Car insurance - do I need to declare....

[ilovelibraries]

I am mortified. I had my first accident in 30 years of driving. I reversed into someone who was static, so not much damage done and probably would have been better to do it off insurance. But the other lady - as is her right - reported it to her insurance. It was my husband’s car, so I called them, and as I am a named driver, it is all sorted.

But, do I need to tell my car insurance? I tried this morning and was on hold for over 10 mins, as I’m guessing they’re busy with storm claims. I’m guessing yes, but can’t see specifically that I do. Except that my terms have now changed (I.e. I had claimed - as it was true - that I hadn’t had any accidents in past 5 years, but obviously I have now). Will my insurance incur an extra charge now? I know both of our next insurances will be more expensive, but we’ve never had accidents so have no experience.

Thanks for any guidance.

Yes, you have to declare it on your own insurance.

I'm still smarting from being involved in an accident that wasn't my fault or my insurance, but my insurance costs still went up.

@Witchdancer - thanks for that. My gut told me I would, but I didn’t fancy sitting on hold for a long time, just to be told I didn’t.

I’m sorry your premium went up. That’s crazy. Mine was total brain fade, doing something I would never usually do. I’m so angry with myself. And embarrassed.

Did your premium go up immediately or at next renewal?

It was a few years ago now...... I think it was pretty much straight away but the renewal was about the same time

yes, you have to report especially as the other driver did. It is a really punishing mistake and you'll have hassle for five years but that's the way things are.

You need to let them know. It will be from your policy for next year that your price will increase.

Thanks all. I’ll let them know. I’m so angry with myself!

I also had a long unblemished driving record and in a moment of lapsed concentration I damaged my husband's car (it was our 'family' car and I was a named driver) and we had to put it through the insurance as it was just too expensive for us to fix.

But actually, our premium only went up by about £20 the next year, so it was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be.

Still annoying to have made the mistake in the first place though, so I feel your pain.

My gut told me I would, but I didn’t fancy sitting on hold for a long time, just to be told I didn’t.

Even if you didn't officially report it or make a claim, it still gets noted and bastard insurers will still find a way to load your premium because of it.

I had a woman bump me and I called my insurers thinking I was doing the right thing, specifically saying I would NOT be claiming as no damage to my car. My premium more than doubled and I wasn't able to switch at renewal time due to an "open claim" (on her part, which she never actually followed up anyway). Fucking LV.

I had an accident a few years ago - rolled into the back of someone at a clear junction (was running late so probably wasn't as cautious as I should have been- lesson learned as obviously after pics / exchanging details I was even later, doh!).

Anyway, when my insurance was up for renewal, I rang up my insurance company to ask for amount it cost- almost £5000! They said it was mainly courtesy car costs. I put that figure into the insurance price comparison websites expecting insurance to have rocketed, but it added on about £100 (previous years have been about £350, and cheapest quote was about £450).

It was awful when it happened but actually the insurance company were friendly and reassuring on the phone and it didn't increase my premiums as much as I thought it would.

I had exactly the same happened to me. I've been driving for about 40 years and have never claimed anything in the last 39 years. I reversed out of my house and I don't know how I didn't see the van. My premium has gone up and my no claims has gone from the 9 years no claims to 3 years no claims. So annoying and frustrating. I would've been much happier settling without insurance as it was just a tiny little scratch really but this bloke was milking it. I actually heard him on the phone speaking to his work saying "yes, I'm a little shaken, yes, I will go home after this!"

Thanks all. I phoned them and I have been told I have to phone them back with the costs of repair! I have no idea how / when I’ll have this.

I was really hoping that this would be the final phone call and I could attempt to forget it. I feel embarrassed about it.

If you have protected NCD then as long as you don’t have more than 2 claims in any one insurance period then you should be OK.

It's very annoying and we'll never win.

Our car insurance premium once went up because of a claim we never even made. Our car was caught in the floods in our area 7 years ago. We called the insurance company who told us we couldn't claim as it was an 'act of god', but apparently acts of god do raise your premium. Wish we'd never called!!!

Your husband’s insurance company will be able to provide you with this information. Be aware that until the claim is closed it will be a reserve figure which is usually much higher than the actual cost outlay.

PS. You are very honest. Most named drivers don’t bother to let insurers know of any accidents/claims when they’ve just happened. And some don’t even let them know at renewal.

@DraughtyWindow he said he’d put it at £0

One of my vehicles was stolen last year. I didn't declare until the renewal of my other vehicle this year. No issues.

I would wait until renewal if it is a separate car on a separate policy.

Thanks again for everyone’s stories. I am feeling slightly better that I am not alone in the brain fade that I had.

I have had an email saying that there is no additional premium to pay now. I know next year will be different and am hoping my advancing years mean that it won’t be as much as some of you have had.