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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Scratch on his car. Will I lose all my no claims bonus? Please help, I'm so worried.

46 replies

Carworriesss · 20/01/2025 18:43

Today I tried to go into the next lane and as I did I scraped the car in front of me. He was stationary stuck in traffic jam and I was going about 1mph. He asked me to pull over which I did and he took my details. He said "I'm not the type to claim wip lash". Which made me think why would he even say that as he was stationary. He also asked me how many no claims I have and I told him I've never had an accident etc. Why would he ask that? Do you think he was up to anything?

I'm so worried that my car insurance will shoot right up after I've finally for it at a good price. What is likely to happen? Do I loss all my no claims from the past 10 years? I'm so worried. This has never happes before :(

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 20/01/2025 18:46

Ask your insurer.

The number of no-claims bonus (NCB) years you lose after an accident depends on the insurance company and the circumstances of the claim.

How many years of NCB you might lose
One claim: You might lose two years of NCB

Multiple claims: You might lose all your NCB

Claim for damage to a parked car: You might lose your entire NCB, even if you weren't at fault

Original poster
Carworriesss · 20/01/2025 18:50

cestlavielife · 20/01/2025 18:46

Ask your insurer.

The number of no-claims bonus (NCB) years you lose after an accident depends on the insurance company and the circumstances of the claim.

How many years of NCB you might lose
One claim: You might lose two years of NCB

Multiple claims: You might lose all your NCB

Claim for damage to a parked car: You might lose your entire NCB, even if you weren't at fault

One claim: You might lose two years of NCB

Is this from the one person? For example, if the person claiming put in one claim or does it include past claims?

As I said it had never happen before so noone has claimed on me before.
He wasn't parked as suck he was in a line of traffic in front of me. Would this make a diffrent?

Also is my car insure going to be a lot more expensive going forward?

OP posts:
toomuchcheesetoomuchchocolate · 20/01/2025 18:51

How badly did you scrape it? Someone reversed into me in a car park the other week and scratched my car. I got a quote from ChipsAway, sent her the details and she transferred the money to me. No insurance involved whatsoever.

Puppupandaway · 20/01/2025 18:52

Check your policy as you may be paying for no claims protection without knowing.

Original poster
Carworriesss · 20/01/2025 19:04

toomuchcheesetoomuchchocolate · 20/01/2025 18:51

How badly did you scrape it? Someone reversed into me in a car park the other week and scratched my car. I got a quote from ChipsAway, sent her the details and she transferred the money to me. No insurance involved whatsoever.

It wasn't badly scrapped. I wiped most of it off with as did he. I would rather he just send me an invoice 😔

OP posts:
Original poster
Carworriesss · 20/01/2025 19:05

Puppupandaway · 20/01/2025 18:52

Check your policy as you may be paying for no claims protection without knowing.

I don't think I am unfortunately.

OP posts:
Original poster
Carworriesss · 20/01/2025 19:08

Sorry, silly question but what does losing no claims bonus even mean? Sorry I have no idea about this.

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 20/01/2025 19:14

You get discount for no claims. When you renew.
All you can do is call your insurance company and put some money aside for the renewal. Also what is the amount you have opted to pay per claim? This is in your policy. Might be eg 250 £.

cestlavielife · 20/01/2025 19:15

Just call your insurance company they will explain it all

Cheesyfootballs01 · 20/01/2025 19:19

@Carworriesss Did you take a picture of the scratch? I would be surprised if it was that bad if you were going as slow as you say.

Did you offer to pay outright rather than going through insurance?

Jk987 · 20/01/2025 19:19

Try and do it without involving the insurance companies.

TSHconfusion · 20/01/2025 19:21

Just pay to fix the scratch why would you involve insurance over such a small scratch

millymae · 20/01/2025 19:22

Every car insurance policy I’ve ever had has stated quite clearly how much of my no claims bonus will be lost if I have a claim.
I currently pay to protect my ncb of 9 plus years but if I hadn’t done this my current insurer states that my ncb would reduce to 4 should I make one claim.
Being honest I didn’t think it would be such a hefty reduction.

PetulantWummin · 20/01/2025 19:28

toomuchcheesetoomuchchocolate · 20/01/2025 18:51

How badly did you scrape it? Someone reversed into me in a car park the other week and scratched my car. I got a quote from ChipsAway, sent her the details and she transferred the money to me. No insurance involved whatsoever.

I wish I'd known about this. I scraped a car in a car park Christmas week and they went down the insurance route as they were unable to be without their car. These guys do a mobile service.

Shade17 · 20/01/2025 19:50

Always go through insurance. You will lose a portion of your NCD and your policy will increase next year, hopefully not by too much. You won’t pay an excess if not claiming for the damage to your car.

Chongawonga · 20/01/2025 20:05

Personally I would go through your insurance as he will then have to to take his car to a reputable garage and therefore can't quote you ridiculous prices if you did decide to settle outside of the insurance. Your insurance will definitely go up for the next few years however it shouldn't be too much since it's a minor incident. Losing your no claims bonus means you will drop down to a certain number of no claims years (depends entirely on your insurance policy how many-could go from say, 10 years to 3) which means future quotes with any other insurers will also be higher than it would have been before the accident. Always worth paying a bit extra to protect them going forward. Given the fact he was asking about how many years no claims you have, I'd hazard a guess at him wondering whether to propose settling without involving the insurers since he's probably thinking the more no claims years you have, the less likely you'll be to want to lose them. That's just my guess though, he could have been nosey.

Original poster
Carworriesss · 21/01/2025 13:31

Update...
He has messaged me and said he can get it fixed for £250. He can send me the person's details and invoice etc or we can fo through insurance.

What would you do?

OP posts:
Raininginparadise2 · 21/01/2025 13:42

That seems really reasonable to me. Similar to what I paid to fix a scratch on my car.

HomelessAngua · 21/01/2025 13:48

If you go through insuance next year you will pay more but techincally I think you have to declare any accidents ... not just ones you have claimed for...

£250 is good,

iwillfghhjjj · 21/01/2025 13:49

Check out if it's a reasonable price and if it is go for it.

Puppupandaway · 21/01/2025 14:10

I'd deal with it privately so that it doesn't impact on your insurance next year. But not sure if you'll still need to inform them even if you don't claim.

Many years ago, I reversed into a wheelie bin. It smashed the light cover and there was a slight dent. Just repaired it with sellotape and sticky back plastic. It was always an advisory on the mot but I never dealt with it. A few years later, someone drove into the back of my car. When I phoned to tell my insurer, I told them (as I'm very honest) that the damage to the light was not their fault and told them the story of the wheelie bin. I was told that I should have declared it at the time and I felt like I was in the headteachers office having a dressing down. They said they wouldn't take it further but in future to report anything like that, even if it only affected your car.

So in your shoes, I'd have a dilemma!

Tiswa · 21/01/2025 14:14

It so important to note that if you fail to declare an accident to your insurance it will render it invalid - it is often a term of insurance that you have to declare all accidents

QueSyrahSyrah · 21/01/2025 14:21

I'd pay the £250. Sounds reasonable so I wouldn't think he was taking the piss. I paid £200 just before Christmas to fix a scratch I'd done from catching a multi storey car park pillar.

Caerulea · 21/01/2025 14:34

I think he's done you a kindness there tbh, probably doesn't want to screw up your insurance which is why he asked.

Fwiw - next time always take photos cos there are ppl who will take advantage. There's a big difference between a scuff that just takes a layer of paint off & a scratch going right through to the metalwork which is a much bigger fix.

Personally wouldn't even have taken your details cos I spend a lot of time driving in hedges lol

LondonPapa · 21/01/2025 14:36

Carworriesss · 21/01/2025 13:31

Update...
He has messaged me and said he can get it fixed for £250. He can send me the person's details and invoice etc or we can fo through insurance.

What would you do?

Notify insurance as you’re supposed to do. £250 is likely a rip off, potential risk of being asked for more. Don’t invalidate your insurance by not telling them.

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