Does accident "regardless of fault" affect your premium?
Discussion
Hi All.
My eldest is a Learner driver (test tomorrow!) and was out with Mrs. H for some last minute driving practice and getting a few things today. Whilst in stationary traffic at the supermarket, queuing to get in, another driver (youngster on a P Plate) drove straight into the back of her. No questions on liability, there are witnesses etc. so no issue there, but I'm now wondering about insurance. The damage is not major - new bumper skin perhaps needed and there's a mounting panel behind it that could do with straightening or replacing.
So on the one hand I can put a claim in, and damage will be repaired - easy. But I'm then fearful that 18yo daughter will have a claim on her insurance record from day 1, even though its non-fault. I don't trust insurance algorithms not to load her premium as a result. This means on the other hand, I get hold of the other drivers parents and look at a private repair. but then all the hassle is on me. (it would be a silver car too, so no real prospect of a paint match
)
Can anyone give any insight into how this would be viewed by insurers as I don't want five years of inflated premiums for the sake of it? Any other thoughts from the PH massive?
Many thanks,
Matt.
My eldest is a Learner driver (test tomorrow!) and was out with Mrs. H for some last minute driving practice and getting a few things today. Whilst in stationary traffic at the supermarket, queuing to get in, another driver (youngster on a P Plate) drove straight into the back of her. No questions on liability, there are witnesses etc. so no issue there, but I'm now wondering about insurance. The damage is not major - new bumper skin perhaps needed and there's a mounting panel behind it that could do with straightening or replacing.
So on the one hand I can put a claim in, and damage will be repaired - easy. But I'm then fearful that 18yo daughter will have a claim on her insurance record from day 1, even though its non-fault. I don't trust insurance algorithms not to load her premium as a result. This means on the other hand, I get hold of the other drivers parents and look at a private repair. but then all the hassle is on me. (it would be a silver car too, so no real prospect of a paint match
)Can anyone give any insight into how this would be viewed by insurers as I don't want five years of inflated premiums for the sake of it? Any other thoughts from the PH massive?
Many thanks,
Matt.
Edited by M4tt-H on Wednesday 30th August 17:05
Some insurers charge for non fault claims in some circumstances, others do not. There is no answer. An insurer may charge for non fault claims for some age groups, but not others, or charge only for people living in certain postcodes, or driving certain types of car. Or any combination or factors.
An insurer might not charge for non fault claims, unless you're 25-30 living in a city. Depends on their individual stats.
An insurer might not charge for non fault claims, unless you're 25-30 living in a city. Depends on their individual stats.
fatjon said:
Admiral bumped my premium by 50% after a neighbour reversed into my stationary car. I’m north of 50 in a good area with zero claims for 30+ years.
My classic car (tr6) is with a different insurer who didn’t care and the premium went down.
If you mean recently you might find the claim isn’t causing much of that at all. My classic car (tr6) is with a different insurer who didn’t care and the premium went down.
M4tt-H said:
Hi All.
My eldest is a Learner driver (test tomorrow!) and was out with Mrs. H for some last minute driving practice and getting a few things today. Whilst in stationary traffic at the supermarket, queuing to get in, another driver (youngster on a P Plate) drove straight into the back of her. No questions on liability, there are witnesses etc. so no issue there, but I'm now wondering about insurance. The damage is not major - new bumper skin needed and there's a mounting panel behind it that could do with straightening or replacing (car is an i10).
So on the one hand I can put a claim in, and damage will be repaired - easy. But I'm then fearful that 18yo daughter will have a claim on her insurance record from day 1, even though its non-fault. I don't trust insurance algorithms not to load her premium as a result. This means on the other hand, I get hold of the other drivers parents and look at a private repair. but then all the hassle is on me. (it would be a silver car too, so no real prospect of a paint match )
Can anyone give any insight into how this would be viewed by insurers as I don't want five years of inflated premiums for the sake of it? Any other thoughts from the PH massive?
Many thanks,
Matt.
Not quite the same situation as you but someone went into the back of my 2005 BMW 3 Series in May. My eldest is a Learner driver (test tomorrow!) and was out with Mrs. H for some last minute driving practice and getting a few things today. Whilst in stationary traffic at the supermarket, queuing to get in, another driver (youngster on a P Plate) drove straight into the back of her. No questions on liability, there are witnesses etc. so no issue there, but I'm now wondering about insurance. The damage is not major - new bumper skin needed and there's a mounting panel behind it that could do with straightening or replacing (car is an i10).
So on the one hand I can put a claim in, and damage will be repaired - easy. But I'm then fearful that 18yo daughter will have a claim on her insurance record from day 1, even though its non-fault. I don't trust insurance algorithms not to load her premium as a result. This means on the other hand, I get hold of the other drivers parents and look at a private repair. but then all the hassle is on me. (it would be a silver car too, so no real prospect of a paint match
)Can anyone give any insight into how this would be viewed by insurers as I don't want five years of inflated premiums for the sake of it? Any other thoughts from the PH massive?
Many thanks,
Matt.
Got the other driver's details and his insurers contacted me admitting liability so I took it to their suggested repairer. Then after a reminder 2 weeks later they told me my car was a Cat N because somehow their repairer managed to create an estimate over £2K to basically replace and paint a bumper cover that BMW sell for £620 in primer.
Their valuation was insulting and I managed to get a slight increase out of them and kept my car, albeit with a Cat N marker which may become an issue for you as it doesn't take much.
And given how cr*p insurers seem to be these days I wouldn't want to declare any sort of claim for an 18yo.
I'm dreading my next renewal already.
I'm a bit soft but I also have empathy for the young driver behind whose insurance will rocket so, where possible and subject to a proper inspection, I would at least try to settle the damage privately.
Unless said driver was an obvious plonker when I would punish them to teach them the lesson they needed
Unless said driver was an obvious plonker when I would punish them to teach them the lesson they needed
Mr Tidy said:
Not quite the same situation as you but someone went into the back of my 2005 BMW 3 Series in May.
Got the other driver's details and his insurers contacted me admitting liability so I took it to their suggested repairer. Then after a reminder 2 weeks later they told me my car was a Cat N because somehow their repairer managed to create an estimate over £2K to basically replace and paint a bumper cover that BMW sell for £620 in primer.
Their valuation was insulting and I managed to get a slight increase out of them and kept my car, albeit with a Cat N marker which may become an issue for you as it doesn't take much.
And given how cr*p insurers seem to be these days I wouldn't want to declare any sort of claim for an 18yo.
I'm dreading my next renewal already.
That something to think of, thank you.Got the other driver's details and his insurers contacted me admitting liability so I took it to their suggested repairer. Then after a reminder 2 weeks later they told me my car was a Cat N because somehow their repairer managed to create an estimate over £2K to basically replace and paint a bumper cover that BMW sell for £620 in primer.
Their valuation was insulting and I managed to get a slight increase out of them and kept my car, albeit with a Cat N marker which may become an issue for you as it doesn't take much.
And given how cr*p insurers seem to be these days I wouldn't want to declare any sort of claim for an 18yo.
I'm dreading my next renewal already.
Its my petrol runabout which is a really tidy compact car with 17000 miles on the clock (yes 17k , not 170k). To buy another one with similar miles would be about £4.5-5k, but you can buy one that's done over 100k miles for about a grand or two. I'll wager the insurers will take "market value" as something more like the latter.
Edited by M4tt-H on Wednesday 30th August 17:07
Edited by M4tt-H on Wednesday 30th August 17:08
LuS1fer said:
I'm a bit soft but I also have empathy for the young driver behind whose insurance will rocket so, where possible and subject to a proper inspection, I would at least try to settle the damage privately.
Unless said driver was an obvious plonker when I would punish them to teach them the lesson they needed
Agreed, we've been trying to be really nice and do the whole "lets sort this out as otherwise its going to really ramp your insurance for years" and I've suggested to the young lady that I perhaps chat to her folks about it and deal more with them, but she's now blanking us and not responding to calls, texts or whatsapp - its sadly heading in one direction at the moment.Unless said driver was an obvious plonker when I would punish them to teach them the lesson they needed
M4tt-H said:
Agreed, we've been trying to be really nice and do the whole "lets sort this out as otherwise its going to really ramp your insurance for years" and I've suggested to the young lady that I perhaps chat to her folks about it and deal more with them, but she's now blanking us and not responding to calls, texts or whatsapp - its sadly heading in one direction at the moment.
Crazy. Some people have a thick mindset that "that's what insurance is for".
A minor tap on a Corsa about 13 years ago started as a "let's do it privately" arrangement but ended with a write-off, 3 fraudulent claims for whiplash, an accident management company, a string of hire cars and, ultimately, an administrator declaring her bankrupt and putting an end to her claim. The gene pool can be a cruel place.
Some will apply a loading for it, some won't. All down to the whim of their pricing engine and how it handles non-fault claims. It is sadly a statistical fact that someone who has had a claim - regardless of fault - is more likely to have another in the future and that's where the increase comes from. It's not fair, nor is it right, but it is sometimes used as part of the pricing consideration. All depends on the insurer.
What the insurers absolutely will load you for however is not declaring an incident that you have had - regardless of fault - if they find out later. Big if, I know, but only takes one call from the other party to their own insurer and it'll be logged... sadly it's a failure to declare a material fact and they'll likely question what else you've 'forgotten' to tell them.
Motor insurance in the UK is a silly system compared to europe (don't get me started on NCD being tied to a vehicle rathe than the driver), but you really are best off playing it by the book even if it means you pay more in the short term rather than have problems later down the line. You only usually have to declare for a few years anyway...
What the insurers absolutely will load you for however is not declaring an incident that you have had - regardless of fault - if they find out later. Big if, I know, but only takes one call from the other party to their own insurer and it'll be logged... sadly it's a failure to declare a material fact and they'll likely question what else you've 'forgotten' to tell them.
Motor insurance in the UK is a silly system compared to europe (don't get me started on NCD being tied to a vehicle rathe than the driver), but you really are best off playing it by the book even if it means you pay more in the short term rather than have problems later down the line. You only usually have to declare for a few years anyway...
LuS1fer said:
A minor tap on a Corsa about 13 years ago started as a "let's do it privately" arrangement but ended with a write-off, 3 fraudulent claims for whiplash, an accident management company, a string of hire cars and, ultimately, an administrator declaring her bankrupt and putting an end to her claim. The gene pool can be a cruel place.
Yep - it often does, and that's why i'd never 'go private'. Insurers get a lot wrong, but protection from all that kind of jazz is a key thing they do get right...kuiper said:
LuS1fer said:
A minor tap on a Corsa about 13 years ago started as a "let's do it privately" arrangement but ended with a write-off, 3 fraudulent claims for whiplash, an accident management company, a string of hire cars and, ultimately, an administrator declaring her bankrupt and putting an end to her claim. The gene pool can be a cruel place.
Yep - it often does, and that's why i'd never 'go private'. Insurers get a lot wrong, but protection from all that kind of jazz is a key thing they do get right...kuiper said:
It is sadly a statistical fact that someone who has had a claim - regardless of fault - is more likely to have another in the future and that's where the increase comes from. It's not fair, nor is it right
If it is a statistical fact that having claimed once makes you more likely to claim again in future then it seems very much fair and right that your premiums increase? People seem to take their premiums going up personally, assuming that they are being 'punished' by the insurers for their infraction, but as you say it's just the insurer doing what their numbers tell them. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff