[Closed] What to do when you've had a car bump?

isnt it in your insurance T+C that you have to tell them? think it probably is!

I'd do it through your insurers if there's any amount of damage done, give them her details and let them sort it all out. You are obliged to tell them even if there is no claim made officially.

Happened to me last year. Here's what I did:

Find a reputable body shop (via my usual car service place), pop round and get a rough quote from them, tell the dozy person what the likely cost is and then allow them to contact their insurance when they decide that they'd rather do it that way. I didn't tell my insurers, nothing to do with them at all, is it?

Yeah, we've had this.... Be aware that when they realise how much it's going to cost, they tend to go a bit quiet on you and try and avoid paying. So don't take any BS is my advice. If they aren't forthcoming, go through the insurance.

That said, I'd always be happy to let the other party stump up if they want to, and not involve the insurance

Problem comes out as per PP that if they subsequently back down your insurers can get shirty as you've effectively been negotiating with the other party on their behalf.

[i]nothing to do with them at all, is it? [/i]

well, insurers do ask you to report all accidents whether they are your fault or not, not tellign them and then it subsequently coming to light may prejudice any future claims you might make.

My insurance company could technically claim against the person directly, could they not?

I should add that this is in Germany - although my policy is via the UK.

molgrips - Member
Some dozy person crashed into the back of us on Saturday. She said she'd pay for the repair herself if it was going to work out cheaper than a claim.

So what do you do? Do I even need to tell my insurance company? Do I get a quote first then call my insurance company if they decide to go through insurance?

I'd call my insurance and let them deal with it.

It'll be much less hassle for you.

I certainly would take her word that she'll pay out herself.

She might just want to save making a claim, however it might be that she hasn't even got a licence to drive or she's not insured.

what wwaswas said. tell the insurance company and let them deal with it. if they won't deal with her the way she wants, that's hardly your problem, is it?

insurers do ask you to report all accidents

Hmm, I wasn't aware of any requirement to tell my insurers. Perhaps I just got lucky with the person who hit me - she admitted fault immediately, and said as much to her insurers who just sorted it all out nice and quickly as a result. Didn't see any need to involve my side as it was all working out smoothly, and every time I've dealt with them on other stuff they've been impressively incompetent and made a hash of everything.

[Edit: molgrips ignore me, evidently you should speak to your insurers to save yourself hassle, I just got lucky. 🙂 ]

[i]I wasn't aware of any requirement to tell my insurers[/i]

every quote I've ever got has asked if I'd had any accidents (whether a claim was made or not)int he past X years.

on renewal they normally ask if there's been any accidents or convictions in the previous year.

it's about risk, if you're rear ended by other motorists every 2 months whether you claim or not the risk to your insurers is increased.

insurers do ask you to report all accidents

Do you ever wonder WHY???

on renewal they normally ask if there's been any accidents or convictions in the previous year

That's a good point and hadn't occurred to me because it's simply not happened to me before now. I'll mention it when the policy comes up for renewal. Better put a couple of hundred aside for the completely unrelated increase on my premium, eh? 😉

I immediatly reported it to my insurance company (Admiral) and told them that the 3rd party had said they would like to not go through the insurance. Insurance company noted that and contacted the other parties insurance company anyway.

I went and got a quote for the work and sent that to the other person. They said they'd pay it if I sent them the receipt. I trusted them and did so as I had their contact details and if necessary I could chase them (the personalised number plate on their brand new range rover gave them away as being a localish oil and coal merchants wife) and I think the insurance company had said they would follow it up if necessary too.

The cheque from her husbands company came through a couple of days after I posted them a copy of the invoice and I told the insurance company it was settled.

Hasn't had any affect on the insurance company chasing another claim for me a few months later when some Italian tourists reversed into me at a junction 🙄

You have to report it...and theoretically you have to tell the police (I think).

I had a similar incident...I returned from holiday once to find the side of my car all dented. Fortunately there was a note under the wiper apologising.

He wanted to pay for it himself, and I gave all the details to my insurer. It turned out that it was a write off as the car was worth about £750 and it was estimated at £1000 to fix.

I ended up getting £800 from my insurer, and the other guy decided to let his insurer pay it as he only expected it to be a couple of hundred to repair. I'm assuming he had the option to pay it himself...I guess insurers don't really care where the money comes from.

if you tell your insurance you will have to declare it come renewal time and even though it is no fault of your own it will put your premium up as insurance companies claim "drivers who get hit are a higher risk" - load of crap!

Problem comes if she doesn't pay up and you have to go through insurance after a delay.

Lol.

Called the insurance company. Took all my details as a notification, fine. She offered to put me through to their accident repair dept, but instead I got some bloke on his mobile in Chippenham 🙂