Insurance claims on record.

[james125]

Hello all.

Just tried to get my car insured. £390 quote for 23yo. Only to find out I'm not accepted as I have 2 claims. :/

One in April my car had a fire I asked the insurance company to give me a quote for a claim they said £50 so I didn't claim.

And more recently I got knocked off my motorcycle by a hit and run. Which is 3rd party only. And just reported it and asked if I should bother claiming.

In both cases I didn't claim but it's on my record and my new quote is £800!!

Is there anything I can do?

[Rick101]

Keep schtum in future!

[JayK12]

Which insurance co is this?

If you havent made a claim then you shouldnt loose you no claims bonus.

Can you leave them? But then im guessing you will not have proof of no claims for when you insure elsewhere.

[kambites]

JayK12 said:

If you havent made a claim then you shouldnt loose you no claims bonus.

He didn't say he had lost his no-claims bonus, he said his premiums have risen which is perfectly normal for non-fault and/or non-claim accidents.

And no, there's not much you can do about it except for trying different companies to see if you can get a cheaper quote.

[james125]

Rick101 said:

Keep schtum in future!

You're obliged to tell the insurance companies everything. But in reality you should tell them nothing... maybe young drivers premium s are higher simply because we are naivly honest.

[kambites]

james125 said:

Rick101 said:

Keep schtum in future!

You're obliged to tell the insurance companies everything. But in reality you should tell them nothing... maybe young drivers premium s are higher simply because we are naivly honest.

If you look at the accident statistics, it's fairly clear that young drivers' premiums are higher because they tend to be awful drivers.

[405dogvan]

What kambites said...

Either report probably wouldn't have resulted in a problem - I suspect it's BOTH which are causing the issue.

The fact you didn't make a claim doesn't change that the event occurred (and that you're legally required to report them) - and it's the event they care about, not whether you actually claimed any money from it (tho that's an additional factor in some calculations of course).

Another issue is not mentioning incidents when asked - they used to ask about 'claims' but the wording is sometimes different now, something like "claims, accidents or incidents" which means they want to know everything (and remember, they already know it so what they're really doing is testing your honesty).

[405dogvan]

james125 said:

You're obliged to tell the insurance companies everything. But in reality you should tell them nothing... maybe young drivers premium s are higher simply because we are naivly honest.

Funniest thing I've read in years - genuinely hilarious - you're not serious tho are you?

[R26Andy]

james125 said:

Hello all.

Only to find out I'm not accepted as I have 2 claims. :/

You dont have two claims, you have two accidents - there's a difference. However, provided you and the insurance company are clear and have classified them correctly there isnt much you can do unfortunately.

[Rick101]

LOL, Purity you are probably right!

Just to be clear, there are usually two separate questions asked.

One refers to any claims being made, the second refers to being involved in any 'incident' regardless of fault, claim made etc.

[james125]

Making some progress, the incidents/claims are on an insurance database, and apparently can't be removed. Notes can be added to show there was no claim but this can take two weeks. Either way whenever I get insurance I have to explain it all and maybe even get a letter from my previous insurers/underwriters/brokers.

It's not like I am a out of control driver. I have a masters degree and consequently no social skills and thus no friends to try and impress with reckless driving.

I'm half tempted just to not insure the car, copy the number plates from another car, then I won't have to bother with VED, MOT or insurance. Probably an annual saving of £1200. though then again I'm too boring to do anything crazy like that.

[anonymous-user]

I might be wrong but is there really an insurance database, more like a database in a group, just get insured with another group.

[redstu]

The Spruce goose said:

I might be wrong but is there really an insurance database, more like a database in a group, just get insured with another group.

There is a database, it's probably not always checked though.
I'm sure one of the insiders we have on here will be along shortly to confirm.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

james125 said:

maybe young drivers premium s are higher simply because we are naivly honest.

Are you on mindbending drugs?

[TwigtheWonderkid]

james125 said:

maybe young drivers premium s are higher simply because we are naivly honest.

Are you on mindbending drugs?

[crosseyedlion]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

james125 said:

maybe young drivers premium s are higher simply because we are naivly honest.

Are you on mindbending drugs?

Nope, he's right.

When I was 20 had someone reverse into me at a petrol station and drove off. Damage to a headlight only, on an old shed. Petrol station CCTV turned out not to exist, had the Reg and the address of the driver (she was a local) so told my insurance (no claim was made at this point, at all)

Insurance tried sending her letters but eventually gave up and told me to pursue it myself!!!!!

I replaced the headlight with a used one for £25.

This pushed my premiums up by about £500 in the first year alone.

6 months later a tree surgeon smashed all the side windows on my car with an act of total stupidity (grinding out a tree stump and aiming it at my car, parked on the road overnight). He paid me the £75 window excess and I went through my insurers (thinking it was the simplest solution).

This pushed things up further.

All naive mistakes. Ill now not tell my insurance ANYTHING unless im absolutely sure its going to be pricey.

[CDP]

Surely it's an issue of judgement. If somebody dings your car with their door or a supermarket trolley that can't be an issue otherwise everybody has many reports. They must have a line somewhere...

[Rick101]

It is an incident and you are supposed to report it.