Claim minor scuffs on cosmetic car insurance or not?

[wyson]

I'm a few months into a 2 year lease on a Peugeot 3008. I recently put a couple of minor, pinkie thumbnail sized scuffs on my door mirror and alloy wheel.

I'm wondering if its worth claiming on the scratch and dent AKA cosmetic car insurance cover I took out with the dealer?

On one hand, both scuffs look like they would be classified as fair wear and tear in the BVRLA guidelines.

On the other hand, I've read on Pistonheads that PSA (Stellantis Financial Services) are strict and charge for every little thing.

I've also read I'd have to tell my main insurer that I claimed on the cosmetic cover, which might affect my main insurance premiums going forwards.

On balance, I'm starting to think it might be better to not claim.

I was wondering if people have claimed on their cosmetic cover, if they told their main insurers and if it affected their premiums?

If a scratch and dent claim does start affecting your main insurance premium going forwards, is it worth it at all for what it covers? Surely you'd be better off paying out of your own pocket for minor repairs?

[Ham_and_Jam]

wyson said:

I was wondering if people have claimed on their cosmetic cover, if they told their main insurers and if it affected their premiums?

You’re overthinking it.

I’ve just had 2 x scratches repaired this morning. Perfectly removed by a scratch and dent man on my drive. Claim was on a S&D policy.

Why would I tell my main car insurance. No claim made on their policy. It didn’t involved anyone else. Same with stone chips. Would you ring your insurance and tell them you’d filled a couple in on your drive?

[wyson]

Agree completely. I thought the cosmetic car insurance was totally separate from the main car insurance but then read this:

https://www.carwow.co.uk/guides/running/what-is-sc...

"Make sure you tell your main car insurer about any claims you make on your scratch and dent insurance – they do count as claims and your motor insurance policy could be made invalid if you don’t disclose scratch and dent claims when asked."

If you dealt with a scratch privately, your main car insurance company won't be able to find out. Why would you tell them?

However, if you claimed through the scratch and dent insurance, wouldn't it be logged on a central database somewhere so all insurance companies can see you made a claim? They probably won't check without reason, but my worry is, if you do need to claim on your main car insurance, they might start doing their homework, find the scratch and dent claim and refuse to pay out for non disclosure.

Edited by wyson on Sunday 21st April 10:21

[wyson]

Just read my main insurance policy fine print, they want to know about any claim involving the car.

I’m going to cancel my scratch and dent insurance and get a partial refund.

I can’t see the point in it, if it has to be declared as a claim on your main car insurance. It isn’t cheap either. I think I’d be better off putting that cost towards private repairs and not building a claim history.

Edited by wyson on Sunday 28th April 09:16

[VSKeith]

You don't know how much it will affect your premium come renewal. Some experience no effect at all. Withdrawing the claim doesn't mean you don't have to declare it, it will just become a zero claim/notification only

[Foss62]

VSKeith said:

You don't know how much it will affect your premium come renewal. Some experience no effect at all. Withdrawing the claim doesn't mean you don't have to declare it, it will just become a zero claim/notification only

It’s not just your straightforward renewal premium though. On the comparison sites etc. you need to tick a box regarding accidents ‘losses’ etc. and it’s logical to assume that what is initially offered you changes accordingly (you will never know).
Certainly when looking for insurance for my newly test-passed daughter, entire insurers refuse to quote if you tick the box (I was experimenting). That “loss” could presumably be a door ding at a supermarket on the sort of insurance the OP is talking about - if (and it is a big if) you take the view that it is included as ‘real’ insurance.
It’s really high time that insurers addressed these sort of issues from their end, either refining the definitions or making individual’s ‘insurance records’ easily available online to check - preferably both.