Inside city rear end kissing

[legendracer]

Need suggestions for the accident of a friend's car.

Bumper kissing in city. Happens when following too closely and taking eyes for a moment.

Car 1 (friend)- Mercedes Benz 1.8 (2010) clc rear ended car 2 ( Audi A1 )
Impact at around 15 mph.

Both of them leave after exchanging details. Photos taken with faces. More damage is on car 1 since it braked and hit from behind. Car 2 showed only bumper scratches and maybe inside clip damage.
Initial inspection on car 1 shows damage to bonnet, bumper, grill, inside plastic frame of bumper, bonnet not opening, pull release not working.

It's his mistake anyway. Car 2 driver left after saying he just needs repair cost for rear bumper and also said he isn't bothered to claim insurance or report since it is minor and would cause more premium for car 1 driver.

Maybe car 2 driver is understanding or maybe he isn't a named driver in that car.

So car 1 driver is not interested to increase the insurance premium and have a bad mark in insurance.

What are the options and what would be the repair costs for this Benz since it requires new bonnet, bumper with painting.
Is write off a sensible thing Since the car cost in auto trader is around £6000. But then to write off insurance premium would also go up. What to do .... Please help.... Thanks.

[legendracer]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

So all those people who come on PH saying insurance is a scam, when you make a claim they get their money back off you in extra premiums anyway, how does that work in this case? £25K claim, £90 extra in year one, probably less in years 2-5. They'll probably get £300 extra in total for a £25K claim.

Sorry. It's not about scam that I'm interested in discussion.
Car 1 driver who is at fault has an excess of £1000 and already has a costly insurance above £900 per annum.
Some body shop said that, bumper, bonnet, inside plastic fender, parking sensor including painting can be sorted under £1000 and car 2 rear bumper painting at £200.
Why to go through insurance and pay excess £1000 and get a write off at £3000, then add extra premium on insurance from next year.
Car 2 driver only wants it to be repaired and as of now he has no intention of any complain though he has car 1 driver details with him.

so is it like he can claim injury after few weeks? Would a gentleman do that after having got his car repaired?

Hopefully it requires only painting... Or worse case a new bumper.

[legendracer]

Roger Irrelevant said:

It never ceases to amaze me the lengths people will go, the hassle they're willing to put up with, and the risks they're willing to expose themselves to, just to to avoid what will probably be a small increase in insurance premiums. Insurers generally aren't going to see a single minor rear-end shunt in a city as being indicative of a suicidally reckless maniac. And in any event, come renewal time won't they ask whether you (sorry, your friend), have been involved in any accidents? So to swerve an increase in premiums you'd have to commit fraud too? The £1000 excess is a pain but, as per the above, it's a fraction of what any potential claim could be, and you (sorry, your friend), don't know the other party from Adam so I wouldn't put much stock in them being a 'gentleman'.

But what about the car being written off and getting a category N on car and depreciation in used market later.

[legendracer]

NGee said:

If the car is written off it then belongs to the insurance company, not your problem what 'category' it is - unless you choose to buy it back.

Where do you get the £3000 insurance figure from if you say the car has a market value of £6000?
How do you know the car will even be an insurance write off?

When the insurance value for this old car is 3000-4000 and the repair costs are 2000 ( through insurance) shouldn't it be write off? I have heard cars being written off with just headlight and bumper damage. I mean when they are more than 10 years old.
Thinking which is financially cheaper in long run. He might even be able to sell the car at 5000 and he can say bonnet and bumper repainted and no write off tag either.

If claim amount from insurance is not accepted then too premium would anyway go up without any help from insurance but only for peace of mind. Isn't.