insurance query - both my cars crashed into each other
Discussion
Slight dilemna here and I'm wondering if anyone has any idea how an insurer would deal with it.
My wife has backed one of my cars (Golf 7R) into the other (F10 M5). This took place on my own driveway ("didn't see it") and was at sufficient speed to cause visible damage to both cars - tailgate and rear bumper on the Golf will both need replacing, and if nothing else, bumper, diffuser and nearside exhaust trims will need replacing on the M5.
Both cars are insured comprehensively by me, by the same insurer; she is a named driver on the Golf policy. I have something like 14 years protected NCB on the M5 policy and none on the Golf, with no claims history whatsoever.
I'm inclined to have both repaired without involving insurance but I'm also conscious that if there is any more than cosmetic damage to either car I could be in for thousands.
If I go to the insurance company what I'm left wondering is whether I would end up claiming on one policy or both, and whether this would ultimately screw up my clean history and result in years of heavily increased premiums.
My wife has backed one of my cars (Golf 7R) into the other (F10 M5). This took place on my own driveway ("didn't see it") and was at sufficient speed to cause visible damage to both cars - tailgate and rear bumper on the Golf will both need replacing, and if nothing else, bumper, diffuser and nearside exhaust trims will need replacing on the M5.
Both cars are insured comprehensively by me, by the same insurer; she is a named driver on the Golf policy. I have something like 14 years protected NCB on the M5 policy and none on the Golf, with no claims history whatsoever.
I'm inclined to have both repaired without involving insurance but I'm also conscious that if there is any more than cosmetic damage to either car I could be in for thousands.
If I go to the insurance company what I'm left wondering is whether I would end up claiming on one policy or both, and whether this would ultimately screw up my clean history and result in years of heavily increased premiums.
theboss said:
Slight dilemna here and I'm wondering if anyone has any idea how an insurer would deal with it.
My wife has backed one of my cars (Golf 7R) into the other (F10 M5). This took place on my own driveway ("didn't see it") and was at sufficient speed to cause visible damage to both cars - tailgate and rear bumper on the Golf will both need replacing, and if nothing else, bumper, diffuser and nearside exhaust trims will need replacing on the M5.
Both cars are insured comprehensively by me, by the same insurer; she is a named driver on the Golf policy. I have something like 14 years protected NCB on the M5 policy and none on the Golf, with no claims history whatsoever.
I'm inclined to have both repaired without involving insurance but I'm also conscious that if there is any more than cosmetic damage to either car I could be in for thousands.
If I go to the insurance company what I'm left wondering is whether I would end up claiming on one policy or both, and whether this would ultimately screw up my clean history and result in years of heavily increased premiums.
Basically, just the same as if she'd hit somebody else's parked car, and just the same as if somebody else'd hit your parked car.My wife has backed one of my cars (Golf 7R) into the other (F10 M5). This took place on my own driveway ("didn't see it") and was at sufficient speed to cause visible damage to both cars - tailgate and rear bumper on the Golf will both need replacing, and if nothing else, bumper, diffuser and nearside exhaust trims will need replacing on the M5.
Both cars are insured comprehensively by me, by the same insurer; she is a named driver on the Golf policy. I have something like 14 years protected NCB on the M5 policy and none on the Golf, with no claims history whatsoever.
I'm inclined to have both repaired without involving insurance but I'm also conscious that if there is any more than cosmetic damage to either car I could be in for thousands.
If I go to the insurance company what I'm left wondering is whether I would end up claiming on one policy or both, and whether this would ultimately screw up my clean history and result in years of heavily increased premiums.
So for her reversing into a parked car...
She was driving the Golf, so you'd claim from the Golf insurance, who'd pay for both.
You'd lose the NCB from the Golf policy, if there was any.
You'd have to declare an at-fault claim for your wife for the next five years.
You'd pay the Golf policy's excess.
And for the BMW being reversed into...
You'd lose no NCB from the BMW policy, because you aren't claiming.
You'd have to declare a not-at-fault for you for the next five years.
Yes, it's going to be a bit of a premium hike... But, of course, you'd have to declare the incident whether there was a claim or not, right? I mean, they do explicitly ask that, and you wouldn't lie to reduce your premium, would you?
TooMany2cvs said:
And for the BMW being reversed into...
You'd lose no NCB from the BMW policy, because you aren't claiming.
You'd have to declare a not-at-fault for you for the next five years.
If someone reversed into my parked BMW, might I phone up my insurance company and make a claim? And unless my NCB was protected, I would be liable to lose some of it.You'd lose no NCB from the BMW policy, because you aren't claiming.
You'd have to declare a not-at-fault for you for the next five years.
TooMany2cvs said:
theboss said:
Slight dilemna here and I'm wondering if anyone has any idea how an insurer would deal with it.
My wife has backed one of my cars (Golf 7R) into the other (F10 M5). This took place on my own driveway ("didn't see it") and was at sufficient speed to cause visible damage to both cars - tailgate and rear bumper on the Golf will both need replacing, and if nothing else, bumper, diffuser and nearside exhaust trims will need replacing on the M5.
Both cars are insured comprehensively by me, by the same insurer; she is a named driver on the Golf policy. I have something like 14 years protected NCB on the M5 policy and none on the Golf, with no claims history whatsoever.
I'm inclined to have both repaired without involving insurance but I'm also conscious that if there is any more than cosmetic damage to either car I could be in for thousands.
If I go to the insurance company what I'm left wondering is whether I would end up claiming on one policy or both, and whether this would ultimately screw up my clean history and result in years of heavily increased premiums.
Basically, just the same as if she'd hit somebody else's parked car, and just the same as if somebody else'd hit your parked car.My wife has backed one of my cars (Golf 7R) into the other (F10 M5). This took place on my own driveway ("didn't see it") and was at sufficient speed to cause visible damage to both cars - tailgate and rear bumper on the Golf will both need replacing, and if nothing else, bumper, diffuser and nearside exhaust trims will need replacing on the M5.
Both cars are insured comprehensively by me, by the same insurer; she is a named driver on the Golf policy. I have something like 14 years protected NCB on the M5 policy and none on the Golf, with no claims history whatsoever.
I'm inclined to have both repaired without involving insurance but I'm also conscious that if there is any more than cosmetic damage to either car I could be in for thousands.
If I go to the insurance company what I'm left wondering is whether I would end up claiming on one policy or both, and whether this would ultimately screw up my clean history and result in years of heavily increased premiums.
So for her reversing into a parked car...
She was driving the Golf, so you'd claim from the Golf insurance, who'd pay for both.
You'd lose the NCB from the Golf policy, if there was any.
You'd have to declare an at-fault claim for your wife for the next five years.
You'd pay the Golf policy's excess.
And for the BMW being reversed into...
You'd lose no NCB from the BMW policy, because you aren't claiming.
You'd have to declare a not-at-fault for you for the next five years.
Yes, it's going to be a bit of a premium hike... But, of course, you'd have to declare the incident whether there was a claim or not, right? I mean, they do explicitly ask that, and you wouldn't lie to reduce your premium, would you?
I wonder when they bring up the statistics of men drivers being worse for claims etc, do they take into account the number of women driving as a named driver on thier partners insurance??? Be interesting to see the corrected figures - especially as the "female parking knock" seems to be rediculously common these days.
BertBert said:
TooMany2cvs said:
And for the BMW being reversed into...
You'd lose no NCB from the BMW policy, because you aren't claiming.
You'd have to declare a not-at-fault for you for the next five years.
If someone reversed into my parked BMW, might I phone up my insurance company and make a claim? And unless my NCB was protected, I would be liable to lose some of it.You'd lose no NCB from the BMW policy, because you aren't claiming.
You'd have to declare a not-at-fault for you for the next five years.
I don't care about the wife's insurance record because we've separated - I've allowed her to continue using the car until the lease ends in 6 months time. In the future she will have to insure herself.
I've had the Golf assessed by a VW franchised bodyshop so am awaiting a quote - will do the same with the M5 tomorrow.
I've had the Golf assessed by a VW franchised bodyshop so am awaiting a quote - will do the same with the M5 tomorrow.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
She may have been vile as per my other thread, which I appreciate is overdue an update, but right now we're working amicably around the kids, I have helped her get setup in a new home on her own (her new relationship failed) and am letting her use the car to run the kids around seeing as I have little need for it... she doesn't stand to gain much by putting both vehicles off the road and causing me financial stress when she is heavily dependent on me... and was all shaken up and in floods of tears after it happened. I do believe it was an accident.Green1man said:
I'd have though you would be better off saying it was you driving the BMW, that way it goes on BMW policy that has protected NC wife's record is unaffected. Of course that would not be a fair representation of what happened so you shouldn't do it.
Apart from the general principle about not lying for financial gain, that sounds rather self-defeating. The OP can't claim against himself as a third party for damage to his own property. So if he was driving the BMW and to blame for the accident he would have to claim for the damage to his BMW on the BMW policy and the damage to the Golf on the Golf policy - two claims, two excesses, the worst of all worlds.theboss said:
... I have helped her get setup in a new home on her own (her new relationship failed) and am letting her use the car to run the kids around seeing as I have little need for it...
You said she was a named driver - is she the main user of that car, and does the insurance company know about change of address where car is kept?I'm also wondering if being separated might be an issue, but I don't recall every seeing that noted as an option, although it would be obvious if the addresses were different.
Might need to be careful what you say if you do make a claim. Not suggesting lying, but don't tell 'em things they don't ask!
I have a friend who did similar.
He was the insured on 2 cars withe wife as named driver on both.
One car was on axle stands in the garage, with garage door up. The other was on the drive. The one on the drive he put into drive as opposed to reverse by mistake. Car on drive ended up under car in garage.
He rang insurance company to claim. Insurance company basically said, if he was driving which car did he want to claim for. If his wife was driving he could claim for both. Something about he could not claim as 1st & 3rd party, but if his wife was driving there was a clear 1st & 3rd party.
He was the insured on 2 cars withe wife as named driver on both.
One car was on axle stands in the garage, with garage door up. The other was on the drive. The one on the drive he put into drive as opposed to reverse by mistake. Car on drive ended up under car in garage.
He rang insurance company to claim. Insurance company basically said, if he was driving which car did he want to claim for. If his wife was driving he could claim for both. Something about he could not claim as 1st & 3rd party, but if his wife was driving there was a clear 1st & 3rd party.
The ex was driving and is at fault for the accident. You claim on the policy on which she is named driver. That insurance company pays for repairs to both cars as it would in any other 2 car accident. The NCB is lost on that policy if not protected. The other policy is unaffected though you may have to declare a non fault accident on renewal.
Repairs may be North of 2K if you pay for it yourself against whatever the excess is on the ex's policy.
Repairs may be North of 2K if you pay for it yourself against whatever the excess is on the ex's policy.
I've already had a quote of £2.3k for the Golf - replacement bumper and tailgate from a franchised bodyshop. The car is being returned to VWFSat the end of the lease in 6 months time and I don't want it to come back and bite me in any way so I will probably go with this. The M5 will be more probably.
Excesses on both policies are high from what I recall, and I'm paying about £1k/year for the M5 which will undoubtedly go up. Afer June I'll probably just stick to one car / one policy.
So as suspected its going to come down to taking a £5k hit and trying to forget it ever happened, vs phoning the insurer, arse cheeks clenched, and hoping for the best. I think I'd be paying £500-750 excess and at least another £500/year for the next 5 years, more if I keep running two cars... but critically the position would be unclear - what if I do have to pay two excesses or what if my future insurance costs double? Its painful but I am leaning towards just bending over and repairing.
Excesses on both policies are high from what I recall, and I'm paying about £1k/year for the M5 which will undoubtedly go up. Afer June I'll probably just stick to one car / one policy.
So as suspected its going to come down to taking a £5k hit and trying to forget it ever happened, vs phoning the insurer, arse cheeks clenched, and hoping for the best. I think I'd be paying £500-750 excess and at least another £500/year for the next 5 years, more if I keep running two cars... but critically the position would be unclear - what if I do have to pay two excesses or what if my future insurance costs double? Its painful but I am leaning towards just bending over and repairing.
theboss said:
So as suspected its going to come down to taking a £5k hit and trying to forget it ever happened, vs phoning the insurer, arse cheeks clenched, and hoping for the best. I think I'd be paying £500-750 excess and at least another £500/year for the next 5 years...
So that's about £3k that way, vs £5k cash hit.I doubt it'll make £500 difference to your policy for being not-at-fault hit while parked. It'll make a difference (for me, a few years ago, it was more than 2 x 3pt photos), sure, but nowhere near that much.
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