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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours handbrake failed

135 replies

SkySmiler · 06/04/2025 16:49

So her car rolled into mine and made quite a significant dent, she doesn't want to go through insurance as 'both' our premiums would go up.

So she's proposed arranging fixing and paying for it herself, so we took car to garage with her and they have said to drop it off tomorrow at 9am and it can be collected at 6pm on Tuesday.

It's the school holidays and she expects me to be without a car for 2 days whilst she experiences no inconvenience - apparently her car manufacturer will reimburse her the money she has to spend on getting mine fixed, so no inconvenience for her and she won't be out of pocket either and she can go on about her day(s) with no problems.

OP posts:
TheNightingalesStarling · 06/04/2025 16:51

Agree if she also pays for a hire car

WonderingWanda · 06/04/2025 16:51

Tell her she needs to hire you a replacement or you will be going through your insurance company instead because they provide a courtesy car. Do what works for you.

Rattai · 06/04/2025 16:52

Does the garage have a courtesy car?

IWillJustSayThis · 06/04/2025 16:52

Super annoying for you.

Two options, hire a car and tell her she has to pay or go through your insurance and do it all 'properly'. Why are you letting her dictate to you how it's all going to be resolved?

OliphantJones · 06/04/2025 16:52

Do not be browbeaten into not going through insurance. A woman police officer tried this on me once after driving into the back of my car. I insisted on going through insurance. My premium did not go up as it wasn’t my fault.

TeeBee · 06/04/2025 16:52

Have you asked her to arrange a replacement car for you? Costs around £20-30/day to rent a car.

Rattai · 06/04/2025 16:52

Is her car also not going to the garage to be fixed??

Gundogday · 06/04/2025 16:54

I’d be tempted to go through insurance.

KezzaMucklowe · 06/04/2025 16:54

I agree with pp, get her to provide a hire car or go through insurance.

Overthebow · 06/04/2025 16:54

Does your insurance include a hire car? If so tell her she’ll need to pay for a hire car for you or you’ll have to go through insurance so you can get one, as a car is essential to you.

MummaMummaMumma · 06/04/2025 16:55

Either she hires a car or it goes in the garage at a time that is convenient to you.

Bananafofana · 06/04/2025 16:55

I agreed to someone doing this after a very minor ding that was entirely their fault : but we went to a garage that gave me a courtesy car for two days

Whaleandsnail6 · 06/04/2025 16:56

Ask her to cover the cost of a renal car, and take you to pick it up and drop it off again

I would have no problem going through insurance as long as the car was fixed and I wasn't inconvenienced by having no car.

Dragonfly909 · 06/04/2025 16:57

This happened to us and our car was a write off as the suspension was damaged from the car being pushed forward. So don't assume it will just be the dent.

I'd love to say our premium didn't go up because it obviously wasn't our fault, but it did! However I'd still go through insurance tbh in case of any complications.

saveforthat · 06/04/2025 17:00

I'd be really wary about this. Someone went into the back of my DP (admittedly a stranger not a neighbour). They wanted to get it fixed outside insurance. The guy that caused the accident paid the garage up front which sounds great but because It had already been paid for there was no urgency on the part of the garage and we waited weeks for what should have been a quick repair. I would never try to do someone a favour again and always go through insurance.

faerietales · 06/04/2025 17:02

It's not up to her whether you go through insurance or not.

Personally, I would let my insurers handle it. You're supposed to tell them about any accidents anyway, and if they find out further down the line, you could have your policy voided.

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 06/04/2025 17:03

I got into an accident on Friday acrually, I lost my footing, couldnt brake, and bumped into the car in front at a traffic light

I was so embarrassed and offered to pay out of pocket - then he started saying he thought his sensors would need replacing - bear in mind I was going 10mph if that

So i text him and went through insurance

It's you that will have to pay your excess though, her premiums will go up and she'll lose her no claims

It's best that way, as you can't be without your car x

TeenLifeMum · 06/04/2025 17:04

I’d say I’ve taken advice and for the amount of damage it needs to go through the insurance

Hadalifeonce · 06/04/2025 17:04

Just go through insurance. What would happen if you drop off your car, then she refuses to pay the repair bill?

kiwiane · 06/04/2025 17:05

Go through insurance - that’s what it’s for and your car could have damage that makes it a write off.

faerietales · 06/04/2025 17:06

And yes, your premium may go up a little, but if you don't tell them and your car is a write off, or ends up costing thousands and she refuses to pay the bill, you're screwed anyway.

Seaitoverthere · 06/04/2025 17:07

I would go through the insurance. Our car was hit in a carpark when the other driver either forgot the handbrake or it failed. We didn’t have to pay the excess as it wasn’t our fault and had a hire care the whole time. Our premium didn’t go up but I suspect it depends on your insurer.

It was very close to being a write off though which was a bit nerve wracking for a bit. It’s really hard to know how much damage has been done before a garage has looked at it.

CanOfMangoTango · 06/04/2025 17:07

Always go thru insurance if someone hits you. No benefit to you not to.

CanOfMangoTango · 06/04/2025 17:08

Always go thru insurance if someone hits you. No benefit to you not to.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 06/04/2025 17:09

Either go through your insurance or say she will need to hire you a car so that you don’t have to go through insurers

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