Insurance claim without going through insurers. Best way to do it?

[birdonawire1]

So the 50 mph wind yesterday day wrenched the heavy car door out of my hand and swiped the wing mirror of another car. Owner was sat in car. The electric wing mirror alone was damaged, no other damage to their car.

We both agreed it would be better for me to pay this privately and not go through the insurance.

I've got a quote from them, which seems reasonable considering what car repairs cost, so how do I go about this safely and ensure I am not being ripped off. Other car driver seemed very nice and reasonable, but you have to be careful.

So how do I do this?

I did this once. The other party used a reputable garage and I paid the bill direct to the garage.

You have informed your own insurance ?

You are of course supposed to tell your insurer because even if it is below the excess they will increase your premiums for the following year and you will have to declare it as an "incident" for years to come.
That is why people sometimes settle small bumps without telling the insurer.

That is why people sometimes settle small bumps without telling the insurer.

Please yourself. The problem can arise if the other party does notify their insurer and pass details to them which risks invalidating your insurance when you do need it.

Maybe I'm just a bit odd, having worked in insurance - in particular mechanisms for exchanging data. But I wouldn't chance it. Especially as you won't know until you need to make a claim.

Thanks. We've checked the paperwork and the excess is only £75 and the insurance is paid by Motobility anyway, so doesn't affect anything. It also means the small dent in my door can be fixed. So decided to go legit. The other party won't be happy because they pointed out it would affect their insurance, which I know is true. It was an genuine accident so can't be helped.

😊

I've sent a text to both people who phoned me about the accident, husband and wife, so know the phone numbers are correct. Let them know my email address so that I could send them the policy document to go through our insurer.

Not heard anything back from either. They previously said they had a quote from local garage for £240 which I could pay privately rather than go through insurance company, and which they would prefer as it might put up their premium.

Checked online and a wing mirror for their car would be about £60-70 and pretty easy to fit so maybe £50 to fit? Thats way less than their quote and I am wondering if they've decided to let it go as it would impact on their next insurance quote?

Also thinking they were trying it on with the £240 quote. In which case I don't feel at all bad about damaging their mirror!

My wing mirror was damaged and I was quoted £250 - a young lad kicked it off the car. So I’m not surprised it was that high

However he is incorrect and it won’t affect his premiums - it’s a no fault claim as far as he’s concerned and your insurer will pay all the damage

Pass if his details to your insurer - they don’t need your policy document and you shouldn’t email them!!! It contains personal information!

Ring and report it and leave it all to the insurers

They just need your name address and policy number and insurer

No other details necessary

However he is incorrect and it won’t affect his premiums - it’s a no fault claim as far as he’s concerned

Not true, many insurers will increase premiums for non-fault incidents, especially if a driver has more than one in a year. Since the insurers have statistics that show that a driver in a non-fault incident is more likely to later be involved in an at-fault incident.

I know for a fact it might affect premiums even if it is no fault. They were aware of it and mentioned it to me. I know from personal experience it goes on your records and may affect premiums.

The wing mirror was damaged but it was only the trim, the mirror itself functioned normally (woman tested it). The cost of the mirror was only £60-70 so I think they were trying it on as it wasn't an expensive car.

The policy document would have only had the insurance details on it not personal details, I'm not an idiot!

If they don't want to contact me I can't see the point of informing our insurance company?. I'll just use the excess to repair the minor scratch. I did what was legally necessary and provided my details and am willing to provide documents so can't see what else I can do if they don't contact me?

GreenTulips you are wrong. A non fault claim does increase your premiums. I wasn't even in my car when my Wing mirror was ripped off. The other driver went through their insurance. My insurance went up by £100 the following year.

If they don't want to contact me I can't see the point of informing our insurance company?

So the contract you signed when you took it out isn't enough ?

birdomawire1 if it was an electric Wing mirror they can cost hundreds of pounds. Manual ones are cheaper.

Sorry it should have been birdonawire1

Ok. We will let the insurer know as it's unlikely to affect premiums if no claim is made (just checked that out) but if the other people don't want to take it further it's down to them.

To reiterate, it was only the trim on the mirror which may be a simple replacement they can do themselves, but they thought they would rip us off for £240 cash.

Can't see any other reason they would not pursue this as a small bump in premiums wouldn't be as much as the £240 they say they will have to pay for repairs.

Your premiums go up because the insurance company has mass claims and as a company increases premiums. Your company may have had a 50:50 agreement in place with the other company.

This is why you shop around.

Cost go up reguardless.