My insurance or theirs?

Squareeg

Hello all :-)
A neighbour  managed to reverse into my parked car and cause cosmetic damage to the quarter panel, a nice dent and some paint work damage. I received a call from the neighbours  insurance stating they can get the car fixed for free, hire car and £300 at the end of the process.

My insurance excess is £350 might write my car off it’s a 61 plate. It’s in excellent condition mechanically and body work wise before the dent and  I want to keep my car of course. I haven’t had an insurance claim in 15 years so looking for advice please.

Do I go through my own insurance make a claim, or just inform them with no claim and go through the neighbours insurance company? What’s my best option? I just want it fixed with no category N, I got a few quotes to check it’s 8 to 900 pounds.

Thank you.

Grey_Critic

You will have to inform YOUR insurance company even if it goes through the third party insurance - its in the T&Cs even if you do not make a claim/

caprikid1

Depends who the insurance company are Direct Line are a lying bunch of !!!!!. 

Personally I have always gone via the Third Parties insurance but not sure I would now after Direct Line cost me thousands.

DullGreyGuy

Squareeg said:

Hello all :-)
A neighbour  managed to reverse into my parked car and cause cosmetic damage to the quarter panel, a nice dent and some paint work damage. I received a call from the neighbours  insurance stating they can get the car fixed for free, hire car and £300 at the end of the process.

My insurance excess is £350 might write my car off it’s a 61 plate. It’s in excellent condition mechanically and body work wise before the dent and  I want to keep my car of course. I haven’t had an insurance claim in 15 years so looking for advice please.

Do I go through my own insurance make a claim, or just inform them with no claim and go through the neighbours insurance company? What’s my best option? I just want it fixed with no category N, I got a few quotes to check it’s 8 to 900 pounds.

Both insurers are equally likely to write off the vehicle and so going for one or the other wont change that.  As others have said, in either route you have to inform your insurers even if not claiming.

If you claim off your own insurance you have a right to escalate any issues to the Financial Ombudsman, if you claim off their's you cannot, court is your only option. 

Clearly the offered £300 is going to be material increase in the value of the claim if your repair estimates are c£900

Squareeg

Just an update, the insurer is LV. I have 2 quotes, one from a garage I have used before and would like to do the work. I gave LV a call, they are happy to deal with the cost of the repair with the garage of my choice, I sent them the quote, the garage have heard from them already. The car hire company enterprise gave me a call 10 mins later. I have reported the accident with my insurance for information only. I’m happy my car hasn’t been written off, the damage will be repaired to a great  standard as I know the garage, so in this case it has worked out for me. Thank you for the advice.