Valet parking damaged car but want to involve my insurance?

[SDoran]

A valet parking service at a hotel in Spain damaged my car and have admitted responsibility. The Spanish hotel's insurance company want to involve my vehicle's insurance company in the UK. It is my 'understanding' that as soon as my insurance are involved they will view it as a claim, adjust my risk profile and, in all probability, increase subsequent premiums. If I manage it myself this risk is removed and I can honestly answer no to the 'have you been involved in an accident in the last 'x' years, regardless of fault' question on my renewal. In addition to the hassle and irritation of them damaging the vehicle, it is galling to be 'punished' for it in subsequent insurance premiums.

Therefore I am trying to avoid getting my vehicle's insurance company involved. I have got quotes for repair from 3 manufacture approved bodyshops within a reasonable distance of home and I am happy to (want to) go with the provider of the cheapest quote. It is my desire/intention to provide the quotes directly to the hotel and or their insurance company, pay for the repair myself, provide the receipts for the repair and claim the cost of the repair from the hotel/hotel's insurance company. I don't want a hire car etc, I just want the damage to the vehicle covered.

Can the Spanish hotel and their insurance company 'force' me to route the claim via my vehicle's UK insurance company? Or can I claim directly from them?

Any advice appreciated on both my 'understanding' of my change in risk profile as the result of the valet's damage and making the hotel/Spanish insurance company to accept my management of the claim/avoiding my vehicle's insurance involvement.

Thanks in advance.

[Evanivitch]

SDoran said:

If I manage it myself this risk is removed and I can honestly answer no to the 'have you been involved in an accident in the last 'x' years, regardless of fault' question on my renewal.

I don't think it works like that.

[vonhosen]

SDoran said:

A valet parking service at a hotel in Spain damaged my car and have admitted responsibility. The Spanish hotel's insurance company want to involve my vehicle's insurance company in the UK. It is my 'understanding' that as soon as my insurance are involved they will view it as a claim, adjust my risk profile and, in all probability, increase subsequent premiums. If I manage it myself this risk is removed and I can honestly answer no to the 'have you been involved in an accident in the last 'x' years, regardless of fault' question on my renewal. In addition to the hassle and irritation of them damaging the vehicle, it is galling to be 'punished' for it in subsequent insurance premiums.

Therefore I am trying to avoid getting my vehicle's insurance company involved. I have got quotes for repair from 3 manufacture approved bodyshops within a reasonable distance of home and I am happy to (want to) go with the provider of the cheapest quote. It is my desire/intention to provide the quotes directly to the hotel and or their insurance company, pay for the repair myself, provide the receipts for the repair and claim the cost of the repair from the hotel/hotel's insurance company. I don't want a hire car etc, I just want the damage to the vehicle covered.

Can the Spanish hotel and their insurance company 'force' me to route the claim via my vehicle's UK insurance company? Or can I claim directly from them?

Any advice appreciated on both my 'understanding' of my change in risk profile as the result of the valet's damage and making the hotel/Spanish insurance company to accept my management of the claim/avoiding my vehicle's insurance involvement.

Thanks in advance.

You have a duty to inform your insurer at some point (and future insurers for the next 3-5 years depending on insurer) anyway, regardless of whether the claim goes through them or not.

[paulrockliffe]

You have a duty to inform your insurer immediately, not just at some point in the future.

[DodgyGeezer]

I must admit that my view would be - their error, their responsibility to resolve it without getting my insurers involved, and with that no need to say anything on renewal.

I appreciate that being as it's a foreign claim things may not be as simple as that and, if only for simplicity's sake, you make end up needing to claim under your own policy - in which case, even though it's a non-fault, you might have to disclose

[Panamax]

SDoran said:

Can the Spanish hotel and their insurance company 'force' me to route the claim via my vehicle's UK insurance company? Or can I claim directly from them?

The technical stuff is just detail which may or may not be relevant.

What's the cost of the repair?
What's your insurance excess?
What's your annual premium?

These are the things that will/should guide your decision.

[SDoran]

Thanks. So it sounds like involving my insurance a non issue? It has to be declared either way so go for the full outsource. I assume hope I can chose the repairer!

Seeing as I'm potentially on the hook for increased premiums, it then raises the question of consequential damages. Might be wishful thinking, but is there any means for them to pay for or make a contribution to subsequent 'losses'? Guessing it would be difficult as it an unknown over multiple years, but say I get two quotes today, one with a claim, one without. Premium difference is £x. Multiple £x by 3-5 years?

[anonymous-user]

To take a random example, Admiral ask:

Has not had any claims, losses, thefts, incidents or accidents – regardless of fault – in the last 3 years.

The explanation is:

Please complete this section with details of all accidents, losses, thefts, incidents or claims in the last 3 years (regardless of fault). This includes incidents that have occurred while driving a different vehicle or while a driver was insured under you or any other policy.


In your case, which is damage to your car by a third party who was driving it, you can honestly answer that you haven’t had any accidents or incidents. But if you claim against the third party, as you’re doing, then you will have to disclose that claim as a non-fault (on your part) claim and in so doing will end up disclosing the accident itself. If that ends up costing you more in premiums, you could in principle add that cost to your claim, but you’ll need to know what that added cost will be in order to claim it, and so you’ll need to disclose all this to your UK insurer to get an idea of what any added cost will be.

[SDoran]

Panamax said:

SDoran said:

Can the Spanish hotel and their insurance company 'force' me to route the claim via my vehicle's UK insurance company? Or can I claim directly from them?

The technical stuff is just detail which may or may not be relevant.

What's the cost of the repair?
What's your insurance excess?
What's your annual premium?

These are the things that will/should guide your decision.

Thanks,

Repair is just over £2k
Excess is around £500
Premium is £600s

Clearly if I'd damaged it, I wouldn't claim. A decade ago someone hit my car while parked and drove off. I used an online insurance quote to scenario test claiming versus not. Post excess pay out was less than my increase in premium, so it was a no brainer to pay myself. However, in this case I have a party at fault and given it wasn't involving me, I want them to cover it.

[Froomee]

Unpopular view…. Try using an accident management company or say this to the hotel.

Providing the hotel have admitted liability they will take it on and pick the garage you’d like it to go to.

Accident management company will chase the hotel for repayment, if the bill is larger as a result the hotel will have to pay it.

[SDoran]

Froomee said:

Unpopular view…. Try using an accident management company or say this to the hotel.

Providing the hotel have admitted liability they will take it on and pick the garage you’d like it to go to.

Accident management company will chase the hotel for repayment, if the bill is larger as a result the hotel will have to pay it.

Thanks for the suggestion. Although in light of the previous comments about it being a declarable incident to my insurance, I am unsure of the value add they would provide over and above my insurance company. (Admittedly I don't know that much about them apart from a perception of a less than stellar reputation.)

I just want to be restored to the position I was in. I was hoping that a bit of effort emailing for quotes I could avoid a future premium penalty. Alas it looks unlikely. I will speak to my insurance company tomorrow and discuss how to proceed.

[Sheepshanks]

Is the car insured for valet parking?

There was a thread a few mths? ago from someone whose car was crashed into another car by an airport parking comapny and few people argued that if the owner wasn't driving it then they wouldn't have to declare it. In the end they went through their insurer anyway as the parking company weren't co-operating.

[havoc]

Do you trust a Spanish insurer to sort you out without hassle and dispute?

If not, why wouldn't you involve your own insurer?

[oyster]

This is what insurance is for.

Risk taken.
Incident happened.
Claim arisen.
Insurance sorted.

So your premiums ‘might’ inch up a tad (or they may not). If your insurer deems you a higher risk then that’s what the maths says. No point trying to argue against it.

[jfdi]

Surely the car was in the care of the valet. The hotel will be making a claim on their insurance to repair the op's car. The op isn't making any claim he's just expecting the hotel to fix the valets mistake.
If I lent someone my car and they took out their own insurance then I wouldn't be the one claiming I'm just the cars owner.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

He does not have to let them know his insurance, he can ask the hotel to sort it out directly and they can claim off their insurance. And what's more, HE DOES NOT HAVE TO NOTIFY HIS OWN INSURERS.

Someone else, whilst driving his car and insuring themselves to drive it, damaged his car. They fix it by claiming on their insurance. If I loan my car to my brother, he insurers himself to drive it, he crashes it, his insurers fix it, or he fixes it himself, I have not had an accident or a claim. Even if my brother refuses to fix it, I can sue him but it's not a motor insurance claim, it's just suing some one for money they owe you.

A lease company may have a few cars they insure themselves, for their staff, but they also own 5000 cars that are with customers who insure them. Those customers crash cars, and the customers own insurers fix them. When the lease firms own policy is up for renewal, they don't have to tell their own insurers about the 300 claims during the last year on their cars, driven by other people and repaired by other people's insurance.

[SDoran]

havoc said:

Do you trust a Spanish insurer to sort you out without hassle and dispute?

If not, why wouldn't you involve your own insurer?

Rightly or wrongly, I do trust them as the hotel has been very helpful, admitted liability and shared their insurance details. Hence the question.


As explained, I erroneously thought avoiding my insurer could avoid any future premium increases.

[Sheepshanks]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

A lease company may have a few cars they insure themselves, for their staff, but they also own 5000 cars that are with customers who insure them. Those customers crash cars, and the customers own insurers fix them. When the lease firms own policy is up for renewal, they don't have to tell their own insurers about the 300 claims during the last year on their cars, driven by other people and repaired by other people's insurance.

They're different kinds of insurance, as you know perfectly well. (or do you?). The lease company would have a commercial lines policy.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Sheepshanks said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

A lease company may have a few cars they insure themselves, for their staff, but they also own 5000 cars that are with customers who insure them. Those customers crash cars, and the customers own insurers fix them. When the lease firms own policy is up for renewal, they don't have to tell their own insurers about the 300 claims during the last year on their cars, driven by other people and repaired by other people's insurance.

They're different kinds of insurance, as you know perfectly well. (or do you?). The lease company would have a commercial lines policy.

It doesn't matter. The hotel's policy will be a commercial lines policy.

Seriously, you lend your car to someone. They insure it for themselves to drive. They crash it. They claim on their insurance and fix it. It's got fk all to do with you. They might not even tell you. In theory, the hotel could have damaged the car, whizzed it down to a body shop, they fit a new headlight or whatever on the spot, and the OP never knows about it.

If a garage has your car, damage it, fix it, and when you come to pick it up, they come clean and tell you what happened, you do not have to notify your own insurers. You've not had an accident, you have not made an insurance claim.

[anonymous-user]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

<snip>

Even if my brother refuses to fix it, I can sue him but it's not a motor insurance claim, it's just suing some one for money they owe you.

Twig, I know you’re the insurance guy, but why wouldn’t this be a claim?

“Claim” here has two different meanings: first, an insurance claim, and secondly a legal claim against another party who has their own insurance.

If someone else drives into me and is 100% at fault, I claim against them and their insurer underwrites my claim. The end result is that their insurer gives me money, but I’ve still made a claim (legal) against the someone else, and they’ve made a claim (insurance) against their insurer under their policy.

When my insurance company asks me at renewal whether I’ve had any accidents or claims in the last X years, they can’t mean just claims under my policy with them - they’d know about them. They must also mean claims I’ve made against other people.

So if your brother refused to fix damage he’d caused to your car, you’d sue him, which would be a legal claim that causes him to make an insurance claim on his policy. But you’d still have to declare to your insurer on your renewal that you’d made a “claim”, because suing someone for damage to the insured car is a claim.