insurance query - both my cars crashed into each other

[theboss]

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.

[theboss]

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.

[theboss]

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.

[theboss]

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.

[theboss]

I don't think the validity of her cover as a named driver is in question - the uncertainty is around whether I would end up claiming on one policy or both, whether I oay one excess or two and how badly it affects my future insurance premiums and no claims status.

I'm getting rinsed either way, it seems.

[theboss]

KevinCamaroSS said:

theboss said:

I don't think the validity of her cover as a named driver is in question - the uncertainty is around whether I would end up claiming on one policy or both, whether I oay one excess or two and how badly it affects my future insurance premiums and no claims status.

I'm getting rinsed either way, it seems.

Why would you be claiming on both? The Golf insurance policy is the one you claim from for all repairs. Do do that much damage how fast was she going?

There have been some suggestions both on and off PH that the insurance company might force me to claim on each policy for repair to the respective cars. Obviously I won't know until I speak to the insurance company.

I'll have a quote for the M5 this afternoon at which point I can make a decision on how to proceed.

She had to reverse about 50ft across a clear wide gravel space, she's done it thousands of times before with and without my car parked there, I think she just failed to engage her brain on this occasion. I had parked slightly further back than usual and my car was in a shaded area and is covered in dirt so effectively matte black. It's just about conceivable that she set off in 'autopilot' and threw the car back without even looking. I doubt she was doing more than about 10mph but hit the M5 at a 45 degree angle so the forces would have been over a much smaller area than if she hit it square on.

[theboss]

OK the BMW is coming in at £1650 and the Golf £2350 so exactly £4k of damage should one use franchised repair centres.

I'll pick up the phone to direct line and see what they say.

[theboss]

Are you guys fairly sure about the two claims / two excesses? See, this is my worst fear.

I have held off contacting insurer until i have a better idea of the comparative costs... as I still feel there isn't going to be much difference between claiming and repairing directly and would lean towards the latter for simplicity.

[theboss]

Well in the end I decided to do everything myself without insurance, I just picked up the M5 and my local dealer has done a sterling job supplying and spraying and fitting a new bumper, diffuser and fixing the exhaust. Damage for that one about £1600. The damage is indescernible save for the fact that one exhaust trim is now much cleaner than the others.

One down, one to go, but the golf can wait until nearer the end of lease.

Glad I didn't get insurance company involved.