Is this fair - E55 hit by another car, I get a Micra??
Discussion
When we had a bump in our Sharan the accident management company told us they would get us a car, I said I only needed something small so a focus size would be fine (they didn't have any MPV's available), they said they weren't allowed to go down a class only up so ended up with a Tiguan.
Being used to getting focus ish size hire cars through work I was expecting about £50 a day maximum, in the end I saw the bill that went to the third party and it was something daft like £180 a day, and we had it for 2 weeks. I was horrified.
I noticed on my car insurance this year that I had the option to tick a box for a courtesy car plus to give a bigger car instead of a small car in the event of a bump, I declined...
Being used to getting focus ish size hire cars through work I was expecting about £50 a day maximum, in the end I saw the bill that went to the third party and it was something daft like £180 a day, and we had it for 2 weeks. I was horrified.
I noticed on my car insurance this year that I had the option to tick a box for a courtesy car plus to give a bigger car instead of a small car in the event of a bump, I declined...
It depends what someone's interpretation of like for like is. Performance? Size? Status? I think I paid an extra £15 or something for the 'better' courtesy car option on my insurance as a 1.0 Micra isn't fit for purpose given how little you can fit in it relative to the WRX (which can itself be too small on occasion). I do not expect nor need an equivelant power of car and therefore would be quite happy with a focus/mondeo etc. Similarly, if I had the 330 I was looking at a while back I would be quite happy with the same options. I wouldn't feel that the insurer needed to pay for a 3 series premium rental just because my car was a BMW.
Going from an E55 to a 1.0 Micra is somewhat taking the piss, even if it is in the contract (one would suggest reading the fineprint more carefully in future)!
Going from an E55 to a 1.0 Micra is somewhat taking the piss, even if it is in the contract (one would suggest reading the fineprint more carefully in future)!
You should have accepted a moped and been grateful!
If the claim is dragging on, it's unreasonable to leave the innocent party with a vehicle that isn't fit for purpose. If you are claiming on your own insurance for your own error, you get whatever you are contractually entitled to. In this case he's suffering the inconvenience of a car which doesn't meet his needs because of someone else's mistake. I've no truck with the idea that one should get a car of similar status to the one off the road, but similar utility is not unreasonable. We have a large estate car because we need it. I'd be a bit pissed off if we had a holiday away with our (large) dog and a load of fishing gear and a Micra courtesy car to do it in.
If the claim is dragging on, it's unreasonable to leave the innocent party with a vehicle that isn't fit for purpose. If you are claiming on your own insurance for your own error, you get whatever you are contractually entitled to. In this case he's suffering the inconvenience of a car which doesn't meet his needs because of someone else's mistake. I've no truck with the idea that one should get a car of similar status to the one off the road, but similar utility is not unreasonable. We have a large estate car because we need it. I'd be a bit pissed off if we had a holiday away with our (large) dog and a load of fishing gear and a Micra courtesy car to do it in.
When someone ran into the back of my E92 I insisted I be given something comparable (A4/5, 3 series, C Class).
They initially said it would be an Insignia estate but I declined and they supplied me with a F series 520d (not perfect but decent comfortable). Had it for two weeks while they repaired my car.
It was a non-fault accident so I don't see why I should be put out for someone else's careless driving.
I know I will be stoned to death for this comment. By both the German car "badge snobbery" hate lobby and the people who believe I should make do with a cheap car to somehow lower their insurance premiums.
If the same happens again I will insist on similar replacement car. Which I suppose would be a Z4/TT/Boxster.
They initially said it would be an Insignia estate but I declined and they supplied me with a F series 520d (not perfect but decent comfortable). Had it for two weeks while they repaired my car.
It was a non-fault accident so I don't see why I should be put out for someone else's careless driving.
I know I will be stoned to death for this comment. By both the German car "badge snobbery" hate lobby and the people who believe I should make do with a cheap car to somehow lower their insurance premiums.
If the same happens again I will insist on similar replacement car. Which I suppose would be a Z4/TT/Boxster.
Edited by CarAbuser on Thursday 18th September 10:31
neil1jnr said:
Should have read the T's & C's of your insurance cover before accepting rather than reading them later and posting a rant on here.
His own Ts & Cs are not important if he is claiming off someone else's policy (even if the other person is with the same insurer.) The OP is a third party to the responsible persons policy and should be getting a like for like or close to, as a replacement. As a few others have said, your problem/mistake was accepting the Micra from the start. It's likely you'd have been offered a more suitable car had you stated a Micra was not suitable to act as the family lugger.
The other problem is you've left it 3 weeks now to decide you don't like the car and it isn't fit for use, had you called them a day or two after getting the Micra to say it doesn't fit the family needs you'd have got something suitable. The insurance company will likely see you as just being bored with the Micra and wanting something else to cruise about in for the next week.
Having used admiral (regrettably) a few times, there has always been the upgrade option on the hire car it's something like £25. had you ticked the upgrade option you'd be entitled to a car of similar size, as stated here -
As everyone else is rubbing it in that they had better/similar cars supplied during their claims, I'll ad mine too.
a few years back the mrs' car, a 1.3 KA, got rear ended by a dozy bint applying make-up instead of the brake peddle. woman admitted fault there and then, the car was still drivable as no major damage was visible (plastic bumpers hid the most of it, and the boot was hard to open) so they told her they would arrange for a hire car to be delivered to her at work and her car collected. flat bed turns up with a brand new Mini Cooper S on the back with a full tank of fuel and just 6k on the clock!
She had that car for 2 weeks and spent more on fuel for it during that time than she spent in 2 month of the KA. (she got addicted to the turbo
) on dropping the car back she was handed a reclaims form for the costs incurred during the hire period, so also ended up getting all the fuel costs back.
Her father at that same period needed work on his 3 year old top spec Accord. the hire car he got was a 1.2 Jazz. he kicked up a fuss (as he's a bit of a knob and thinks he's posh but isn't) but got no better car as he'd opted for the basic cover which included a basic hire car. He only uses his car maybe twice a week, but didn't want the granddaddy wagon sitting on his drive instead of his 'fancy car'
The other problem is you've left it 3 weeks now to decide you don't like the car and it isn't fit for use, had you called them a day or two after getting the Micra to say it doesn't fit the family needs you'd have got something suitable. The insurance company will likely see you as just being bored with the Micra and wanting something else to cruise about in for the next week.
turboteeth said:
My policy says clearly any hire car will not be equivalent, but somehow this just does not seem fair...??
why is it not fair? you accepted this by agreeing to the policy.Having used admiral (regrettably) a few times, there has always been the upgrade option on the hire car it's something like £25. had you ticked the upgrade option you'd be entitled to a car of similar size, as stated here -
Admiral Website said:
Choice of benefits
Adding our Hire Car upgrade to your Admiral policy gives you peace of mind and the convenience of a hire car for up to three weeks. This will be similar in size to your insured car, up to a maximum 2.2litre engine and 7 seats. We'll help keep you mobile while we go to work on your claim. Or if you think you can manage without your car, you can choose £200 cash instead to cover your own travel expenses (or anything else you like!)
As Admiral are footing the bill for repair and costs they are going to do things as cheaply to you as possible as they cant send a fat invoice to the at fault party.Adding our Hire Car upgrade to your Admiral policy gives you peace of mind and the convenience of a hire car for up to three weeks. This will be similar in size to your insured car, up to a maximum 2.2litre engine and 7 seats. We'll help keep you mobile while we go to work on your claim. Or if you think you can manage without your car, you can choose £200 cash instead to cover your own travel expenses (or anything else you like!)
As everyone else is rubbing it in that they had better/similar cars supplied during their claims, I'll ad mine too.
a few years back the mrs' car, a 1.3 KA, got rear ended by a dozy bint applying make-up instead of the brake peddle. woman admitted fault there and then, the car was still drivable as no major damage was visible (plastic bumpers hid the most of it, and the boot was hard to open) so they told her they would arrange for a hire car to be delivered to her at work and her car collected. flat bed turns up with a brand new Mini Cooper S on the back with a full tank of fuel and just 6k on the clock!
She had that car for 2 weeks and spent more on fuel for it during that time than she spent in 2 month of the KA. (she got addicted to the turbo
) on dropping the car back she was handed a reclaims form for the costs incurred during the hire period, so also ended up getting all the fuel costs back.Her father at that same period needed work on his 3 year old top spec Accord. the hire car he got was a 1.2 Jazz. he kicked up a fuss (as he's a bit of a knob and thinks he's posh but isn't) but got no better car as he'd opted for the basic cover which included a basic hire car. He only uses his car maybe twice a week, but didn't want the granddaddy wagon sitting on his drive instead of his 'fancy car'
Thanks for the replies - some interesting views!!
I agree to some extent it is a first world problem and I really would have been OK with a Micra for a week or 10 days but the body shop have made 2 mistakes which have delayed the repair - I was due to collect my car today but they have only just ordered a bumper, 3 weeks after they should have and I bet it will be another 2 weeks till I am back in the Merc.
Anyway, I am accepting a Pug 208 in a few hours so I'm sure that will be better.
Admiral are a cheap insurer and that's why I accepted the quote but I will certainly add hire car cover next time round.
I agree to some extent it is a first world problem and I really would have been OK with a Micra for a week or 10 days but the body shop have made 2 mistakes which have delayed the repair - I was due to collect my car today but they have only just ordered a bumper, 3 weeks after they should have and I bet it will be another 2 weeks till I am back in the Merc.
Anyway, I am accepting a Pug 208 in a few hours so I'm sure that will be better.
Admiral are a cheap insurer and that's why I accepted the quote but I will certainly add hire car cover next time round.
Tuvra said:
Absolutely not.
I fought tooth and nail for 2 days refusing a 1.6 basic Focus to replace a fully loaded Focus ST3, in the end they conceded defeat and loaned me a GT86
Company: Admiral
Out of interest, why? Another Focus is equivalent in size (well it's the same body!) of an ST so you couldn't argue it wasn't fit for purpose. How long did you have the courtesy car for?I fought tooth and nail for 2 days refusing a 1.6 basic Focus to replace a fully loaded Focus ST3, in the end they conceded defeat and loaned me a GT86
Company: Admiral
Glad to see you're happy (ish) op.
if it's any condolence I crashed my car in December, removed it from the insurers recommended bodyshop and put it into the manufacturers approved repaired. This void my rights to a replacement vehicle. The car is still being repaired due to spares availability.
if it's any condolence I crashed my car in December, removed it from the insurers recommended bodyshop and put it into the manufacturers approved repaired. This void my rights to a replacement vehicle. The car is still being repaired due to spares availability.
And people still wonder why the cost of claims and premiums can be so high.
Isn't the point of a courtesy car simply a means of you being able to continue to travel not strictly to provide you with a brand new car to swan around in.
If you want something bigger and better you should be given the option to pay extra for it. Then double check that when you renew your insurance you pick an insurer who will definitely offer you a like for like replacement but don't be surprised if it's not the cheapest premium.
Isn't the point of a courtesy car simply a means of you being able to continue to travel not strictly to provide you with a brand new car to swan around in.
If you want something bigger and better you should be given the option to pay extra for it. Then double check that when you renew your insurance you pick an insurer who will definitely offer you a like for like replacement but don't be surprised if it's not the cheapest premium.
CarAbuser said:
When someone ran into the back of my E92 I insisted I be given something comparable (A4/5, 3 series, C Class).
They initially said it would be an Insignia estate but I declined and they supplied me with a F series 520d (not perfect but decent comfortable). Had it for two weeks while they repaired my car.
It was a non-fault accident so I don't see why I should be put out for someone else's careless driving.
I know I will be stoned to death for this comment. By both the German car "badge snobbery" hate lobby and the people who believe I should make do with a cheap car to somehow lower their insurance premiums.
If the same happens again I will insist on similar replacement car. Which I suppose would be a Z4/TT/Boxster.
You should change your name to Insurance abuser..They initially said it would be an Insignia estate but I declined and they supplied me with a F series 520d (not perfect but decent comfortable). Had it for two weeks while they repaired my car.
It was a non-fault accident so I don't see why I should be put out for someone else's careless driving.
I know I will be stoned to death for this comment. By both the German car "badge snobbery" hate lobby and the people who believe I should make do with a cheap car to somehow lower their insurance premiums.
If the same happens again I will insist on similar replacement car. Which I suppose would be a Z4/TT/Boxster.
What's wrong with an Insignia estate?
Perfectly good car for a few weeks.
Badge snob.
If they were offering you a Trabant I could understand it...
Tuvra said:
Triumph Man said:
Out of interest, why? Another Focus is equivalent in size (well it's the same body!) of an ST so you couldn't argue it wasn't fit for purpose. How long did you have the courtesy car for?
3 Weeks.Why should I get given a lesser car through no fault of my own?
Edited by aka_kerrly on Thursday 18th September 14:11
Tuvra said:
3 Weeks.
Why should I get given a lesser car through no fault of my own?
Because it fulfils the job you require of it, given that it's the same size car as you had before. Unless you require an ST for rallying or something, there is no loss associated with you driving a base-model car that does 0-60 in about 2 weeks.Why should I get given a lesser car through no fault of my own?
The insurance company's job is to restore you to the position you were in before the accident, i.e. repair your car, plus avoid running up extra losses to you (loss of earnings because you can't get to work, hire car costs if you had a V70 and needed to pick up a fridge, whatever).
That doesn't include kissing your arse while it does so.
There is no loss, and no need for them to compensate you for, the temporary use of a base model car while yours is repaired.
Been involved in 2 accidents where the 3rd party has accepted all Fault, both times I got like for like.
Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Coupe - Audi A5 3.0 TDI Sportback (which I wrote off after 8 miles!)
Merc SLK 320 - Audi TT 3.2 V6.
Wouldn't have accepted anything that wasn't fit for purpose.
Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Coupe - Audi A5 3.0 TDI Sportback (which I wrote off after 8 miles!)
Merc SLK 320 - Audi TT 3.2 V6.
Wouldn't have accepted anything that wasn't fit for purpose.
Edited by Sy1441 on Thursday 18th September 14:09
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