Neighbour roof and new car

[Advicespls19]

Advice please I’m really stressing. Due to the bad weather last night the neighbours roof fell down and debris fell on our new car! Less than one month old car on PCP for 4 years. There is no real damage apart from a tiny dent in the passenger door. It’s very small and only can see up close.

what do I do? I spoke to neighbour and he said I don’t claim through him I claim on my home insurance or I should take it to a car garage that specialise in car dents. He’s a really lovely guy and I don’t want to fall out over this with him so I’m looking for advice on what to do. Can this be easily fixed? The dent is tiny probably half the size of a 5p coin

Does it need to be fixed? I wouldn't really care about a dent that small tbh.

It’s shit but it’s right there insurance won’t cover it

@GetAFurqingCompass but as it’s on PCP I’m unclear as this is first car we’ve got on PCP. We have to return in 4 years will they take money from us?

It'll cost around max £300 to have the dent removed providing there's not much damage to the paintwork.
In order to claim from his insurance he needs to have been negligent in some way, so it depends why his roof fell down. That isn't something that normally happens even in poor weather.

In three years and 11 months time decide if it's worth repairing.

Sorry I’m really new to these things why don’t insurance cover it? I thought it would be covered

I’d be annoyed too but for a dent that small I wouldn’t bother. It will likely have a few more in the 4 years you’ll own it. Nearer the time you can decide if it’s worth having them fixed.

They’re all new builds and it was struck by lightening. We heard a huge crash last night and it woke us

You say he's lovely but if that were me I'd definitely be paying to have your car repaired.

Mind you, in your shoes I probably wouldn't have told him. Stuff happens, the car isn't going to be pristine when you hand it back.

He’s right. You claim on your own insurance if you want to, and then they will claim from him / his insurance if they feel there is liability there which would only be if he’s been negligent or directly at fault. I wouldn’t think a small dent was worth the cost of repair or the increased insurance cost.

I wouldn’t bother to do anything until the end of your lease agreement when you’ll have loads more tiny scratches and bumps to deal with.

Surely his home insurance should cover it??

his home caused the damage!

I’d be really annoyed that he hasn’t offered to pay for it already OP.

Thank you all. I suffer from severe anxiety and depression so I am feeling so dysregulated right now. I can’t process my feelings and emotions and think of next step. Don’t want this to become a DH issue but DH did tell me to park car near our garage but I parked on our driveway as easier getting things in and out in the morning.

Does his house insurance have a Public Liability element? Every house policy that we have ever had has had one.

You are literally saying that there is so little damage that you can't see it. (Unless you look real close up.)

So why are you bothered?

I've just re read. Your neighbour's roof fell down and you're mithering about a tiny dent on your car? I'd thought it was scafolding or some sort of temporary structure due to building work.

I mean maybe it's something to sort out with him (I probably wouldn't) but today he has bigger problems. I'd feel very fortunate the lightening hit him and not me and be offering whatever practical help he needs.

No. His home insurance covers damage to his home. Your car or home insurance covers damage to yours. He has no legal liability for damage to the OPs home, car or any other possessions due to a lightning strike that hits his roof.

But that’s only going to kick in if there is actually liability. Which is unlikely.

Doesn't sound to me like the neighbour is liable for the damage, they got hit by lighting, causing them damage. They can claim off their insurance for damage done to their items. I don't see how you have a claim against them - this is for your insurance to sort out.

Definitely wait and see nearer the time.

Insurance sometimes doesn’t cover an ‘act of god’.

I’ve had a car on lease before and a chap came to collect it and he spent half a day on our drive looking for faults. Twenty minutes opening and closing the boot. He was determined to find issues and I reckon he must have been on commission. Have a look in your contract and see what it says. In mine there was detail about length, width and depth of scratches for example so I’d imagine there is the same for dents.

Mine was scratched on day two by a golden retriever who put his paws up to try and say hello to my dog.

Why would anyone ’wait and see nearer the time’? What difference will that make?

Because it’s a new car, that they are paying for, and will have to pay for any damage on when it’s time to give it back.

Doesn't matter how small the damage is, it’s there.
just like when people open their car door on to yours. Small amount of damage, but still bloody annoying!

Leave it. You will probably pick up much worse than that over the next 4 years

Is it worth contacting the dealership we got it from? Or best to leave it as we returning car in 4 years