help! Write off at 17! Ouch

MercilessKiller

Hi there.

I've been driving for around 5 months now and yesterday I had a big crash on the M1. 70mph collision with a land rover, and of course my little red peugout 206 came off worse. I did get the M1 closed for a bit which was amusing.

Never the less, my car looks like there is a chance to survive but it is a possible write off. Either way, I go to uni in september where I become the only driver of the car (will be 18 by then). Obviously now though the insurance will rocket and be phenomaly high!

At the moment I am the 4th driver of the car, Fully Comp, with "No claims protection" with Frizell (liverpool victoria). If we kept the same policy then nothing will change. If i move when I go to uni, it's going to rocket.

Obviously saying its the same is lieing and insurance fraud I assume. Not sure. So would this be an option? If not... What on earth am I meant to do now

flea72

4th driver of the car? - do you mean there are 4 people named on the policy

if so, then the only person on the policy who has any entitlement to the NCB is the policy holder

also, if you are taking the car with you to university, you have to declare this as the address where the car will be kept - the insurance company will then want to know why the car is not being kept at the policy holders address, who you most probably declared as the main driver, to keep premiums down?

for ease, if you are the main driver of the car, just get it insured in your own name at renewal time - yes premiums will be higher, as you are a new driver, with no NCB, and an accident to declare

Bossyboots

You have to disclose all material facts to the insurers. This includes but may not be limited to, the name of the main driver, the address at which the vehicle is kept, any accidents involving ANY driver named on the policy whether it is their fault or not and any convictions/pending summonses of ANY driver named on the policy.

Bennifred

We are with Frizzell, and have an 17yr old as a named driver on the policy. When we took this policy out, Frizzell were most insistent that the person who drove the car the most should be named as the main driver, and if this changed they must be informed. In fact they put restrictions on the 17yr old (must not drive to school or work??!!) or drive the car more than a couple of times a week, although exactly how they would verify this I don't know. What I am getting at is that the conditions are quite strict, so if you are the main driver and don't declare it, and subsequently need to make a claim you may have problems. It is better to be honest IMO even if it is initially more expensive.
I hope you weren't injured in the accident? Or anyone else, either? :eek:

MercilessKiller

Thank you for the concern Bennifred.

I've damaged my back, but no-one else was hurt or seriously injured. Except the car:
http://josh.toomuchhosting.com/car1.jpg (also car2.jpg car3,car4,car5)

Never the less, flea, the No claim protection definitely covers me as well, but only if we stick to the same policy without changes.

It will be unaffordable to pay the full premiums come september when I go to University so I am utterly worried now. 18th Bday on wednesday too! not good.

As for the car, will find out tomorrow if its written off, but it prob will be. And the value of it now isn't enough to purchase another car of its standard.

Oh how depressing *shakes fist at land rover*

zzzLazyDaisy

MercilessKiller wrote:

.

Oh how depressing *shakes fist at land rover*

Was the accident the landrover's fault? If so, your insurance premiums may not suffer as much as you expect. My Ex had an argument with a lorry that changed lanes without noticeing he was there and squashed his car against a bridge. The driver admitted fault, and although my Ex was fully comp, the insurers claimed back the full cost, including the excess, from the other driver's insurance. When it came to renewal, he declared the accident, and explained that it was not his fault and that it was settled at no cost to the company, and his premiums were not affected.

Daisy

MercilessKiller

Hey Daisy.

The landrover admitted it was his fault. But legally it was mine.

He was driving at 60 in the fast lane with me behind him.. was very busy... I was at least 2 seconds behind him, a safe gap usually.

He reacted very late to someone in front braking so he slammed his foot on the brakes. His land rover has SUper ABS or something so he went from 60 to 0 in about 2 seconds. I slammed my foot on my brakes and the wheels locked up.. smashed straight into the back of him.

He admitted that he shouldn't have broke so hard and reacted so late, but legally I hit him meaning I was too close. I was really doing everything I've ever learnt with that 2 second gap, so its shaken me up quite a bit.

Anyway, I'm prob one car down, and have no idea what I'l be doing about insurance come september.

Any help at the moment would be much appreciated.

soolin

If the Landrover (well..the driver anyway) will admit full liability you should be OK. My Punto was written off about 4 weeks ago but the other driver admitted full responsibility immediately to anyone who would listen.

I have already been paid out for the value of the car and had a hire car provided by his insurers for a week as well while my claim went through. His insurers even put me in touch with solicitors to sue their own insurance company for my injuries and all out of pocket expenses. His insurers have already made me a settlement offer for my injuries which I have declined.

I've now had a letter from my insurance company confirming that my no claims bonus will be untouched and that I have no excess to pay (That would have been the final straw!)

I've bought a new car already and have reinsured with the same insurance company that I was with for the Punto and my premiums have actually gone down.

Really what I am trying to say is, work on trying to get the other driver declared responsible for the accident, if that is the case of course. Don't do anything with your future insurance declarations that is untrue, it is is bad enough having an accident and losing your car, to have your claim refused because of a mis declaration would be awful.

Soo

MercilessKiller

The police officer told me whether he admitted liability or not didn't matter as it is in statute that I hit him so its my fault.

Apparently he had the choice to prosecute me as well, but he was kind and rejected the proposal.

I'm still very shaken by the whole thing so struggling to think clearly. The policeman didn't even take the guys insurance details, and he didnt take mine as his land rover suffered minimal damage. I have his address so may write to him and see what he says.

Thanks for the tip.

soolin

MercilessKiller wrote:

The landrover admitted it was his fault. But legally it was mine.

.

Sorry, my earlier response was posted before I saw this post.

As you say legally the accident was your fault so you will have your claim reduced by the excess charge on the policy and may well also be penalised for costs associated with the damage to the land rover. How high is your excess? When we got a 'what if' quote for my 17 year old son a few months back we were quoted a standard excess of £500...eek, they only paid out just over 2k on my 5 year old car anyway.

Soo

owey

If the police were involved and you get points on your licence, I think if you get six points or more "for new drivers" you lose your licence?. Even though the other driver has admitted to you he was at fault he could always change his mind unless he told the police as well?. Once you make a statement to the police they can do you for careless driving. Its not worth making a statement unless the other driver admits it to the police first, otherwise they will decide who is at fault.