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Original poster

Hit parked car

52 replies

BlueBox81 · 10/07/2023 14:10

I hit a parked car in a car park this morning. There is a scratch on my and their car. I left my details and they have called me. They have said they are a private taxi (true their licence was displayed on the windscreen) and that they are not allowed to work with scratches on their car. They said they don't want to go through insurance (I guess because of the time it would take) they will get a quote and they want me to pay them directly (not the garage). I feel uneasy about this. Any advice on what I should do? Thanks

OP posts:
AmITooOldToDoThis · 10/07/2023 16:39

Roussette · 10/07/2023 15:44

For a scratch? I don't think so. It's hardly a big accident.

I reversed my DH's car into a post, not mega damage, bit of a dent, we had it repaired, didn't tell the insurance co.

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Yes, for a scratch. It will say any incident.

LorraineInSpain · 10/07/2023 16:40

AmITooOldToDoThis · 10/07/2023 16:39

Yes, for a scratch. It will say any incident.

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And definitely important if there’s a third party involved, even with no / minimal damage

CamCola · 10/07/2023 16:46

AmITooOldToDoThis · 10/07/2023 16:39

Yes, for a scratch. It will say any incident.

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Only idiots tell there insurance when they are not claiming through them.

The whole point of getting it done yourself is to avoid the insurance company and keep any further car insurance payments down.

drpet49 · 10/07/2023 17:05

LorraineInSpain · 10/07/2023 15:42

You have to tell your insurance company if you are involved in an accident whether there is a claim or not.

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Maybe. But I wouldn’t for a scratch or small
dent.

year12clueless · 10/07/2023 17:14

I love Mumsnet sometimes. There are legit reasons sometimes NOT to use insurance. I hit a parked car last week. Very small scratch. Neither of us wanted to use insurance (my excess is high they didn't want the inevitable premium increase). I got a quote. They got a quote. Mine was further away but a lot cheaper. I said I'd also pay for Ubers.
Basically their car was old and dinged already so fixing one scrape was polishing a turd, and they CBA to get it fixed, but I had damaged it so they were owed. I transferred the amount for my quote to them with some wording around it being full and final settlement for the scratch to their car on xxx date, photo attached. They confirmed this.
It was an amount equivalent to my excess so Ive saved the stress and hit to my premiums. They've got cash. Everyone is happy.

Original poster
BlueBox81 · 10/07/2023 17:18

drpet49 · 10/07/2023 17:05

Maybe. But I wouldn’t for a scratch or small
dent.

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It is just scratches to both cars, and would rather not tell insurance because I know it will effect our premium, but I just think the risk is too great, as there is another party involved, especially as he uses his car for work and wants me to pay him direct rather than the garage. It does make me suspicious. Hoping the increased premium will be worth my peace of mind knowing that I told them if something happens further down the line!

OP posts:
Newbutoldfather · 10/07/2023 17:21

I wouldn’t risk not going through insurance.

Really, you don’t know them and it could quickly turn nasty and expensive. If they are a taxi, they probably know a friendly garage who can give them an exaggerated quote to send to you.

Insurance is not only safer but means you keep potentially unfriendly people at arm’s length.

LIZS · 10/07/2023 17:25

I'd be concerned he will chase you further for loss of earnings etc.

oldoldieoldieold · 10/07/2023 17:30

I this instance I'd insist on going through insurance due to the risk of them trying to chase you for loss of earnings.

Madamecastafiore · 10/07/2023 17:39

He I don't think I've ever got in to a taxi that didn't have a scratch or a small dent. He's going to go after you for loss if earnings. I expect he thinks you're dim enough to believe he can't work wit a scratch on his car where an insurance company won't fall for that.

YeCannaeChangeTheLawsOfPhysics · 10/07/2023 17:40

100% insurance.

Meeting · 10/07/2023 17:43

He doesn't get to decide not to go through his insurance. You do.

StopFeckingFaffing · 10/07/2023 17:50

If its just damage which can be sorted at a cheap bodyshop then I personally would pay the garage direct and not involve insurance company

I did this a few years ago when I scraped the car of a colleague (that I didn't previously know) in work car park

She took her car to a local bodyshop and I paid the bodyshop (£100) directly to prevent it affecting my insurance premium or no claims discount

Makegoodchoices · 10/07/2023 17:50

I had a small bump with an sweet old lady who said “my husband is good with cars and can sort that scratch out himself” I insisted she took details, her husband then called and asked for quite a lot of money, I asked him to forward me a garage quote - he produced a poorly faked one for even more money for a garage that a quick google showed did not exist. I said “yeah, no thanks I’ll go through insurance” and received lots of angry calls from him.
Insurance dealt with it smoothly and no more bother.

Original poster
BlueBox81 · 10/07/2023 18:03

OK, well I've bitten the bullet and notified my insurers. I will just have to take the hit of the increased premium, but at least I know I'm covered if he comes back with a wildly expensive quote or sends me a bill for loss of earnings.

OP posts:
huntingcunting · 10/07/2023 18:33

BlueBox81 · 10/07/2023 18:03

OK, well I've bitten the bullet and notified my insurers. I will just have to take the hit of the increased premium, but at least I know I'm covered if he comes back with a wildly expensive quote or sends me a bill for loss of earnings.

Good because it sounds like he'll end up trying to make you pay for his loss of earnings too.

ScarletWitchM · 10/07/2023 19:27

Insurance. If you fail to inform them then your insurance is invalid. Also if you settle in cash they could take out a personal claim against you for loss of earnings etc

clpsmum · 10/07/2023 19:42

I chance they're trying it on. Insurance only

midnightblue12 · 10/07/2023 21:14

If you don't go through insurance just be mindful that the driver could, at any point in the future, come back to you and say "oh Ive just discovered further damage" and at that point it's be too late for you to be able to claim as I think most car insurances ask they are notified in a certain amount of time.

So just make sure you get some form of confirmation that is the extent of damage.

My car was once damaged and we dealt outside of insurance. It was all straight forward and sorted. It can be done, but make sure you cross your ts and dot your is!

kirinm · 10/07/2023 21:16

I did this once and paid the garage directly.

nestofvipers · 10/07/2023 21:22

BlueBox81 · 10/07/2023 18:03

OK, well I've bitten the bullet and notified my insurers. I will just have to take the hit of the increased premium, but at least I know I'm covered if he comes back with a wildly expensive quote or sends me a bill for loss of earnings.

He shouldn’t be coming back to you with anything. He should notify his insurer who should communicate directly with your insurer and he should not be sending you any quotes or bills. It should all be dealt with by your insurance company now.

Shade17 · 11/07/2023 12:39

It was an amount equivalent to my excess so Ive saved the stress and hit to my premiums. They've got cash. Everyone is happy.

More fool you, you don’t pay the excess on a third party claim. You say you have a high excess, the chances are, that for a small claim like this the extra premiums over the next 5 years would be less than you’ve just paid out in one lump sum. When you renew next year and you tick the box marked “no” in relation to claims/accidents in the last 5 years you’ll also be committing insurance fraud. Well done!

costacoughee · 11/07/2023 13:03

I'm not sure if not disclosing is against your insurance contract? Personally if it was more reasonable I don't see why people can't proceed like this as everyone's insurance shoots up ...the innocent drivers too.

AuntieJune · 11/07/2023 13:14

I had a hit to my parked car, looked like a scratch so didn't do anything as it's a crap and beat up car anyway.

Come MOT time, it was almost a write-off as the bash had pushed it against the kerb and cracked the suspension arm, the wheel could have come off at any time. The only visible evidence (unless you crawled under the car and knew what you were looking at) was a tiny scratch to paintwork - it had been slowly, gently pushed into the kerb.

Just saying. This is why insurance companies want to get cars checked out instead of people sorting it themselves.

I suspect what this guy wanted to do was present you with a quote for £3k, get the money off you, then get a mate to sort the paintwork for £20.

Original poster
BlueBox81 · 11/07/2023 16:16

Thanks for all of the advice so far. Yesterday I notified my insurance company of the accident but said I was waiting for quotes before deciding whether to claim. Other party has now sent me a quote for £360. My car is £250. My excess is £600 so it works out pretty even.
Does anyone know, if I go through insurance can I just ask for them to pay for his damages and I pay for my own repairs directly? Then I wouldn't need to pay the excess and would only be paying the £250 for my own car with my insurers paying for his. Is that right?
Also I spoke to him again today and he said if I pay him direct he will book the car in for days he is not working and won't need to ask me for loss of earnings. Presumably he can still book the car in for the repair on days he's not working even if I go through insurance?
If he put in for loss of earnings as part of the insurance claim and my insurer said no (not sure if they cover that - will find out later) would he be able to come after me personally for his loss of earnings? Thanks

OP posts: