Car door kicked in

daveruk

Hi - My car passenger door was kicked in for no apparent reason yesterday. I only noticed it today as it was on the passenger side. It was just parked in the street when I was out locally for a few mins and I have no idea why. Despite having a dashcam, it was raining so no clear images, but there is audio of the incident (three bangs)... anyway, I have reported to the police and have an incident number, and to the insurance. I have fully comp with protected No Claims AND the insurance has some "vandalism promise" which could be useful. My Question is should I claim (I understand I can withdraw the claim if I like until the insurance processes the claim/pays out). It will cost at least £1000 for a basic repair (according to my local garage) probably a lot more for a professional repair. I just don't know how much my insurance will go up next renewal... any suggestions? I currently have a great deal though have oved 20 years of no claims. Vandalism promise

Mark_d

Make the claim unless you have a big excess.  You premium might increase slightly next year due to the risk of vandalism in your area - but this would happen regardless of whether you claim or not.  Your no claims discount should be unaffected if this is your only claim but you can check your policy wording.

DullGreyGuy

That vandalism promise isn't really worth much if you also have NCDP 

Premiums are often calculated based on factors, having a claim adds X% rather than £Y and so in absolute terms it depends on how good a risk you otherwise are. Some factors are dealt with in a matrix so before sex was banned as a rating factor age and sex was a matrix with an 18 male paying more than a 18 female but a 45 male and female paying the same. 

Doing some quick dummy quotes a malicious damage claim adds 10-20% to quotes on an otherwise good risk

Herzlos

Does the door mechanism work, and it's just the door that's damaged? If so it may be worth seeing if you can just source a new door from a scrap yard.

Mildly_Miffed

The "promise" is merely that you won't lose your no-claims. Woo.

If you've got protected, then you won't anyway, with any insurer. It's still an at-fault claim to declare for five years.

How much will it add? Impossible to say even for next year's renewal, let alone for four years time. Somewhere between "not much" and "HOW much?".

Another vote here for "just buy a good used door and swap it over", assuming it's a reasonably common car in a reasonably common colour.

daveruk

.Herzlos said:

Does the door mechanism work, and it's just the door that's damaged? If so it may be worth seeing if you can just source a new door from a scrap yard.

I believe door mechanism does work, but "trusted" local garage said would probably be around £1000 for "cheap" repair, which would be door from scrap etc

CliveOfIndia

daveruk said:

.Herzlos said:

Does the door mechanism work, and it's just the door that's damaged? If so it may be worth seeing if you can just source a new door from a scrap yard.

I believe door mechanism does work, but "trusted" local garage said would probably be around £1000 for "cheap" repair, which would be door from scrap etc

What car is it, how old, and how "precious" are you about it ?  If it's an older, common car and you're not particularly bothered about aesthetics, get yourself a door from a scrappy and fit it yourself.  You may need to shell out for a few rattle-cans if you can't happen to find one of the right colour, but even so it'll not cost you a fortune.

It's a different matter if it's a newer car with lots of complicated electrical bits and bobs and you want a professional finish.

born_again

Might even be able to pop it back out from inside after taking door card off if you really are not bothered about a slightly damaged door.
Which at a guess is pretty much what the cheap garage repair will be, but with a bit of filler & paint.

daveruk

born_again said:

Might even be able to pop it back out from inside after taking door card off if you really are not bothered about a slightly damaged door.
Which at a guess is pretty much what the cheap garage repair will be, but with a bit of filler & paint.

So, I now have a quote for £700 for the "cheap" repair, which is exactly as you describe. But the garage has advised me if I have already made the claim, then even if I cancel it, then it will be flagged somehow on my file and my premiums will be affected? If this is the case then I would guess I probably should continue with the claim? Its about as clear as mud what the best option is!

CliveOfIndia said:

daveruk said:

.Herzlos said:

Does the door mechanism work, and it's just the door that's damaged? If so it may be worth seeing if you can just source a new door from a scrap yard.

I believe door mechanism does work, but "trusted" local garage said would probably be around £1000 for "cheap" repair, which would be door from scrap etc

What car is it, how old, and how "precious" are you about it ?  If it's an older, common car and you're not particularly bothered about aesthetics, get yourself a door from a scrappy and fit it yourself.  You may need to shell out for a few rattle-cans if you can't happen to find one of the right colour, but even so it'll not cost you a fortune.

It's a different matter if it's a newer car with lots of complicated electrical bits and bobs and you want a professional finish.

Caris 2017, I'm not that precious.

chrisw

I guess you mean Yaris? Cheaper still would be if you could find a second hand door in the same colour. Now you have reported the incident you will have to declare it which might put your premium up a bit but you would retain your NCD if you didn't claim.

daveruk

chrisw said:

I guess you mean Yaris? Cheaper still would be if you could find a second hand door in the same colour. Now you have reported the incident you will have to declare it which might put your premium up a bit but you would retain your NCD if you didn't claim.

No I don't mean Yaris I meant "Car is 2017"! I have protected NCD... hmmm thanks