Had a very small bump but don't want to lose no claims.

JDMYOFAN

Hi all,

I had a very small incident over the weekend, of which I am probably liable for.

Basically I clipped ford KA with my citroen saxo. My saxo is absolutely fine, no damage whatsoever, the KA has a scratch on the bumper and will need a new hub cap.

I don't see the point going through insurance and losing my no claims bonus. Being a young driver, these are like goldust to me. The family of the car I clipped have said that it's fine not to go through insurance etc, I'm just concerned I'll be taken for a ride.

I showed the photos to a friend of mine who works for ford, who can get me a new bumper and hub cap fitted for under £100, which I'm happy with.

However, It's likely I'll be taken for a ride and quoted £Godknowswhat to fix such a minor issue as I was told on the phone by her brother "probably around £400-600 for it to be painted etc" (event hough it's plastic, not painted). There is the possibiity more damage was done, but from the checks I did it was purely bodywork.

I've heard there is a way to go through your isnurance company, but pay the insurance company back the cost over your policy, and you won't lose the no claims. Can anyone vouch for this, and if so, anyone who uses Bell insurance?

If not, is there a way this can legally be settled (with a contract) so it doesn't go any further than what I get repaired? I.e, six months later I'm told the wishbone is knackered which could have been a result of them hitting a curb and blaming me

Thanks

Conor_3

Actually you'll still lose the NCB because you've had an accident and regardless of whether you pay for it or not, you would have to inform anyone you get a quote from that you've had an accident as to not do so is to make false statement and is technically fraud although I doubt that bothers many people.

You cannot settle it with a contract and they can claim up to 3 years after the event. That's why you have insurance. Also you're supposed to inform the police within 7 days as well.

JDMYOFAN

So I guess i had might as well see if they're happy for me to repplace a panel and hub cap, and if anything else, play it safe by going through insurance..

What if the police aren't informed?

vikingaero

nj106 wrote: »

What if the police aren't informed?

Nothing. You've both exchanged details so they won't be interested.

Most of the newer Ford Ka's have the rear wing/bumper that is painted. It looks and feels like plastic but it Ford will only supply a black unpainted part and a bodyshop will have to prime, paint and fit it.

lindens

You only need to inform the police if there were injuries

Keith

Conor wrote: »

Actually you'll still lose the NCB because you've had an accident and regardless of whether you pay for it or not, you would have to inform anyone you get a quote from that you've had an accident as to not do so is to make false statement and is technically fraud although I doubt that bothers many people.

You cannot settle it with a contract and they can claim up to 3 years after the event. That's why you have insurance. Also you're supposed to inform the police within 7 days as well.

As I understand it, if he approachs the other party and settles their losses, and the insurance company does not pay out anything then he will maintain his NCB. The NCB is only lost when a claim is made against the insurance company and it can not reclaim the money it pays out.

If he compensates the other party and technically informs the insurance company that he had a bump now, then as far as they are concerned he will get another years NCB at the end of the policy, however, he'd then have to mention it for the next 5 years, and have his policy loaded for having a fault accident

As above, the bumpers are plastic to start with and then need to be prepped, sprayed, dried and then the old bumper removed and the new one fitted.

The orignal and now the base model KA came without body coloured bumpers as standard as they are expected to be rubbed during it's use as a city car

raskazz

Conor wrote: »

Actually you'll still lose the NCB because you've had an accident and regardless of whether you pay for it or not, you would have to inform anyone you get a quote from that you've had an accident as to not do so is to make false statement and is technically fraud although I doubt that bothers many people.

You cannot settle it with a contract and they can claim up to 3 years after the event. That's why you have insurance. Also you're supposed to inform the police within 7 days as well.

This is incorrect. The OP will only lose his NCD if the insurer has to settle with the third party and cannot recover its outlay.

Usually if you let your insurer deal with settlement then they will let you retain your NCD as long as you reimburse them their net cost of dealing with the claim - i.e. they will recover their outlay from you.

So the OP should check with hisr insurer to see if they would allow this.

LandyAndy

Conor wrote: »

Actually you'll still lose the NCB because you've had an accident Wrong.and regardless of whether you pay for it or not , you would have to inform anyone you get a quote from that you've had an accident as to not do so is to make false statement and is technically fraud although I doubt that bothers many people.

You cannot settle it with a contract and they can claim up to 3 years after the event. That's why you have insurance. Also you're supposed to inform the police within 7 days as well wrong.

NCB is what it says, a No Claim Bonus, if you don't make a claim you don't lose it. You should report the accident on a future proposal form but note that no claim was made. You don't have to report an accident to the police if there is no personal injury.

I think you should inform your insurers that there has been an incident but that you don't intend to make a claim at this stage.

JDMYOFAN

The orignal and now the base model KA came without body coloured bumpers as standard as they are expected to be rubbed during it's use as a city car

The KA I hit had unpainted bumpers.

[Deleted User]

Hi nj106
I spoke to the underwriters here at NU (I can't make comment about any other insurer, this is just as a guide as to how we would work) you should inform them of the incident, and that you don't intend to claim, it would then be put down as such and you should not be penalised. hope this helps.
Becca

JDMYOFAN

Hi Becca, thanks for the reply and taking the time to ask..

The problem is, I'm probably the one at fault here.. I don't intend to claim as my damage is minimal and I can get replacement parts cheap! Need I still inform my insurance company of the incident, even though the other party may not inform their insurance company and we settle outside?

Do NU provide the solution mentioned above, where if a claim is made against me of which I lose the case, as long as I pay the full amount to my insurance provider, I do not lose my no claims?

Thanks