[Closed] Car insurance - when to claim, when to pay...

Probably posted this a *bit* early - anyone anyone??

Your going to see that increase in premium how ever you settle it .

You cannot answer the have you been involved im an accident in the last x number of years question with no unless you lie to your insurance - thats never clever.

You'll likely pay more than that back in increased premiums over the next 3-5 years.

If no one else was involved so no further costs that may pop up over the next few years and you've not told your insurers i'd just pay it, sorry.

trail_rat that's a good point, hadn't even occurred to me that. Looks like it's a claim then. Grrrreat 😉

Good point , didnt notice that .. .if you just drove into your own wall for example.... Thats a diffent kettle of fish to if you drove into someone else ....if no third party then if might just have been you getting your car tarted up from general damage as oppose an accident. Ie you hit your own wall or a wheelie bin or even had it scratched as your wifes hand bag squeezed by

I wish it had been my own wall, but sadly not. Like I say, it's a claim I think. "Buggeh".

If this is just damage to your own vehicle, then I'd just pay (or ignore if bodywork etc) and wouldn't have even thought to inform the insurance company.

If it's just damage to another vehicle, then you won't have an excess to pay, and if they've gone through insurance you've no real choice anyway.

Either way, claiming will cost you far more in the long run, as it will impact your premium for years to come.

I was just about to say it depends if you just drove into your own wall or if it was someone elses.

Claim then, insurance is not just insurance against the real damage but against people scamming you out of more money.

Thanks everyone, all very helpful.