Hit & Run - question on insurance

[Mr_Megalomaniac]

Hi all,
Today I suffered the first damage to any vehicle in over 13 years - a hit and run on a country road in Hampshire. I have the other party's registration from the dashcam and I'm in the process of filling in the police report.
The damage is to the door mirror; given the cost of repair/replacement - my question is whether it's better to go through insurance for this or directly through money claim online?
Footage clearly shows the other party at fault and the drive-off nature of the hit & run.
That notwithstanding, I assume I am supposed to report it to insurance as well as the police?

[Oceanrower]

You pay for insurance. Why would you not use what you’re paying for?

[scorcher]

Oceanrower said:

You pay for insurance. Why would you not use what you re paying for?

Because there’s a good chance they’ll get screwed over for the next five years for a non fault claim and that could outweigh the cost of paying for a mirror.

[Mr_Megalomaniac]

scorcher said:

Oceanrower said:

You pay for insurance. Why would you not use what you re paying for?

Because there s a good chance they ll get screwed over for the next five years for a non fault claim and that could outweigh the cost of paying for a mirror.

Having not yet gone to the shop, I'm assuming the ~£500 of mirror and cover might not quite be worth the excess + increased premium? But again - I'm kind of asking a process question. Given a low value claim which might sit at or below excess, am I required to report it and does it make sense? (Police-wise, yes, and already done so).

As Oceanrower rightly points out; most insurers do tend to be sharks and will screw me no matter what; even if it were struck by an asteroid they'd still increase the premiums.

[CraigyMc]

scorcher said:

Oceanrower said:

You pay for insurance. Why would you not use what you re paying for?

Because there s a good chance they ll get screwed over for the next five years for a non fault claim and that could outweigh the cost of paying for a mirror.

Because they may write off his car over minor damage, take it for auction and give him less money than they get from the proceeds.

TL;DR insurance companies can make money when you claim from them.

Source: happened to me.
This is the damage (note, car has not been repaired on this photo). See the little scuff? That's what they wanted to write it off over.