optional) motor legal protection to recover their excess from you.

You can

1) Just pay for the repair in the first place

2) Give them your insurance details.

DullGreyGuy

Mistermeaner said:

say for example i was pushing a wheel barrow full of stuff and it collided with their car that was parked in the drive, causing damage to their car

Your friend would have the option of claiming off their motor insurance who would counterclaim from you or claiming from you directly. 

Your motor insurance wouldnt respond at all as it wasnt an accident involving your vehicle.

Your Home Contents insurance could possibly respond but it would depend on the definitions in the T&Cs of the third party liability section. 

Sea_Shell

Also you need to consider the £££ involved.

Obviously huge difference in potential costs, depending on the age/model/value of the car.

£500 banger, or £50k brand new!!