MOT garage on fire with my car inside...
Discussion
I got a call today telling me that the MOT garage that my car is currently in (for its MOT) has had a fire. Insurers are being brought in etc. and they have told me they will update me when they know how bad it is, but they have already said some of the cars are a definite write off.
I'm not totally sure how this next bit will work...
If my car is damaged or written off, my assumption is that it will be their buildings and contents insurance that has to sort it out?
Do I need to tell my car insurers? (I know how they like to add to premiums wherever possible!)
I assume that the garage's insurers will have to work out a value for my car, presumably by researching similar cars currently for sale. This might be slightly tricky, as it's quite an old car in a relatively specific specification... (early 2000s SAAB Aero Convertible) ...so not rare or expensive, but not many about to match it to.
I'm just trying to figure out the situation if possible, whilst waiting for more info.
I guess the easiest point to look at is the fire at Central TVR
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Some claimed off their car insurance as it was higher than the garage insurance was offering.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Some claimed off their car insurance as it was higher than the garage insurance was offering.
craig1912 said:
Strange comment- how can you not tell them given you may no longer have a car for them to insure?
Not really. If he doesn't have a car he wont be making a claim and he may prefer to keep the whiff of any issues away from his record. This may not be on line with the rules but that's his call / his risk. 
Could be an interesting conversation when you tell your insurers you don't need cover for that car but would like to insure another....
As it's an older car I'd suggest you start trawling autotrader for cars as near as possible to yours & download copies of the ads you find.
Unless you have an agreed value on your car you will be offered book.
Went through this a few years ago after my eldest's was written off in a rear ender - no fault of his. Finished up with the Ombudsman as the 3rd party's insurers thought they'd get away with offering us 50p. The replacement was almost identical - even down to the colour & date of first reg! - so they were unable to argue betterment & it ended up costing them what I'd paid for it. The loss adjusters couldn't understand why they hadn't just settled.
As it's an older car I'd suggest you start trawling autotrader for cars as near as possible to yours & download copies of the ads you find.
Unless you have an agreed value on your car you will be offered book.
Went through this a few years ago after my eldest's was written off in a rear ender - no fault of his. Finished up with the Ombudsman as the 3rd party's insurers thought they'd get away with offering us 50p. The replacement was almost identical - even down to the colour & date of first reg! - so they were unable to argue betterment & it ended up costing them what I'd paid for it. The loss adjusters couldn't understand why they hadn't just settled.
Jaybmw said:
Like anything insurance related it won't effect your premium they'll cover it. They will give book value for the car. Then you argue the price with evidence from adverts etc showing increased prices, how rare, options and how hard it is to get a like for like car to your own
Sorry to go a little off topic here OP and I'm sorry to hear about your car, but, why do insurers offer book value when they pay out on a car? I'd say 99.9% (not verified) of claimants are unable to access cars at trade price, there often being a vast gulf between that and general retail, even factoring in negotiation. Ed/L152 said:
So long as the garage wasn't negligent, you will need to claim on your own insurance.
Similar to if your car is stolen from a garage - so long as the garage wasn't negligent they're not liable.
There are some exceptions to this but by and large, it's true. If your car was just in for an MOT, it's almost certainly the case. They will only be liable if they were negligent. Much will depend on the cause of the fire. Similar to if your car is stolen from a garage - so long as the garage wasn't negligent they're not liable.
craig1912 said:
Sterillium said:
Do I need to tell my car insurers? (I know how they like to add to premiums wherever possible!).
Strange comment- how can you not tell them given you may no longer have a car for them to insure?I feel I would prefer to reserve the latter, for such time as I am making an actual claim with my insurer.
paintman said:
Could be an interesting conversation when you tell your insurers you don't need cover for that car but would like to insure another....
I'd imagine not, as 1. It's on a multicar policy and 2. I would simply be saying "I don't have that car anymore please insure my new one" which I have done many, many, many times. Sterillium said:
craig1912 said:
Sterillium said:
Do I need to tell my car insurers? (I know how they like to add to premiums wherever possible!).
Strange comment- how can you not tell them given you may no longer have a car for them to insure?I feel I would prefer to reserve the latter, for such time as I am making an actual claim with my insurer.
You haven't had an accident. You haven't done anything. You are no more risk as a result of this incident.
If you decided to park your car in your garden and set fire to it to keep warm - why would you need to tell an insurer?
You just stop needed to insure it.
Garage is private land also, does this add weight to the argument you don't need to tell them?
I personally think it has nothing to do with your insurer unless you plan to claim from them - at an argument level.
Others have said garage insurance doesn't have to pay unless negligent (I didn't know that) so your hands may be tied.
The Selfish Gene said:
I personally think it has nothing to do with your insurer unless you plan to claim from them - at an argument level.
If your policy asks 'have you had any claims' rather than 'have you claimed from us' then yes you would need to tell them. I have never come across the latter, only the former.KevinCamaroSS said:
The Selfish Gene said:
I personally think it has nothing to do with your insurer unless you plan to claim from them - at an argument level.
If your policy asks 'have you had any claims' rather than 'have you claimed from us' then yes you would need to tell them. I have never come across the latter, only the former."You do not have to make a claim, but we need to know the circumstances, regardless of who
is responsible for the incident. Our dedicated claims team will then advise you as to how we
can help, and what would be required if you decide to make a claim."
and;
Page 13
2. Please tell us immediately
- if you or any driver named on your policy, are involved in an accident or suffer a loss, no
matter how trivial and even if you do not wish to make a claim
https://www.admiral.com/policyDocs/AD-003-017-Your...
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