Car insurance query

77andthriving

Last January my car was parked I a supermarket car park. A van damaged it about £1200 worth of repair. There was CCTV and an independent witness who spoke to both insurers and police. The guilty party did not accept responsibility so there was a court case in which he was found guilty. It is now time for me to renew my insurance. My quote from my current insurer has increased approx £290. When I use the online comparison sites and fill in yes to accident the quotes are also around the same. Am I right in claiming it was an accident or does it come under vandalism. Does this make any difference to the premiums? Thank you

DullGreyGuy

77andthriving said:

Last January my car was parked I a supermarket car park. A van damaged it about £1200 worth of repair. There was CCTV and an independent witness who spoke to both insurers and police. The guilty party did not accept responsibility so there was a court case in which he was found guilty. It is now time for me to renew my insurance. My quote from my current insurer has increased approx £290. When I use the online comparison sites and fill in yes to accident the quotes are also around the same. Am I right in claiming it was an accident or does it come under vandalism. Does this make any difference to the premiums? Thank you

A vehicle on vehicle collision would normally be an "accident". If he'd got out the van with a lump hammer and reshaped your front wing for you then that would be malicious damage.

Any reason why you think it was malicious damage rather than an accident? 

If you declare malicious damage/vandalism it will go down as a fault claim. If you select accident it should then ask about blame and so would go down as a non-fault claim depending on how the case was settled. 

Why do you say "guilty"? Thats a criminal term where as insurance is a civil mater and he'd have lost or been found liable rather than guilty. Was there a criminal trial for an offence?

Mark_d

This is an accident.  Do you or the police have any evidence to treat it as vandalism?  You need to be truthful with statement to insurance companies - you can't just tell them anything to get lower premiums.

You go to places where your car gets damaged by other vehicles whilst parked.  For this reason it is right that your insurance premium should increase.

As a learning point, a lot of minor collisions happen in supermarket car parks.  Even before I sold my car, I'd walk to supermarkets for small shopping loads, and use online delivery for larger shopping loads.

77andthriving

I suppose I mean accepted liability. Not really sure as the insurance company handled it. He drove away before I returned and the only reason we and the police found him is through the independent witness and the store cctv