Claim minor scuffs on cosmetic car insurance or not?
Discussion
wyson said:
I was wondering if people have claimed on their cosmetic cover, if they told their main insurers and if it affected their premiums?
You’re overthinking it.I’ve just had 2 x scratches repaired this morning. Perfectly removed by a scratch and dent man on my drive. Claim was on a S&D policy.
Why would I tell my main car insurance. No claim made on their policy. It didn’t involved anyone else. Same with stone chips. Would you ring your insurance and tell them you’d filled a couple in on your drive?
VSKeith said:
You don't know how much it will affect your premium come renewal. Some experience no effect at all. Withdrawing the claim doesn't mean you don't have to declare it, it will just become a zero claim/notification only
It’s not just your straightforward renewal premium though. On the comparison sites etc. you need to tick a box regarding accidents ‘losses’ etc. and it’s logical to assume that what is initially offered you changes accordingly (you will never know).Certainly when looking for insurance for my newly test-passed daughter, entire insurers refuse to quote if you tick the box (I was experimenting). That “loss” could presumably be a door ding at a supermarket on the sort of insurance the OP is talking about - if (and it is a big if) you take the view that it is included as ‘real’ insurance.
It’s really high time that insurers addressed these sort of issues from their end, either refining the definitions or making individual’s ‘insurance records’ easily available online to check - preferably both.
Seems I’ve been a fugitive from made-up insurance law for 9 years!
Bought a separate wheels and tyres policy when purchasing new car in 2015 and absolutely rinsed it for the 3 years it ran for.
(I didn’t mean to but it just worked out that way).
Never even considered my main insurers would want to know about every little ding on a wheel. I don’t think they actually did.
Admiral Group have a reputation for being ‘creative’ with their small print.
Bought a separate wheels and tyres policy when purchasing new car in 2015 and absolutely rinsed it for the 3 years it ran for.
(I didn’t mean to but it just worked out that way).
Never even considered my main insurers would want to know about every little ding on a wheel. I don’t think they actually did.
Admiral Group have a reputation for being ‘creative’ with their small print.
Personally I'd be cautious about not declaring it in the OP's situation, even having withdrawn the claim. I'd be doing a DSAR request on the insurers database (can't remember the correct acronym for the database off the top of my head).
You put in the request based on your personal and vehicle details, pay a small fee and get back everything they hold on you in a few weeks
That may be over cautious but worth it IMHO as they could start adding the scratch/wheels stuff at any time
You put in the request based on your personal and vehicle details, pay a small fee and get back everything they hold on you in a few weeks
That may be over cautious but worth it IMHO as they could start adding the scratch/wheels stuff at any time
grumpynuts said:
The whole point of the scratch and dent policies is to protect your main insurance no claims record. Of course you don't have to tell your main insurer of any scratch or small dent youve had repaired with this separate insurance. Its a completely different policy.
So if I have an claim whilst driving my brother's car, where I'm a named driver on his policy, you're saying I don't have to tell my own insurer, because I claimed on a totally different policy (and even a totally different car).Sorry, but that's nonsense.
If there is an argument for not having to disclose a claim on my scratch/dent policy to my main insurer, the only one that I can think of is that's it's not strictly a claim on a motor insurance policy. Scratch/dent insurance isn't motor insurance, there's no tp liability. I wouldn't advise my car insurance about a household claim I made, or travel insurance, so why would I on a dent/scratch policy? But then again, if I had a laid up policy, and the car was stolen and I claimed, I'd think it would have to be disclosed to your car insurance . Which kind of defeats my own argument.
But anyway, insurers have said they need to be told, so that answers the question.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
So if I have an claim whilst driving my brother's car, where I'm a named driver on his policy, you're saying I don't have to tell my own insurer, because I claimed on a totally different policy (and even a totally different car).
Sorry, but that's nonsense.
If there is an argument for not having to disclose a claim on my scratch/dent policy to my main insurer, the only one that I can think of is that's it's not strictly a claim on a motor insurance policy. Scratch/dent insurance isn't motor insurance, there's no tp liability. I wouldn't advise my car insurance about a household claim I made, or travel insurance, so why would I on a dent/scratch policy? But then again, if I had a laid up policy, and the car was stolen and I claimed, I'd think it would have to be disclosed to your car insurance . Which kind of defeats my own argument.
But anyway, insurers have said they need to be told, so that answers the question.
I can think of a couple of points arising from that. The first is the obvious one that, as you can see from the posts here, insurers seem to have only said this in response to direct questioning. As most people buy their insurance online and fill in tick boxes there will be lots of non-disclosure, particularly as these policies are bought in the (not unreasonable) belief that they are not related to ‘normal’ motor insurance. Sorry, but that's nonsense.
If there is an argument for not having to disclose a claim on my scratch/dent policy to my main insurer, the only one that I can think of is that's it's not strictly a claim on a motor insurance policy. Scratch/dent insurance isn't motor insurance, there's no tp liability. I wouldn't advise my car insurance about a household claim I made, or travel insurance, so why would I on a dent/scratch policy? But then again, if I had a laid up policy, and the car was stolen and I claimed, I'd think it would have to be disclosed to your car insurance . Which kind of defeats my own argument.
But anyway, insurers have said they need to be told, so that answers the question.
The second is whether there are reasonable limits to an insurer’s ‘need to be told’? Clearly there are things possibly connected to car insurance risk that the law would not allow them to ask, but there are also other things like this specific instance that would seem highly unlikely to result in a non payout if not disclosed (no rationale for refusal to insure or higher premium - someone so obsessed with keeping their car pristine would probably be a lower risk) so would thus be regarded as irrelevant.
Foss62 said:
this specific instance that would seem highly unlikely to result in a non payout if not disclosed (no rationale for refusal to insure or higher premium - someone so obsessed with keeping their car pristine would probably be a lower risk) so would thus be regarded as irrelevant.
If someone has had 2 or 3 claims under their scratch and dent policy, it could be argued that they've been very lucky to get away with such minor damage each time, and the next time it may be more substantial damage resulting in a claim under the motor insurance. I think your point on innocent non disclosure is fair. Is a scratch and dent policy a motor insurance policy? If not, then why would you disclose it. You wouldn't disclose a burst pipe claim on your household insurance. Or a damaged suitcase on your travel insurance.
Carwow are wrong in suggesting that your main car insurer needs to be told if you have a few stone chips repaired on your car with a separate specialist insurance policy. It is the same with tyre and alloy wheel insurance plans.What if you scuffed an alloy and paid a repairer directly for the refurb?, your main insurer doesn't need to know about it.
When you apply for car insurance, are you asked if you are taking any minor scratch and dent or tyre and alloy policies out with other insurers?No you aren't, so they are not interested. Some people over think stuff, this is the case here.
When you apply for car insurance, are you asked if you are taking any minor scratch and dent or tyre and alloy policies out with other insurers?No you aren't, so they are not interested. Some people over think stuff, this is the case here.
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