You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Just getting peoples thoughts here.
Need some body work done on my car due to an argument with a Welsh stone wall. Had a couple of estimates that are saying it’s roughly £1k to repair.
Excess on my insurance policy, including the voluntary part, is £450.
I also had to make a claim earlier this year as my previous car was stolen.
I’m slightly worried that another claim will push the premium even higher than it currently is. But the other side is that I’ve not got any no claims discount to worry about due to the theft.
So dear STW, would you put it through the insurance or just pony up and pay it myself.
Hard to say but if you claimed your insurance increase for a few years could well be more than £500.
Do you have the cost of the repair available to spend it? I don't so I'd be swallowing the insurance hit and making a claim.
Depends on the extent of the damage, age of the car and if it’s on lease or finance.
Old car you don’t really give a monkeys about - leave the scars.
New ish car - I’d pay myself.
If you make another claim your premiums will rise even more.
To answer the questions above.
New-ish car (3 years old and in good condition).
Entirely owned by me, no finance or anything else.
I do have the money so fix it if needed, albeit I can think of much more interesting things to spend £1k on…
Intending to keep the car for a while.
Whilst the damage is superficial (some deep/gouges and some lost paint across the back door and rear wheel arch) and has not impact on how the car runs, it’s pretty bloody ugly so I would like it fixed.
Have you asked the repairer for a cash price? Ime they can pump the prices for insurance jobs (not all, I'm sure, but it does happen)
If I had the cash then I’d pay a ‘cash’ price for the repair if it was close to 2X excess.
Any incident increases your premiums. Whether it’s a ‘one driver’ or ‘this one drove into me!’ Incident. Seems unfair, but actuaries.
Clearly you’d notify your insurers of the incident anyway.
Clearly you’d notify your insurers of the incident anyway.
Isn't the point of threads like this to quiet the annoying voice of conscience before failing to inform the insurers?
Not worth claiming. You'll lose that £550 in increased premiums over the next few years. Unless the wall was damaged and the owner will be coming after you for repair costs.
Think I’d suck it up and see if I could find a repairer willing to give a non-insurance price.
An interesting split. At the moment I’m thinking of going direct and avoiding the insurance.