Car hit while parked

[Pizzaeatingking]

I've had my car crashed into this evening, I have details for the other guy, I just want to check my rights before I ring insurance companies (they're shut till tomorrow so I cant do anything now).

I believe I'm within my rights to ask for it to go to BMW to be repaired? The car is only 4 months old so I dont want any warranty issues down the line.

Hire car? I am due to go on holiday in 2 weeks, I'm praying it's fixed quickly but unless everything happens instantly I guess I'm going to be without it for that, am I entitled to a car that I can take abroad? Or will I be driving to Spain in my track car?

Cheers all

[Graveworm]

Pizzaeatingking said:

I've had my car crashed into this evening, I have details for the other guy, I just want to check my rights before I ring insurance companies (they're shut till tomorrow so I cant do anything now).

I believe I'm within my rights to ask for it to go to BMW to be repaired? The car is only 4 months old so I dont want any warranty issues down the line.

Hire car? I am due to go on holiday in 2 weeks, I'm praying it's fixed quickly but unless everything happens instantly I guess I'm going to be without it for that, am I entitled to a car that I can take abroad? Or will I be driving to Spain in my track car?

Cheers all

Most insurance companies will say you can insist on BMW but you lose the hire car benefit as it is conditional in the T&Cs. You can go through the accident management companies, but that is a matter for you and many have found this to be not what they at first thought and you can find yourself on the hook for the whole (Possibly inflated) hiring amount if there is any slip up.

[syl]

Go to HIS insurance company, not yours. You can take it to BMW. His insurer should give you a decent replacement car, that you can use in Europe, and will be glad to do so to avoid you going to an accident management company. If there are any problems, just go to an accident management company.

[juggsy]

OP, I was rear ended last month, went through my insurance and asked for it to go to BMW as they have a body shop down the road from me. Like you I wanted to ensure warranties etc. were maintained as it is only 6 months old. There was no quibble at all, and they categorically stated that I retain my hire car until repair completed, even though T’s & C’s do talk about a 28 day maximum, so chat to them and see what they say. They arranged recovery, did a remote assessment etc., liaising with BMW.

I believe the downside is if there are any problems down the line you have to deal with your own repairer, whereas if you use your insurer’s repairer they deal with it. Saying that, BMW say they guarantee their work for the lifetime of your ownership.

syl said:

Go to HIS insurance company, not yours.

Having a discussion on a similar thread, what’s the benefit of going to the at-fault party’s insurer? When I was rear ended last month my first port if call was my insurer. As it was clear cut and liability admitted by other party, it was easier to deal with my own insurer who would be informed either way, and who wouldn’t look to go down the cheapest repair route as my insurer will claim off the third party anyway.

Edited by juggsy on Friday 24th August 06:13

[Pizzaeatingking]

Thanks for the replies.

Spoke to my insurance first and gave them a head up, they would repair it via their approved garages OR if I wanted to get it repaired at BMW they'd want me to pay my excess and claim it back from the other guys insurance. I told them I would speak to the other insurers directly.

Phoned his insurers up, they've been alright so far. The damage is to the N/S front wheel arch, the wheel took a wack too, I left the wheels straight and they were at full lock when I got back to it. I moved it over the road and surprisingly (given the knock it had) the wheels seem straight but I expect it'll need at least alignment. They told me to choose where to go, get their details and also gave me the details for who to get the estimate sent over to.

So I phoned my local BMW dealer, they said to take the car to them Tuesday and they'll sort out an estimate, then the insurance company will take a couple of days to approve the work before it'll get done, although I dunno how far they're booking ahead. I'm going to ask if I can just leave the car with them on Tuesday if they'll let me.

The insurance are sorting me out a hire car, currently they're trying to arrange something decent for me to take after I said I didn't really fancy a 'Standard hatch' class car they're currently offering. a 3000 mile trip to Spain over the Pyrenees doesnt have the same appeal in a 2.0 diesel Mondildo (no offence to anyone who owns one!) so fingers crossed they'll hook me up with something with a bit of poke.

I'm praying the car is sorted while I'm away as I go to Nurburgring 3 days after my return from Spain!