Help - Hire Car smashed into my new Garden Fencing - driver has no Insurance Certificate

[Baxdale]

I am a regular and frequent poster but have recently name changed.

Can anyone advise me what to do in this scenario.

A driver in an Avis Rental Car has just reversed into the fencing around my Oil tank and totally destroyed it. The fencing is new and was expensive (£460). The driver of the car speaks no English and his wife very little.

I have managed to photocopy their Hire Agreement but they say they have no Insurance Certificate.

I have reported the incident to the Police and have a report number but cannot get Avis to answer their phones. There is no information on their website telling me what to do in this scenario.

My own House Insurance does not cover this incident because of the location of the OilTank and even if they did I have a £500 excess on my policy and a NCB I really wouldn't want to lose.

Has anyone else been through something similar with Avis? I would really welcome some advice as to how to get them to talk to me and how I report an accident involving one of their vehicles. It would also help to know if their Insurance covered the damage caused by one of their drivers.

Probably the fact it's Sunday is your main problem. I wouldn't worry just yet. You'll probably get someone no problem tomorrow morning

I would be surprised if Avis’ insurance didn’t cover this, but you never know. Fingers crossed for you. Can you find an email address for Avis customer service?

I don’t think a reputable firm like Avis would rent a car out without there been insurance which will not only cover the car but more importantly any damage to other cars or people or property.....the latter is a legal requirement.

Surely third party insurance has to be bought whilst hiring a car? I thought it was bundled up with the rental charges.
It wouldnt be legal for the hire company to hire out the car othedwise, would it?

You should be able to claim though Avis, who will probably reclaim some of the costs (excess) from the driver but thats between them.
Try Avis again on Monday.

I’ve never been given an insurance certificate when hiring a car because the insurance is included with the car. Get photos of the car and the Reg. then call them when it’s not a Sunday or message on social media if you want I guess?

Here you go.

The Dr iver might not fully understand the contract he signed, hence him thinking there is no insurance, but you should legally be able to claim the damage through Avis.I
It's not like the driver can hide the fact an accident happened - the car must be damaged! Did you get photos at the time?
Good luck.

The vehicle will have third party cover on it at least.

They’ll be insured through Avis, but hire car companies tend not to be open on Sunday evenings.

The car is insured.

Thank you all.

Your replies have given me some reassurance.

I have tried several times this evening but will hit the phone again during my lunch hour tomorrow. I did get a copy of the Rental Agreement, a lot of photos and a signed statement saying they had damaged the fencing. I also informed the Police.

Luckily for them it doesn't seem to have done much damage to the car. Just my fencing.

Thank you Nico that is particularly useful.

Phone Avis on Monday and take details of who you spoke to and what was said.