Car insurance question.

[MummysHappyPills]

Recently involved in a very minor collision, my fault, no visible damage to my car, tiny scratch on their's. Other driver was very nice and said they would get a quote so we wouldn't have to go through insurance if I didn't want to. However quote is £200+, and whilst we could just about afford it, I do have no claims protection on my policy. My dad says that I would only have to pay excess if I made a claim for damage to MY car, and it does not apply to repairs to a third party's car. Is he right? I have read through my policy and it says very little and I can't tell one way or the other. Of course if I ring them, I will have to tell them about the accident, and I will rule out the possibility of just paying the other driver directly I presume, and the fact I have been involved in an "accident" I assume will put my premiums up regardless of whether I do make a claim or not?

My excess is £300, so if I have to pay excess for a third party repair I might as well just pay him myself....

Any advice would be appreciated.

No, he's wrong, you would have to pay the excess.

I'm not an expert on car insurance policy, but am pretty sure it pays out on repairs to both cars. I had a tiny scrape with a stationary car a couple of months and insurance paid for both to be repaired.

However, bear in mind that even though you have no claims protection, your insurance premiums may still go up or the choice of car insurance companies may bs limited. They ask whether you've had an accident/claim in last 3 years, and some don't offer insurance if you've made a claim.

Sorry, and you'll have to pay the excess regardless whether it's your car or theirs.

Thanks. I realise premiums may go up, but I went on confused.com and got some quotes on the basis I had no claims but had had anaccident, and the quotes weren't really any more expensive.

I realise the insurance will pay out, but was just wondering if I would have to pay the excess.

Up until now I was just going to pay him, but the quote was £££ for what was essentially a 2mm scratch! So if my no claims was protected and I wouldn't have to pay the excess, I was considering claiming as it's what it's there for!

Dp says he may phone insurance company customer services "hypothetically" without giving policy no and see what they say! I personally can't be bothered with the hassle, and will probably just pay him and have done with it!

X posts manji, thank you.

I went into the back of someone last year. No damage to my car £1000 worth of damage and claims to the other party. It went via my insurance and I didn't pay any excess. I just lost 1 years no claims.

Thanks Sarah. See if that was me, I wouldn't lose my no claims as I am protected. Am very confused now! Also the wording of my policy document says that if I claim for repairs to MY car, I will have to pay excess but doesn't make it clear what happens if a third party makes a claim for repairs to their car.

I think maybe a call to the insurer to ask about their policy may be called for, without admitting I am already a customer!

I crashed my car into someone else a couple of years ago. My insurance paid for their repairs. I lost my no claims. I did NOT have to pay the excess as I didn't get my car repaired.

I know it might not be what you want to hear but £200 doesnt get you much when it comes to repairing scratches,ds is in the paint spraying trade so get a bit of inside info,it might be worth running it past your insurance company,stating it is for "information only"

Thanks jolly, that's really useful.

I know sassy, I have no doubt the quote is genuine, e sent me a copy via e mail and the bumper has to be resprayed so it makes sense. I think the guy wouldn't bother getting it repaired usually (scratch really is minuscule) but he is trying to sell the car apparently, so fair enough that he wants it fixed properly.

Not disputing the quote at all, just changes my approach to it, as obviously a couple if hundred will put a big dent in our finances ATM...

Your excess only applies to your damage if you have comp cover so your dad is right. TP cover extends to everything involved in the to claim - hire, injury, damage etc. but you claim if you had damage would be subject to the x/s.

I do have comp cover, but claim will only be for damage to his car as mine has none iyswim?!

You could offer him a sum of money on the basis that he's not likely to get such a minor bit of damage actually repaired. In insurance it's called cash in lieu of the repairs. If he doesn't accept then only stump up on receipt of an invoice once the repair has been carried out. I'd maybe offer £100 at the most or tell him to get the repair done and then send you the invoice when it's been completed. The final invoice should not be more than the estimate/quote, especially for such s minor repair. Under no circumstances should you authorise the repair yourself.

I guess that is so the 3rd party will always get everything they're entitled to with no quibbles etc, and will not be affected by the driver at fault's ability to pay?

Yes banana, I was thinking that if we didn't go through the insurance co, I would only agree to pay the body shop direct e.g. By guaranteed cheque or bacs payment directly to them.

On the other hand, you could just get your insurer to deal with him, and then 'buy' back the claim when it's been paid. Saves you a load if hassle.

Was your fault so your excess

MHP that's right, tp cover is for the protection of innocent road users do that they aren't left out if pocket through someone else's negligence.

Am not disputing my fault or liability, just wondering if excess applies to 3rd party claims at all in the first place...

Apologies for my shocking typos

Haven't heard of buying back the claim?! Though if I have no claims protection, wouldn't that be pointless?!

It is pointless if you don't have another accident. But, there is always a chance that could happen. It's just something to be aware of, if in the future you had a 2nd accident which then meant you lost your protection.

Yeah see what you're saying. Does seem a bit foolish to "waste" a claim for the sake of a couple of hundred quid. But then again it would leave is very short, and it is kind of what we pay insurance for?!

You won't pay an excess for the other driver's repair, only for your own part of a claim, e.g. repairs to your own car.

You must inform your insurer of the collision. Your policy will specify this. Do this as a "notification", meaning you aren't making a claim at the moment. The notification may not affect your future premium depending on your policy. Otherwise you risk losing your insurance, e.g. if the other driver notifies their insurer, yours will find out too. If £200 is hard to find, the high cost of insurance after them recording you as fraudulent will be prohibitive.