Claim on their insurance or not?

[Rentalqueries]

Our car door was scratched by someone we know through acquaintance. DH wants to get quotes from a garage whereas I want to go via their insurance. Am I missing something or is there a reason for doing one over the other?

Have they admitted they damaged your door? If they deny it and you have no proof, e.g. video footage, then I think you will have little chance of going through their insurance.

Are you basically saying that you are in dispute with friends? Or have you not spoken to them about it?

We have a witness who saw the whole thing, but only filmed them driving off. They've agreed to pay, but we don't have their insurance details as yet.

It's usually MUCH cheaper for everyone to get a small repair done without involving insurance.

Even if you are the 'victim' you get asked about "any incidents" for the next 5 years. If the other people deny it then your insurance rocks up.

I’d get quotes from a garage for something like this, where the cost of fixing it might not be much different to the excess or indeed the price of insurance going up or even the massive faff of sorting it out.

You'd be declaring it to your own insurance company, and this may well increase your premiums next year. I'm with your husband. At least see what the quote is.

Would a door scratch even go above the excess on the insurance? You’d likely be increasing your premiums and theirs for nothing tbh.