DH doesn't want to claim car insurance

[Eurydice84]

I hit a bollard driving into the work car park and one of the front doors is dented/scraped. The garage is saying they want to replace the whole door and this could go into thousands.

Obvs I will pay for the damage as it was my fault. We have comprehensive insurance but DH doesn't want to use it as his 13 year no claims bonus would be invalidated. I am a bit annoyed as this would mean paying 1k of private repairs versus £350 of insurance excess.

I am a nervous driver already and this has really put me off driving altogether! Although it's the only bad thing that happened since I passed my driving test 7 years ago. Feeling really down.

So was the OP for driving into a bollard

Yep

Even if he has protected his no claims, if he claims the premium may go up as a result.

My friend once had her passenger car door hit in a supermarket car park by the guy moving the trolleys. She went to a local guy who quoted an absurd price. Obviously didn't want the job though they had previously done work on the car. She then went to another guy who had a much smaller outfit who was able to source a spare door. The price was less than half the 1st guys quote. Though it was the supermarket who footed the bill. There may be someone who may be able to do it much cheaper.
The repair was a 1st class job and I would certainly use him if I needed.

I wouldn't claim on my insurance for something so minor as you have declare it for 5 years. Even adding £100 to the insurance x5 is £500 plus the £350 is £850 so we are almost at the 1k mark. I would look for a local garage or if it's new check you didn't get minor damage insurance included. My insurance is with Mini I also have paint work protection that covers minor knocks and doesn't count towards insurance. Mini did a few when it was in for a service and it looks amazing.

No one tells their insurance about minor paintwork scrapes!!!

They may well take up to 12 years but the the max used in the calculation is lower, eg 5.
On paper it's what you have told them, in the price it was max discount at 5 years plus
Therefore whether it was 5, 12, 13 or indeed 20, the max discount is the max discount.

Mine averaged out at about an extra £150 a year for 5 years after a non fault accident claim, when compared with an identical insurance quote without the non fault claim added.