How to optimally describe/catagorise car hire incident when renewing regular car insurance?

nnnn420

Hello,

I'm renewing my car insurance and want to make sure I declare a previous incident in the most correct but optimal way.

I caused damage (scratch, knocked off some trim) to a hire car a year ago, no third party involvement. I paid the CDW and claimed the money back through a third party excess insurance.

Using MSE's car insurance tool, what would be the best way to categorise this sort of incident? I think my options are Accident - at fault, accident - not at fault or other. Although causing the damage to the rental car was certainly my fault, I'm not 100% sure it fits the legal definition this question is asking, and I can only assume would have the largest impact if selected on premiums, so I'm inclined to choose 'other'.

Does anyone have previous experience with a similar accident and what they declared or advice from being in the field?

Thanks

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6669343/how-to-optimally-describe-catagorise-car-hire-incident-when-renewing-regular-car-insurance

Did you intentionally damage?

Who do you think the insurer/hire car company could have recovered their outlay from? Do you think there's a lamppost out there that caused the accident?

It's an accident, hopefully, and you were at fault. The only question can be around if its "settled" or if there was a claim or not but those arent questions you are asking for guidance on.

nnnn420

Accidental damage, scraped the side on a bollard. I understand in general terms that it was an accident I was at fault for, I'm just cautious about whether that would be the legal definition in this case and don't want to cost myself extra money if I could legally not.

I would assume from the hire companies perspective it's settled since I paid their fee in full. I made a claim on my third party excess waiver insurance to recuperate the loss.

GrumpyDil

In terms of the insurance companies perspective it is an accident and unless someone else was to blame it is an at fault accident.

nnnn420

Thanks chaps. Pulled the trigger and it was only about a ton more a year, no diff other or at fault.

A reasonable price for being a bit of a silly !!!!!! i reckon.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82007604#Comment_82007604

Was it your bollard? If not then technically there is a third party; street furniture can be very expensive to repair.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82007617#Comment_82007617

Traditionally blame had little to do with it but instead if the insurer was able to recover their outlay which goes beyond simply if someone else was to blame or not… the hit and run against a parked and unattended vehicle by your definition would be non-fault but unless the driver/vehicle is identified and the insurer can get their money back from them or their insurers then its a fault claim.

Over the years some insurers have introduced "promises" like Direct Line's vandalism promise, but sometimes you need to read the small print as some will say they won't count it as a fault claim whereas others may say it won't impact your NCD etc which are not the identical things

Penelopa.Pitstop

Does excess insurance company report to insurance database? I would never declare claim from car hire to the car insurance company, unless it was main insurance company that paid, like having cover for courtesy car or similar.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82008218#Comment_82008218

CUE predominately holds Motor and Home data but has some other injury claims and some Travel in there too.

Presumably you arent going to suggest committing fraud just because it's unlikely the claim isnt recorded in CUE?

Most the fraudulent cases I caught was simply that the person had forgotten they had committed fraud and openly admitted to having had another incident or such during our conversation rather than finding something in CUE

Penelopa.Pitstop

If I had to inform my main car insurance about incidents when rental company claimed windscreen was damaged during my rental (I don't agree with it), or I'm intentionally scammed by rental company, then my car insurance would always suffer.