Inform MY insurance company?

[T5R+]

Car in at local garage for mechanical repair. Resolved and taken for a test drive. Somebody bumped into rear (ie 3rd party). Bumper scraped and holed thus needs a new bumper plus brackets and finishing strips.

My dilemma is do I inform MY insurance company? As far as I am concerned, the garage and 3rd party can resolve without my involvement.

Why do I not want to call my insurance company - cynical side of me suggests that the claim (even if simply a note) will be logged on my file even in these bizarre circumstances.

[Futuramic]

I'm sure the holier than thou types will be along to castigate you for such un-christian thoughts shortly but...

It will affect your future premiums. You will gain nothing for doing it. Therefore I wouldn't bother, given the circumstances.

However there are those who have never done anything illegal and will insist you tell them as it's morally wrong not to. Or something. They might even hit you with a rolled up Daily Mail whilst screaming about how you'll go to hell.

But really? What's the point?

[bigbubba]

You have no reason to inform them.

The third party will be making good the repair.

[Council Baby]

Under the terms of your insurance you have to tell them. That simple.

[bigbubba]

How will they know if you don't?

I am with the OP, I wouldn't want a third party claim on my record.

[Futuramic]

Council Baby said:

Under the terms of your insurance you have to tell them. That simple.

I get that, but to quote an old cliche "a tree falls over in the middle of the woods. Nobody is around to hear it. Does it make a sound"

Or in my case "a Citroen Xsara falls into a ditch on a remote road. Nobody (except me) is around to see it. Does anybody care".

What they don't know can't hurt them....

[Octoposse]

Futuramic said:

It will affect your future premiums.

I've had two no-fault accidents over the years: motorcycle (no rider - he was flying over a hedge) somersaulting down the road and bashing my NEARSIDE wing (couldn't get over to the right far enough to miss it due to right-way-up motorcycles and having braked-off too much speed when I saw it coming to have sufficient manouverabilty); and taken roughly from behind at traffic lights by particularly yummy mummy distracted by her kids . . . . neither seemed to make any difference to my premiums as far as I could tell.


ps Motorcyclist walked away without a scratch, having been wearing all the right gear and encountering nothing more solid than wheat, but very upset about two day old bike!

[PurpleMoonlight]

Council Baby said:

Under the terms of your insurance you have to tell them. That simple.

Why?

The insured hasn't had a no fault accident.

Someone else has who just happened to be using the insureds car under their own insurance.

[elanfan]

These threads appear with great regularity so how come it is so difficult to understand that 'it is a material fact' and you are obliged to tell them.

It shouldn't make any difference whatsoever to your policy terms.

You might well get away with not telling them - but even on the ever so small chance that they may find out anyway is it worth it?

I'll answer that one for you 'No'

[barker22]

Have you or any driver under this policy had any accidents or claims in the last 5 years?

The answer is no, you haven't had an accident or a claim.
If the garage have repaired the damage and THEY claim off the 3rd party then YOU haven't made a claim or had an accident. The garage have.

[98elise]

PurpleMoonlight said:

Council Baby said:

Under the terms of your insurance you have to tell them. That simple.

Why?

The insured hasn't had a no fault accident.

Someone else has who just happened to be using the insureds car under their own insurance.

Surely this is the right answer. The OP has not had an accident someone else has, and while covered under their own insurance.

[steveo3002]

id not tell anyone..its up the garage to sort it out

[Council Baby]

98elise said:

PurpleMoonlight said:

Council Baby said:

Under the terms of your insurance you have to tell them. That simple.

Why?

The insured hasn't had a no fault accident.

Someone else has who just happened to be using the insureds car under their own insurance.

Surely this is the right answer. The OP has not had an accident someone else has, and while covered under their own insurance.

For some reason I read it that the OP was test driving it. If it was the garage then it has no bearing on his policy and he's not involved. Just the vehicle, can't see any reason why you'd even think to tell your own insurance company.

[JREwing]

You haven't been involved in an accident. Your car has.
Isn't it obvious?

[killsta]

Insurance certificates usually say the cover extends to the policy holder and named drivers only.

Therefore if someone else is driving it, under a different policy, any accidents do not concern the OP's insurance company as they are not liable for any payouts.

If however the vehicle were to be parked up, then I suspect it'd be a bit of a grey area if it was the mechanic who parked the vehicle, as whilst the OP's policy would be the one covering the car they could argue it was not the policy holder/named drivers who were in control/possession of the vehicle therefore the garage's policy would be liable.

This would probably be my understanding.

[Dog Star]

I've not had a crash in over 20 years.

However I've fell off my dirt bike LOADS! I mean like several times a weekend. Do I tell my insurance?

Have you had any accidents in the last 5 years Mr D'S?

Yes. 3000.

That'll be nine trillion pounds please.