Accident in a dealer's rental - excess?

[Andreas Hofer]

Hello Piston headers

Had my car in for a repair and got a rental with £400 excess on the dealer's policy. Later that day, a lady ran a yield sign and bumped into me on the driver's side. Low speed accident, door panels dented, details exchanged and she admitted fault. Have taken pictures of the cars etc so hard to dispute.

Upon hearing that repairs will be £500 she changed her mind re fault and wants to go through insurance (don't ask me why - considering her excess and increased premiums a rather short term view).

As my excess would be close to the repair cost, I was wondering if it would not be better just to pay the dealer then launch a claim directly against her?

I am mostly worried that for whatever reason the dealer's insurance will settle 50/50, leaving me out of pocket on the excess and with a fault claim. Even worse the dealer claims the excess is payable regardless of fault - I asked for the T&Cs as that looks somewhat odd.

Thanks very much
Andreas

[Alucidnation]

I doubt it will go 50/50 if she hit you side on.

[sidekickdmr]

If she ran into you, you wouldnt have to pay any excess at all, so just give the car back and let her insurers sort it out?

Or have I got that wrong.

[Andehh]

Sorry to say, but last few courtesy cars I've had from bmw have been a very high excess, which is payable for everything from windscreen crack to flat tyre to accident or regardless of fault. Apparently I'd get it back/what's left of it back once the matter is settled.

I alway stump the £15 to cover me for the 100 miles I inevitably do in them.

[funkyrobot]

sidekickdmr said:

If she ran into you, you wouldnt have to pay any excess at all, so just give the car back and let her insurers sort it out?

Or have I got that wrong.

Depends what the signed rental agreement says.

When I have had courtesy cars in the past, the paperwork has stated that I will have to pay the excess in the first instance, regardless of what happens. I guess the excess is then refunded if the prang is proved to be non fault.

[sidekickdmr]

Do that then, stump up the £400 now, and if all goes to plan get it back in a while from her insurance.

Not worth the hassle of paying it now and getting it back from them directly through court

[Andreas Hofer]

Gents

Thanks for the advice. Good (or rather bad) to hear that other dealers have the same high excess so seems not he only one in that situation.

Will put it through insurance and take it from there.

Andreas

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Andreas Hofer said:

Upon hearing that repairs will be £500 she changed her mind re fault and wants to go through insurance (don't ask me why - considering her excess and increased premiums a rather short term view).

If she isn't claiming for damage to her car, and only wants her insurers to cover the damage she did to your car, then her excess won't apply. She might be paying sub £200 for comp cover, as are millions of people. If she has protected bonus, and increase in premium might be negligible. So why should she fork out £500 herself, for maybe a £10 or £20 increase in her premium?

I'm with her on that. If I caused £500 damage to a tp, I'd get my insurers to pay it. My insurance costs next to bugger all anyway. Even with a 20% increase at next renewal it'll still cost next to bugger all.

[Andreas Hofer]

Thanks Twigthewonderkid - this was in London with the other party's car being fairly expensive - my have gotten it wrong there.

My issue is that if I use the rental insurance to claim on the car I need to stump up and lose 400 quid even if it's 50/50 (and the dealer told me the insurance co will go for this in his experience - guess that would be a fight to challenge).

Could I directly speak to her insurance co (I have the policy details) and cutting out the dealer's, as I am not claiming on the dealer's insurance?

thank you
Andreas

[Red Devil]

Andreas Hofer said:

Could I directly speak to her insurance co (I have the policy details) and cutting out the dealer's, as I am not claiming on the dealer's insurance?

Nothing to actually stop you doing so, but whether you should is something else entirely.
It sounds like you plan to do this without informing him. That doesn't strike me a a good idea.
His policy, his call, not yours.

[Toaster Pilot]

So you're going to try and get a rental fixed without telling its owner it's been in an accident?

What could possibly be wrong with that??

[anonymous-user]

When this sort of thing happens go through the correct procedure. If you're not at fault it shouldn't cost you a copper coin now or when you renew your insurance.

[Alucidnation]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Why incorrect?

[Alucidnation]

Interesting as the two i have suffered didn't increase my premium at all.

In fact, from memory, the last one, my premium reduced and Ive been with the same insurer for nearly 8 years.

I suppose it depends on the insurer.