Should I claim ?

Will123321

Hi. Today at work a lorry driver have reversed into my car and caused damages. I have contacted my insurance and reported it. And they said that they won’t be able to repair and the car is too old and too many miles.

I was thinking to get money when they will evaluate and fix it. But then now I worry because I have reported, my premium will go up even if it’s a claim at no fault.

what’s the best thing to do in this situation?

update: my insurance runs out this month and I will need to renew it with different company to get it cheaper.

Mark_d

You have to report the accident regardless of fault and regardless of whether or not you want to claim.

You could potentially take the payout, buy the damaged car back from the insurer, and get the car repaired cheaply if you're able to do so.

Personally I would take the opportunity to get a slightly newer/better car.  For me that would be something roughly 5 years old.

Brie

What they likely mean is that it is not economical to repair the car to top standard given the age.  Now if you were to get someone qualified to advise you what the actual damage is (structural or merely cosmetic) then you would know whether or not you want to keep the car.

If they offer you a price that isn't sufficient to replace the car then you should try to negotiate.  Check autotrader and similar to find the same car, make, model, year, miles, condition, that you have and tell them that's the price you want for your car.  Likely they will have offered you much less.  And actually strictly speaking it is the lorry driver's insurance that should be paying for this not yours.  But your insurer should be helping you with sorting it out.

Once you have a price agreed then you can discuss whether or not you will be keeping the car.  

Possibly this will take a couple of weeks so it's unlikely that a cheap insurance renewal will be possible until it's resolved.

Will123321

Mark_d said:

You have to report the accident regardless of fault and regardless of whether or not you want to claim.

You could potentially take the payout, buy the damaged car back from the insurer, and get the car repaired cheaply if you're able to do so.

Personally I would take the opportunity to get a slightly newer/better car.  For me that would be something roughly 5 years old.

The car is 59 plate, and 145k miles. Yes, it’s a cosmetic damage, the headlight I can change it myself.

The insurance company offered me to evaluate the car and get a payout. And I’m thinking to keep the car and repair it myself what I can and keep it till it dies. 

But I am worried if I go down this route, my premium will increase.

What you’ll advise ? 

Will123321

Brie said:

What they likely mean is that it is not economical to repair the car to top standard given the age.  Now if you were to get someone qualified to advise you what the actual damage is (structural or merely cosmetic) then you would know whether or not you want to keep the car.

If they offer you a price that isn't sufficient to replace the car then you should try to negotiate.  Check autotrader and similar to find the same car, make, model, year, miles, condition, that you have and tell them that's the price you want for your car.  Likely they will have offered you much less.  And actually strictly speaking it is the lorry driver's insurance that should be paying for this not yours.  But your insurer should be helping you with sorting it out.

Once you have a price agreed then you can discuss whether or not you will be keeping the car.  

Possibly this will take a couple of weeks so it's unlikely that a cheap insurance renewal will be possible until it's resolved.

Not sure how much I’ll get for a Corsa that has 145k miles on board 😅. But yes is the lorry driver faults, even has cctv evidence.

I'm worried that my premium will go up, even if it’s not my fault.