to ask for a courtesy car?

[holdmybeer]

I was involved in an accident this morning. Someone hit my car (their fault) he has asked that we avoid insurers and said that he will pay for the damage to my car.

If I was to go through the insurance I would receive a courtesy car whilst the repairs were being carried out and they would also replace the car seat for my dc who was in the car with me at the time.

AIBU to expect other driver to cover the cost of these if I don't go through the insurance?

I feel bad asking but don't see why I should be inconvenienced in order to protect his no claims.

Also, bump was at low speed. I don't want to risk dc's safety but does my car seat really need replacing? How would I know?!

[pudcat]

If you do not tell insurance company you could invalidate your insurance

[Drinksforeveryone]

Just do it through your insurance.
You have to declare it anyway.

[madamginger]

I had a bump in a car park last year and the car was written off (due to the cost of the repair rather than the damage itself) and my insurance would not replace my car seats.
They said that as it was a low speed impact crash at less than 10mph the seats were unlikely to be damaged.
That was Halifax insurance

[holdmybeer]

I have notified my insurers and have logged the incident as I am aware of the potential issues of non declaration. I also think the repair is going to be much more expensive than he anticipates and that my old but reliable car may be written off if I do go through insurers

[SimpleSimonThePieMan]

Simple resolution for this is to log it with your insurer (which you have done) then go direct to the third party's insurer. They should have a third party intervention team who will organise a hire car and the repairs. They will usually bend over backwards to help as it will be much cheaper for them than you going through an accident management company. Also insist that your car is repaired through a main dealer body shop.

[Sallyingforth]

There is only one thing you can properly do now.
Tell your insurer and let them deal with it.
You'll probably get a few smart alec responses telling you to do something else.
But I say again:
Tell your insurer and let them deal with it.

[Sallyingforth]

Sorry OP, crossed with your second post.

[specialsubject]

well done. ALWAYS go through insurance if the other person doesn't want to - because that means they have something to hide.

your car may well be a write off, anything over a few years old will be. BUT that doesn't mean you have to lose it. Get the money from the insurers and see what the assessment is. If it is just a dented panel, either don't bother or replace from the online scrappies. It will lose almost all resale value but in a country where people worry about car appearance over function, it doesn't have much anyway.

[Helenluvsrob]

Go through insurance. If you need a courtesy car - and you do, the costs to the third party become big quickly. Don't think that you shouldn't be asking for a car - of course you should - why should you be disadvantaged because of an idiot?

If your car is written off there are ways and means not to loose it too.

[clam]

that means they have something to hide.

Not necessarily.

Yes, you must inform your own company (which you know) but bear in mind that some insurers take it into account when giving renewal quotes. Yes, even if it's not your fault and no payout was made. You may need to shop around in future.

[SimpleSimonThePieMan]

As I said earlier, go through the third party's insurers direct. If you let your insurance deal with it there's a chance that you'll have to pay the excess up front then claim back. Also if the third party's insurers want to write it off you're more likely to be able to push for a repair instead or negotiate a better settlement figure.

BTW I have recently done just this. Informed my insurers of the incident but advised I would be dealing direct with the other party. Their insurers bent over backwards to help me as it meant they could minimise their costs. Car was repaired by a BMW dealer at my I insistance and there was no quibble. They arranged for a hire car for me etc. The service was outstanding. That was Hastings Direct, their third party intervention team.

[holdmybeer]

Thanks for all the replies. I have decided to claim through my insurers who happen to be the insurers for the third party also so I'm hopeful that will make things a bit easier.

They have advised that both car seats that were fitted will be replaced even though only one was in use at the time and will arrange door to door collection of my vehicle and a coutesy car whilst it's being looked at.

Looking at the value of my vehicle I fully expect to be told it will be written off but I will then look to see if it can be repaired as it's worth more to me than to anyone else!

I don't think the driver has anything to hide, he'd been in another accident recently so I think he just wanted to avoid a second claim in such a short period of time but was very understanding when I said I'd rather go through the insurers.

[clam]

It may vary with insurers, but I've seen a sub-clause on one of my policies that says a courtesy car is only provided for repairs, not for a write-off. You might want to check that out with yours.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

Yes that's true. I used to work in a garage. If your car is written off they will not give you a loan car. You will receive a market value payment for your car and you'll have to hire yourself a car whilst you find a new one.

[specialsubject]

oh gosh yes - expect to lose the courtesy car as soon as the write-off is declared. Sorry.