So my cars been hit...

[spats]

I was parked at my parents house last night when the neighbours knocked saying they have punted my car.

Looks like it will need a new bumper, headlight, wing, trims and then painting and blending in. So I doubt they will want to pay out for that as it should run into four figures.

So what's best, do I ring my insurance or just hers? What sort of pain will I feel renewal time with a total non fault claim too!

Edited by spats on Sunday 13th November 11:00

[wack]

at least they owned up, all you can do is ask, they might want to pay, if they don't ring the number of the legal cover policy if you took out cover and get them to act on your behalf, that's what you paid them for.

[herewego]

People here often suggest dealing directly with the other driver's insurance company, but personally when this happened to me I just passed the details to my own insurer and they sorted it out. At renewal I happened to change insurer and the new company added about £15 for the incident.

[spats]

wack said:

at least they owned up, all you can do is ask, they might want to pay, if they don't ring the number of the legal cover policy if you took out cover and get them to act on your behalf, that's what you paid them for.

Thanks, I thought I rear it was better to go to the other persons insurance directly?

[spats]

herewego said:

People here often suggest dealing directly with the other driver's insurance company, but personally when this happened to me I just passed the details to my own insurer and they sorted it out. At renewal I happened to change insurer and the new company added about £15 for the incident.

Thanks for the advice

[fastbikes76]

I went direct through other insurance company and it couldn't have been quicker/easier. Car was assessed , approved and repaired in no time and was offered decent curtesy car while mine was fixed. This was not through a management company but direct with the other persons insurers. I informed my company at renewal of the non fault claim and it didn't affect my premium at all.

I know everyone says 'go through your insurers and let them deal with it, that's what you pay them for' , But in non fault claims where no one is arguing what happened , I would always go direct.

[blearyeyedboy]

Where fault was clear cut, I went to the other person's insurers. I was fair with them- yes, my neck hurt for a couple of days, no, I didn't want to claim for the 49p it cost me in ibuprofen- and in return they sorted my car out while giving me a courtesy car to use for the duration.

Third party insurers have an interest in keeping you happy and spring things out quickly, because that keeps everyone's costs down. I let my insurers know, they were happy and no one put my premiums up later.

[wack]

fastbikes76 said:

I know everyone says 'go through your insurers and let them deal with it, that's what you pay them for' , But in non fault claims where no one is arguing what happened , I would always go direct.

I didn't mean the insurers, most policies get legal cover tacked on which is a separate policy, I meant use that as you've already paid for a solicitor to act on your behalf, sort a hire car out etc

[KungFuPanda]

wack said:

fastbikes76 said:

I know everyone says 'go through your insurers and let them deal with it, that's what you pay them for' , But in non fault claims where no one is arguing what happened , I would always go direct.

I didn't mean the insurers, most policies get legal cover tacked on which is a separate policy, I meant use that as you've already paid for a solicitor to act on your behalf, sort a hire car out etc

Even if you go through that route, you won't have a solicitor to deal with your claim due to the low value of the claim and lack of PI. You'll get the benefit of some monkey in a call centre who will get your car repaired on credit, put you in a credit hire car and present the over inflated bill to the third party insurers.

Better to go through the third party insurer direct.

[fastbikes76]

wack said:

I didn't mean the insurers, most policies get legal cover tacked on which is a separate policy, I meant use that as you've already paid for a solicitor to act on your behalf, sort a hire car out etc

My comment was more of a sweeping one rather than aimed at you. The general consensus on here is 'that's what you pay them for' but often its actually far easier and painless to go direct.

[Chrisgr31]

wack said:

I didn't mean the insurers, most policies get legal cover tacked on which is a separate policy, I meant use that as you've already paid for a solicitor to act on your behalf, sort a hire car out etc

All that does is put everyones insurance up as it has to be paid for.

If the 3rd party has owned up and no one is hurt claim direct off the 3rd parties insurers. They have a vested interest in dealing with you quickly as they dont want to have to pay the inflated costs of some one else getting involved.

[DaveH23]

My claim of over £8000 and loss of NCB made zero difference to my next renewal.

Obviously the company I was with upped their renewal but when I shopped around I got the next year for the same price as I paid previously.