Car insurance claim - repair questions!

RubyShoes

I've been driving for many years, but have to make my first claim today after a nasty run in with a hidden bloody bollard at work!
Can I ask what to expect? I am fully comp, business insurance (happened when dropping off item for work). I've 15 years no claims not protected. Am I right in thinking I'll loose maybe 2 years of the no claims discount?
My main concern is around the repairs situation. I get married in just over 2 weeks and my car is vital to the proceedings (as a large 7 seater!). It needs repair to both passenger doors and the sill, and respray. What kind of time frame should I be expecting? I'm kind of leaning towards the fact it wont be ready for the wedding (or our UK family trip straight after). So I'm thinking of asking them to delay repair until after the events - just over 3 weeks. Is this allowed? My courtesy car simply won't be big enough for what we need (several large pallets to transport a few days prior. Suitcases and all our wedding attire. And on the day itself: me, in a HUGE wedding dress!). 
I can't speak to anyone until Monday, so I'd appreciate some information from people who have previously needed to claim for repairs on their own car and the process of it all. Insurance is Allianz if it helps (full cover, not essential).

pramsay13

Do you have to make a claim?
You will lose all your no claims years as you will be making a claim (you can't answer that you have 13 years no claims if you've just made a claim). The impact of the claim will depend on the value of the repairs etc.
Tine frame for repair will depend on the garage. Something like that will only take a few days, but will depend how long until they can fit you in. 
Depending on your policy you might be able to get a like for like courtesy car, but that will cost more and add to the value of the claim. 

RubyShoes

Yes, I do need to make a claim. It's significant damage. 
My partner tells me that a few years ago he wrote his car off in a single vehicle accident when he had 9 years no claims unprotected. They just took 2 years off the NCD. 
My policy isn't a like for like courtesy car looking at the documents. It's a 3 door hatchback.

daveyjp

Maximum NCB  is generally considered 5 years for claims purposes. When you claim you usually go back to 3 years NCB.  Your policy document should have a table showing effect of claims on NCB,

In reality its largely irrelevant as next year you shop around again for insurance and it may not actually increase due to the competitiveness of the car insurance matket.

Any repair is likely to take at least 2 weeks and you also need to prepare for it being written off.  If it is safe to drive waiting until after the wedding may be an option.

RubyShoes

Do you think this could be a write off? I hadn't thought so. Maybe I'm wrong. It's a 2017 Citroën c4 grand picasso. Top spec, good condition, low mileage. 

QrizB

There are cars driving around quite happily with worse bodywork damage than that. I was parked next to one outside Lidl last week!

RubyShoes

Lol! Maybe they are awaiting their repairs too 🤣.
I've accepted that maybe it might get written off, as hard as that is for me - because I truly looked after this car after being a reckless car owner for many years before and killing my cars mechanically! Now I've killed it in a different way. !!!!!!!
I am currently planning for plan A) car gets fixed. Plan B ) car gets written off and I buy it back. Plan C) car gets written off and I take the money and find a new car (I don't want to risk buying one of the same age - I don't know if other owners were as reckless as I was in the past, and I need a reliable car! This has never broken down!)

daveyjp

I would also look at plan D.  A local bodyshop and see what they will charge.  If its acceptable to the insurance company they may be willing to pay them, rather than go through their process.