Car bumped in carpark, what to do next?

[Speed addicted]

I had the unexpected joy of finding someone had hit the rear quarter of my pickup today, then buggered off.

A bit of asking on Facebook has got a witness with the number plate of the offending van.

My main question is who do I go to next? Is this a police thing or just take it to the insurance?

They must have hit it reasonably hard, light is cracked, rear quarter dented and bumper cracked.

[Jamescrs]

You can go to Police because someone has failed to stop and provide details at the scene of an accident.

Ultimately if you want to get your vehicle repaired (which I assume you do) then the best course of action is to speak to your insurer and provide them all the details to deal with it.

[alscar]

Jamescrs said:

You can go to Police because someone has failed to stop and provide details at the scene of an accident.

Ultimately if you want to get your vehicle repaired (which I assume you do) then the best course of action is to speak to your insurer and provide them all the details to deal with it.

I would imagine the Police won’t be the slightest bit interested.
Would concur with the “ speak to your insurer “ advice.

[Terminator X]

Jamescrs said:

You can go to Police because someone has failed to stop and provide details at the scene of an accident.

Ultimately if you want to get your vehicle repaired (which I assume you do) then the best course of action is to speak to your insurer and provide them all the details to deal with it.

The police absolutely will not care about this. Civil matter Sir.

TX.

[Speed addicted]

Fair enough, I’ll check my excess and give the insurance a shout.

[Alex_225]

Definitely give your insurance a shout and provide witnesses details, hopefully get a successful claim.

I'd still report the driving off without leaving details, can you submit it online? Save waiting on hold.

[Peter911]

I would just get it fixed. With your excess and counting as a claim it will be costing you.

[Red9zero]

As above, let your insurance sort it out. I doubt the Police will bother as no one was hurt. I'd be getting the witness a bottle of something nice though.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

Red9zero said:

As above, let your insurance sort it out. I doubt the Police will bother as no one was hurt. I'd be getting the witness a bottle of something nice though.

The driver of the van will do one of two things

1)Deny it was then
2)Offer to pay cash for the repair

In my experience, if you go for option 2 the driver will expect it to be fixed for £100. When you tell them it is going to be £1000 they will imply you are ripping them off.

This is why is one of the reasons I drive a shed, it's just not worth the bother. If you go through the insurance you will end up paying for it anyway through increased premiums.

[swisstoni]

Paintless Dent Removal people could probably get that back to it's original shape fairly easily. It still will need paint obviously but that shouldn't be an arm and a leg, especially as it's white.

I'd seriously consider this compared to an insurance fix.

[Speed addicted]

swisstoni said:

Paintless Dent Removal people could probably get that back to it's original shape fairly easily. It still will need paint obviously but that shouldn't be an arm and a leg, especially as it's white.

I'd seriously consider this compared to an insurance fix.

I did consider just sucking it up but then a witness came forward.
It’s annoying paying extra for insurance for the next 5 years or so but I had a closer look at the damage and there’s some filler in the area. I think it’s had paint previously so could be a can of worms once they start digging into it.

There’s also a bit of rust starting around the hinges on the tailgate so I’ll get that fixed as an extra while it’s in anyway.

It’ll be interesting to see what I get as a courtesy car, I’m thinking either a corsa or a lwb transit.

[ADJimbo]

As you have the VRM of the offending vehicle, run it through AskMID and pay the £10 for the other parties insurance details and then contact the insurer, and ask them what their next steps will be?

If there is any nonsense, then just refer it to an AMC.

[paul_c123]

swisstoni said:

Paintless Dent Removal people could probably get that back to it's original shape fairly easily. It still will need paint obviously but that shouldn't be an arm and a leg, especially as it's white.

I'd seriously consider this compared to an insurance fix.

You fundamentally don't understand what PDR is.

[Mad Maximus]

The way of the world is unfortunately your gona pay more whatever happens. Find out the repair cost before notifying anyone then see if it’s worth your excess or not.

[Speed addicted]

Mad Maximus said:

The way of the world is unfortunately your gona pay more whatever happens. Find out the repair cost before notifying anyone then see if it s worth your excess or not.

Excess is £100, I reckon £4-500 for paint minimum, plus a tail light and a bumper.
I live rurally and need to ferry my son to nursery etc so I’d have car hire for the duration too.
It’s easily £1k worth of messing about. As much as I’d prefer to avoid insurance in this case it’s just not worth the hassle.

[kestral]

Terminator X said:

The police absolutely will not care about this. Civil matter Sir.

TX.

Correct about the civil matter, but there has been a criminal offence commited under section 170 of the RTA 1988.

How do you not know that!

[kestral]

Speed addicted said:

Fair enough, I ll check my excess and give the insurance a shout.

You should inform the police. These drive offs need the six penalty points thay are due.

[InitialDave]

kestral said:

Terminator X said:

The police absolutely will not care about this. Civil matter Sir.

TX.

Correct about the civil matter, but there has been a criminal offence commited under section 170 of the RTA 1988.

How do you not know that!

I think he accurately predicted how they'll respond.

The question is whether he'd even get to finish his first sentence before the words "civil matter" leave their lips.

Should at least try to report it, though, so at least there's a trail, but I don't think anything else would come of it.

[Mad Maximus]

Speed addicted said:

Mad Maximus said:

The way of the world is unfortunately your gona pay more whatever happens. Find out the repair cost before notifying anyone then see if it s worth your excess or not.

Excess is £100, I reckon £4-500 for paint minimum, plus a tail light and a bumper.
I live rurally and need to ferry my son to nursery etc so I d have car hire for the duration too.
It s easily £1k worth of messing about. As much as I d prefer to avoid insurance in this case it s just not worth the hassle.

Damn. You may as well go insurance and then try and get them to claim from the van.

[swisstoni]

paul_c123 said:

swisstoni said:

Paintless Dent Removal people could probably get that back to it's original shape fairly easily. It still will need paint obviously but that shouldn't be an arm and a leg, especially as it's white.

I'd seriously consider this compared to an insurance fix.

You fundamentally don't understand what PDR is.

Go on; put me right then.