(Another) non fault accident question
Discussion
Hi
Hot off the press as Ive just got home after being hit from behind whilst stationary waiting to enter a roundabout
Other driver has admitted liability however nobody stopped to leave witness details
His phone number checked out and his car is definitely insured
Damage is to the rear of my car and his is obviously damaged too at the front. I have photos
He wants to get it done without involving insurance but this is not happening, he probably doesnt realise what it will cost
My car is a 5 series BMW on finance and still under warranty
I want it fixed at my local BMW dealer although appreciate this is often farmed out
Question:
Do I phone my insurer now and let them crack on or do I use the BMW accident line that as flashed up on my car?
Its tempting to phone BMW and let them handle the claim as described on their website but there must be a catch?
My sole ambition is to get the car back having been fixed at a BMW bodyshop, I imagine the other parties insurer will want me to use the lock up under the railway arches 50 miles away from me??
The car is cosmetically sad but is safe and drives, I have no desire to involve a claims management company and get a new 5 series till its sorted, however I need something for when its off the road at the body shop
Cheers, and thanks in advance
EDIT: his insurance has just texted me, they dont have great reviews online........
So as above:
Talk to my insurance?
Speak to BMW - which Im sorely tempted to do
Phone his insurer?
Hot off the press as Ive just got home after being hit from behind whilst stationary waiting to enter a roundabout
Other driver has admitted liability however nobody stopped to leave witness details
His phone number checked out and his car is definitely insured
Damage is to the rear of my car and his is obviously damaged too at the front. I have photos
He wants to get it done without involving insurance but this is not happening, he probably doesnt realise what it will cost
My car is a 5 series BMW on finance and still under warranty
I want it fixed at my local BMW dealer although appreciate this is often farmed out
Question:
Do I phone my insurer now and let them crack on or do I use the BMW accident line that as flashed up on my car?
Its tempting to phone BMW and let them handle the claim as described on their website but there must be a catch?
My sole ambition is to get the car back having been fixed at a BMW bodyshop, I imagine the other parties insurer will want me to use the lock up under the railway arches 50 miles away from me??
The car is cosmetically sad but is safe and drives, I have no desire to involve a claims management company and get a new 5 series till its sorted, however I need something for when its off the road at the body shop
Cheers, and thanks in advance
EDIT: his insurance has just texted me, they dont have great reviews online........
So as above:
Talk to my insurance?
Speak to BMW - which Im sorely tempted to do
Phone his insurer?
Edited by numtumfutunch on Wednesday 3rd January 11:07
Edited by numtumfutunch on Wednesday 3rd January 11:07
When I was in a non-fault accident, the other insurer admitted liability later that day and (although I did notify my insurers) I used the third party insurers to handle repairs to my car. However - I told them where my car was being repaired.
I didn't have any problems doing this. I think the third party insurers were Direct Line for me.
I didn't have any problems doing this. I think the third party insurers were Direct Line for me.
If you decide to be a nice guy (like I did) and not claim every penny you can for car hire, lost earnings, sore neck etc etc bear this in mind. Despite it not being your fault you are still going to get stuffed with a big hike in your premiums for several years. Whether you tell your insurers or not they will know come your next renewal as they all feed a shared database. Being an honest person is not always the best idea from a financial point of view.
fatjon said:
If you decide to be a nice guy (like I did) and not claim every penny you can for car hire, lost earnings, sore neck etc etc bear this in mind. Despite it not being your fault you are still going to get stuffed with a big hike in your premiums for several years. Whether you tell your insurers or not they will know come your next renewal as they all feed a shared database. Being an honest person is not always the best idea from a financial point of view.
As repeated many many times on PH - you might see increased premiums, you might not.My non fault accident several years ago made no apparent difference to premiums the following years.
My fault accident in 2022 made no noticeable difference to my premium in 2023 - if it had done, I was not intending to replace the car but a few checks before I bought the replacement showed it had made sod all difference.
fatjon said:
If you decide to be a nice guy (like I did) and not claim every penny you can for car hire, lost earnings, sore neck etc etc bear this in mind. Despite it not being your fault you are still going to get stuffed with a big hike in your premiums for several years. Whether you tell your insurers or not they will know come your next renewal as they all feed a shared database. Being an honest person is not always the best idea from a financial point of view.
Not this crap again...Your premium may go up, or not, it's totally due to your personal circumstances. It's been demo'ed many times on her that a non-fault accident doesn't necessarily hike your premium.
E.g. this accident, similar to the OP's, caused 5k's worth of damage to a 3 week old Volvo V90, next year my premium fell by 10%
Thanks all, things have now crystallised as below:
The other parties insurer (with terrible reviews for service) will let me use BMW for the repair but give me a credit hire car and I'll need to take out extra insurance.
Im going for a quote at my BMW dealer later who were pushy in offering their handling package on the phone which would include a similar car for as long as mine is in the body shop with no further faff for cost to me
I expect the repair will take 2-3 days
Any reason I shouldnt use BMW to manage the lot?
numtumfutunch said:
Thanks all, things have now crystallised as below:
The other parties insurer (with terrible reviews for service) will let me use BMW for the repair but give me a credit hire car and I'll need to take out extra insurance.
Im going for a quote at my BMW dealer later who were pushy in offering their handling package on the phone which would include a similar car for as long as mine is in the body shop with no further faff for cost to me
I expect the repair will take 2-3 days
Any reason I shouldnt use BMW to manage the lot?
If their insurer looks to be rather poor, I would much rather let BMW do all of the legwork and have as little involvement as possible with the 3rd party insurer. I'd maybe want to check there was no wording from BMW's side that states you're liable for hire and/or other costs if the 3rd party insurance doesn't stump up for the courtesy car etc.The other parties insurer (with terrible reviews for service) will let me use BMW for the repair but give me a credit hire car and I'll need to take out extra insurance.
Im going for a quote at my BMW dealer later who were pushy in offering their handling package on the phone which would include a similar car for as long as mine is in the body shop with no further faff for cost to me
I expect the repair will take 2-3 days
Any reason I shouldnt use BMW to manage the lot?
numtumfutunch said:
Thanks all, things have now crystallised as below:
The other parties insurer (with terrible reviews for service) will let me use BMW for the repair but give me a credit hire car and I'll need to take out extra insurance.
Im going for a quote at my BMW dealer later who were pushy in offering their handling package on the phone which would include a similar car for as long as mine is in the body shop with no further faff for cost to me
I expect the repair will take 2-3 days
Any reason I shouldnt use BMW to manage the lot?
I would choose BMW to handle everything to save the hassle of having a credit hire car and additional cost (if that is what BMW offers)The other parties insurer (with terrible reviews for service) will let me use BMW for the repair but give me a credit hire car and I'll need to take out extra insurance.
Im going for a quote at my BMW dealer later who were pushy in offering their handling package on the phone which would include a similar car for as long as mine is in the body shop with no further faff for cost to me
I expect the repair will take 2-3 days
Any reason I shouldnt use BMW to manage the lot?
Edited by pavarotti1980 on Wednesday 3rd January 12:20
numtumfutunch said:
Any reason I shouldnt use BMW to manage the lot?
BMW managed my claim when a friend's neighbor scratched my bumper. The process was a breeze! I got a Merc C220 for a week and a half whilst the work was carried out. If you're keeping the car for a number of years, having a BMW repair should maintain the 12 year corrosion warranty?
_Hoppers said:
numtumfutunch said:
Any reason I shouldnt use BMW to manage the lot?
BMW managed my claim when a friend's neighbor scratched my bumper. The process was a breeze! I got a Merc C220 for a week and a half whilst the work was carried out. If you're keeping the car for a number of years, having a BMW repair should maintain the 12 year corrosion warranty?
That’s ridiculous.
No one can complain about rises in premiums if that’s the norm.
NeilPot said:
Agreed, avoid the credit hire car. I read on another PH post someone not getting paid for the credit hire car (if that’s how it’s termed). Leave the insurers / repairers to give you the temporary car - that way there is mo risk of expense on your side.
^^^^ Wot 'e said.I have heard many horror stories about later on being then charged for the car.
Only ever except a "courtesy car" from the repairer or insurer direct.
BertBert said:
why?
https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/news/financial-ombudsman-service-warns-credit-hire-risksWhy should any consumer have to even have the potential to get a large unexpected bill. Equally, why should claims be so excessive when the repair is not in itself excessive, but the cost of the hire car literally increases claim cost by many multiples for which even if negotiated down will have an impact on premiums ultimately?
Personally I do think credit hire is a total scam that has the potential to cripple consumers through no fault of their own, but simply being involved in an incident.
E-bmw said:
^^^^ Wot 'e said.
I have heard many horror stories about later on being then charged for the car.
Only ever except a "courtesy car" from the repairer or insurer direct.
How many people on here have actually said that? There have been some horror stories about having to give support to the accident management/credit hire company when there are disputes, but if you do that then that is the extent of your responsibility. I don't recall reading any story where someone actually got stuck with the bill.I have heard many horror stories about later on being then charged for the car.
Only ever except a "courtesy car" from the repairer or insurer direct.
Also I strongly suspect that BMW Accident Support are acting as an AMS to do a third party claim in a non-fault accident, and I bet the replacement car is funded by credit hire. The replacement hire car will definitely not be a freebie that's for sure.
"BMW Accident Support is a service operated, administered and provided by Enterprise Rent-A-Car UK Limited on its own behalf."
This is Enterprise getting you into a hire car, which will be billed to the other insurer just like any other credit hire car, and lets BMW push business to their own body shops.
There's nothing wrong with that, but don't have any expectation of a free courtesy car from "BMW".
The problems with credit hire cars only come about when the other insurer refuses to pay, then the worst case is you might have to turn up at court and explain why you needed it. It's all in the contract, always read the contract.......
This is Enterprise getting you into a hire car, which will be billed to the other insurer just like any other credit hire car, and lets BMW push business to their own body shops.
There's nothing wrong with that, but don't have any expectation of a free courtesy car from "BMW".
The problems with credit hire cars only come about when the other insurer refuses to pay, then the worst case is you might have to turn up at court and explain why you needed it. It's all in the contract, always read the contract.......
oyster said:
_Hoppers said:
numtumfutunch said:
Any reason I shouldnt use BMW to manage the lot?
BMW managed my claim when a friend's neighbor scratched my bumper. The process was a breeze! I got a Merc C220 for a week and a half whilst the work was carried out. If you're keeping the car for a number of years, having a BMW repair should maintain the 12 year corrosion warranty?
That’s ridiculous.
No one can complain about rises in premiums if that’s the norm.
BertBert said:
E-bmw said:
^^^^ Wot 'e said.
I have heard many horror stories about later on being then charged for the car.
Only ever except a "courtesy car" from the repairer or insurer direct.
How many people on here have actually said that?I have heard many horror stories about later on being then charged for the car.
Only ever except a "courtesy car" from the repairer or insurer direct.
The issue is because it is not through the insurance company they can refuse to pay, you can then get left with the bill.
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