Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

1 2

AIBU?

To consider not declaring accident to insurance company?

40 replies

LapinDeBois · 04/04/2016 16:41

Had a v minor accident the other day when someone rear-ended me in a traffic jam. Initially looked like no damage at all, but on closer inspection the bumper is slightly split and one of the parking lights is broken, so we will need to get it repaired. I've got a couple of quotes, the cheapest of which is £500, as the whole bumper needs to be replaced. The guy who ran into me was very nice and admitted liability straight away. I've already been contacted by his insurance company to say that they will get the car repaired for me and have the bill sent straight to them, provide a courtesy car etc etc.

Now, my understanding is that I have a responsibility to declare the accident to my insurer, even if I don't claim through them, otherwise it will invalidate my insurance if they find out. Which is very galling, as my premium is bound to go up. But when I said this to the other guy's insurance company, they said 'you don't want to do that, it will only end up costing you money'. And the two garages I went to for quotes basically laughed at me for even suggesting telling my insurance company.

The trouble is, everyone has vested interests. The garages presumably want it to be an insurance job that doesn't cost me anything, so they can charge more, whereas the other insurance company wants to arrange the repair themselves so they can do it through a cheaper garage (I imagine). Meanwhile, my car is still under warranty, so I'd rather have it repaired through a manufacturer-approved repairer.

I am generally a very honest person (often to my own cost!) and I wouldn't normally dream of being dishonest. But everyone I've spoken to is making me feel like a total dupe for even considering talking to my insurers. WWYD?

OP posts:

Report

ilovesooty · 04/04/2016 16:44

Inform your insurance company and get it repaired through a manufacturer approved garage.

BerylStreep · 04/04/2016 16:48

Tell your insurance company. It doesn't necessarily mean an increase in premiums, but it keeps you right.

Junosmum · 04/04/2016 16:49

If he hadn't reported it to his insurance it would be different however as he has you car is now in a national accident database and you could be invalidating your insurance should this be checked in the event of any future accidents.

Collaborate · 04/04/2016 16:50

An insurance job is always cheaper than a non-insurance job.

They get screwed down on price.

The insurance companies have a database of things like this, so you may well not get away with it. You may think you've got away with it, but wait until you have to make a claim. They'll find any excuse not to have to pay out, and you'll have just handed it to them on a plate.

Claim from this person the increased premiums. when are you due for a renewal?

Buckinbronco · 04/04/2016 16:51

I wouldn't usually worry but I think since the other insurer is involved yours Could potentially find out when you renew (although Last year I didn't declare a claim and they didn't find it although v different circumstances)

How is the warrenty related to your insurance company?

MrsTerryPratchett · 04/04/2016 16:52

IME people who are liars can get away with this sort of thing. People who are generally a very honest person (often to my own cost!) will find there are consequences.

jamdonut · 04/04/2016 16:53

I didn't bother when I had someone scuff the back of my car. It wasn't that serious. So no point.

Threesoundslikealot · 04/04/2016 16:54

If your insurance company finds out, they may well cancel your insurance immediately, and this can make it harder to find new insurers I'm told. It happened to a colleague of mine, whose daughter had had a small bump that hadn't damaged the other car, so they had just repaired theirs privately, but it came up just because she swapped details with the other party and they reported it in case of hidden damage. He got a call to say his insurance was void, and had to scramble to find new insurers so he could drive home from work that night!

Buckinbronco · 04/04/2016 16:55

I think they might be exaggerating that one threesoundslikealot.

Threesoundslikealot · 04/04/2016 16:58

Not at all. I sat next to him when he got the call. And he is a senior police officer and was mortified.

Buckinbronco · 04/04/2016 17:00

That's incredible, cancellations and expiration a hit at midnight usually.

Threesoundslikealot · 04/04/2016 17:03

Not in this case. Or maybe they'd cancelled at midnight the day before and only got hold of him then. He was furious with his daughter as I seem to remember she hadn't told him there was another car involved. He was very hot on playing by the rules, as you might expect of a Chief Super!

LurkingHusband · 04/04/2016 17:05

A voided insurance policy is immediately void - and premiums need to be returned.

NicknameUsed · 04/04/2016 17:06

Don't even consider not informing your insurers. It could backfire and you might find it difficult or more expensive to get insurance in the future.

If it wasn't your fault it won't affect your premium. Also they other driver's insurers may use a dodgy garage and not repair your car properly or miss something important, then you will have no comeback.

Inform your insurance company now if you haven't already done so.

LapinDeBois · 04/04/2016 17:17

Thanks everyone! I'm very glad that my initial instinct to tell them has been backed up by you all. It just goes to show, if you talk to garages too much it turns you to the dark side!! I'll phone the insurance company now.

OP posts:

Lariflete · 04/04/2016 17:24

This happened to us the year before last. We informed our insurance but the other party's insurance took full responsibility and arranged everything for us. Our premium actually went down last year.

My friend who used to work in insurance said that insurance companies want to keep costs down for themselves so often have 'wholesale' (for want of a better word) deals with repairers etc and have approved garages. But this doesn't mean being done cheaply and shoddily (otherwise it could cause issues for them down the line), just that the cost to them is less, iyswim?
I would declare it to your insurance though, as having insurance cancelled as a result of not declaring it would have much worse consequences for you.

Jessesbitch · 04/04/2016 17:26

I had a no fault claim. It cost the garage £440 to fix and my premium went up by the same amount the next renewal.

As hes already gone to the insurance you dont have a choice but expect your premium to go up!

LurkingHusband · 04/04/2016 17:28

this doesn't mean being done cheaply and shoddily

the insured will need to approve the repair before any payment is made. I know one chap who whose insurance refused to allow his regular - specialist - garage to carry out the repair. When he arrived to collect the car, he bought one of the specialist mechanics with him, who immediately pointed out a fault, so he refused to sign. This happened 5 times. In the end the insurer had to remove the car, and ask the specialists to finish the job. (which they charged a hefty premium for).

(The first fault was an incorrect headlamp being fitted - it was a LH drive car, and they fitted a RHD headlamp).

LurkingHusband · 04/04/2016 17:28

I had a no fault claim. It cost the garage £440 to fix and my premium went up by the same amount the next renewal.

Did you shop around ?

Buckinbronco · 04/04/2016 17:29

Yes an accident that isn't your fault usually does affect your claims. It might not due to other circumstances but all other things being equal it does

NicknameUsed · 04/04/2016 17:30

"I had a no fault claim. It cost the garage £440 to fix and my premium went up by the same amount the next renewal."

That doesn't sound right. Someone reversed into my parked car a few years ago and it didn't affect my no claims or my premium. The cost of insurance usually goes up every year anyway so it might not have been your no fault claim that affected the premium.

DisappointedOne · 04/04/2016 18:55

i know one chap who whose insurance refused to allow his regular - specialist - garage to carry out the repair.

They can't do that (but they can refuse to pay more than they would pay their approved repairer, you won't get a courtesy car and they won't guarantee the work). I've done it twice with my (pretty rare and cherished) car. I don't want anyone but my specialists touching it.

DisappointedOne · 04/04/2016 18:56

Yes an accident that isn't your fault usually does affect your claims. It might not due to other circumstances but all other things being equal it does

It's because statistics show it's more likely you'll make a fault claim at some point once you've made a non-fault claim.

sweetbabyray · 04/04/2016 18:57

Glad you decided to tell them, if the ithercdriver is at fault then there is reakkt no reason not to. This happened to me a few months ago, it looked like there was no damage to either car but it was raining and dark. My car actually had a tiny scuff but you can't see it so I didn't bother fixing it. I reported in to my insurer anyway just in case and they did say that the fault was clearly with the other driver and I could claim, and that it would not affect my premiums.

feebeecat · 04/04/2016 18:58

But won't they find out now the other person has reported it? I thought they automatically checked to make sure that you had insurance too?
If he was at fault it shouldn't affect your premium, or at least it didn't on mine in similar circumstances.

Flip

1 2

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.