To claim or not

poppystar

Having had my car vandalised two days ago I’m unsure whether I should claim on my insurance or not. What should I consider? 

Cost of damage around £500 (guesstimate)
excess £100

no claims protected currently and no other claims made on policy 


I guess it’s impossible to say what the effect may be on future premiums because I would become higher risk? 

Wouldn’t I have to tell them if incident even if I don’t make a claim?

Hope that’s enough information, my head is currently spinning with my own thoughts on what to do and would appreciate any input especially if there is something I haven’t thought of yet. Thanks.

MattMattMattUK

poppystar said:

Having had my car vandalised two days ago I’m unsure whether I should claim on my insurance or not. What should I consider? 

Cost of damage around £500 (guesstimate)
excess £100

no claims protected currently and no other claims made on policy 


I guess it’s impossible to say what the effect may be on future premiums because I would become higher risk? 

Wouldn’t I have to tell them if incident even if I don’t make a claim?

Hope that’s enough information, my head is currently spinning with my own thoughts on what to do and would appreciate any input especially if there is something I haven’t thought of yet. Thanks.

Yes you should tell them, but many would not and get a private repair.

On your estimate this will cost you £400, I suspect even with protected no claims your premium would rise enough to cost you more than that in a year or two.

A couple of things to consider, did this happen at home or elsewhere, reported to police, any evidence, CVTV, likelihood of catching the culprit(s)?

poppystar

MattMattMattUK said:

poppystar said:

Having had my car vandalised two days ago I’m unsure whether I should claim on my insurance or not. What should I consider? 

Cost of damage around £500 (guesstimate)
excess £100

no claims protected currently and no other claims made on policy 


I guess it’s impossible to say what the effect may be on future premiums because I would become higher risk? 

Wouldn’t I have to tell them if incident even if I don’t make a claim?

Hope that’s enough information, my head is currently spinning with my own thoughts on what to do and would appreciate any input especially if there is something I haven’t thought of yet. Thanks.

Yes you should tell them, but many would not and get a private repair.

On your estimate this will cost you £400, I suspect even with protected no claims your premium would rise enough to cost you more than that in a year or two.

A couple of things to consider, did this happen at home or elsewhere, reported to police, any evidence, CVTV, likelihood of catching the culprit(s)?

At home - well close to as we park on the road. Police are aware and have crime number. They sent someone out yesterday to see if they could find anyone with cctv, not sure if they were successful.

How likely is it that the insurance company can find this crime info if I don’t tell them?  I guess my worry is that might invalidate future insurance policies if they do become aware of the incident. Could that happen?

From the figures then you would expect a policy could increase by £200 a year as a result if the claim -  seems quite high, although I know insurance costs are rising.  Have I read your figures correctly? 

Thanks.

cw8825

IMO the obsession with avoiding claiming is baffling. 

Your excess is £100. For that you getting work that is Guranteed. , if it goes wrong a place to complain. Mostly hassle free

Presumably a replacement car

Or you can pay £500 yourself to get less benefits apart from avoiding telling your insurance in the hope it saves you in the long run. 

Yes you should inform them anyway but in the real
word. Many don’t if they are not claiming. 

I would genuinely be surprised if your insurance rose by 400 across the next few years because of 1 vandalism claim alone. 

Every additional year that goes past will have less of an impact on your policy 
and if your a good risk anyway 1 claim Dosent actually make much difference. 

poppystar

cw8825 said:

IMO the obsession with avoiding claiming is baffling. 

Your excess is £100. For that you getting work that is Guranteed. , if it goes wrong a place to complain. Mostly hassle free

Presumably a replacement car

Or you can pay £500 yourself to get less benefits apart from avoiding telling your insurance in the hope it saves you in the long run. 

Yes you should inform them anyway but in the real
word. Many don’t if they are not claiming. 

I would genuinely be surprised if your insurance rose by 400 across the next few years because of 1 vandalism claim alone. 

Every additional year that goes past will have less of an impact on your policy 
and if your a good risk anyway 1 claim Dosent actually make much difference. 

Thank you. I was getting loads of people saying not to claim and felt that they all knew something I didn’t! Your response has put my mind at rest that claiming wouldn’t be a huge mistake. 

Car_54

cw8825 said:

IMO the obsession with avoiding claiming is baffling. 

Your excess is £100. For that you getting work that is Guranteed. , if it goes wrong a place to complain. Mostly hassle free

Presumably a replacement car

Or you can pay £500 yourself to get less benefits apart from avoiding telling your insurance in the hope it saves you in the long run. 

Yes you should inform them anyway but in the real
word. Many don’t if they are not claiming. 

I would genuinely be surprised if your insurance rose by 400 across the next few years because of 1 vandalism claim alone. 

Every additional year that goes past will have less of an impact on your policy 
and if your a good risk anyway 1 claim Dosent actually make much difference. 

My thoughts exactly.