Neighbour hit car

[obewan]

I've phoned my insurer and told them what's happened but for information only, and that I won't be claiming from them, hopefully I haven't screwed that up :?

I think you have, they will note that you have now been in an accident and this may increase your premium, could be wrong but think its what happens

I used to think that as well, but not sure now. Also the data would have been logged on the 'system' now by the neighbours insurance company anyway

2020 I had a non-fault accident on my motorbike - all costs were paid by the other party.
Along came my renewal, and was pleasantly surprised to find no increase.
Then my wife's car insurance renewal, again no increase

The only increase was on my Z4 renewal (about 15%). When I asked why they said 'as I'd had an accident'

I shopped around and got it £60 cheaper than my previous (pre accident) price.

Members more experienced in these matters may be able to advise

 

[Zedebee]

The important thing to remember from a legal point of view is that your neighbour is liable to you for the damage he’s caused. Your claim is against him and he is protected by an indemnity from his insurance company. It’s up to you whether to involve your insurer, but you shouldn’t have to. It might be better for neighbour relationships if you do go through your respective insurers, but this is the only benefit for you.

 

[Usel]

I've phoned my insurer and told them what's happened but for information only, and that I won't be claiming from them, hopefully I haven't screwed that up :?

If you are definitely going through the insurance route then you have done the right thing.
As the neighbour has admitted fault then you can now deal directly through their insurance company.

It's easier to deal directly with their insurance company and if you don't need a courtesy car then that will give you more leverage with where you get it repaired. They seem to bend the knee a little more when dealing directly with the person they need to compensate.

Your own insurance company will always deal with it as if they have to pay for the damages because essentially they will until they put the claim into the other insurance company with the final bill.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I'm sorry to see that Mark.

Someone drove into the back of my 3 Series last year and I claimed from his insurer so I wouldn't have a claim recorded on my policy. Sadly they made it a Cat N because the bodyshop they recommended padded out their estimate. They were also really mean with their valuation, but other than that it all worked out fine.

I'm just renewing through Saga and they told me a non-fault claim wouldn't affect the premium with my insurer Acromas. But they wanted a copy of an MOT Pass Certificate after the accident because it was Cat a N.

Hope you get a good outcome.

 

[Pondy]

I've phoned my insurer and told them what's happened but for information only, and that I won't be claiming from them, hopefully I haven't screwed that up :?

I think you have, they will note that you have now been in an accident and this may increase your premium, could be wrong but think its what happens

Exactly this. Because you have notified them it’s classed as an “incident”.

Yep. Any call to insurers these days to 'find out about a claim' goes down as an "incident". And they will generally increase premiums by 20% for the next 5 years. It will be put on the insurance database aswell so changing insurers won't make any difference.

 

[Pondy]

In 2024 having any kind of claim, whether 100% non-fault or not, WILL adversely affect your premium for many years to come. It will affect the neighbour's more (quite rightly) but you will still pay.

In this situation it is a direct 'risk' scenario. By leaving your car near to a complete muppet who obviously can't drive, you have increased YOUR risk. The insurance will look at it as though it could easily happen again and next time maybe you will not be able to claim against the third party, so their theoretical risk is increased.

 

[Pondy]

I have a friend who had a similar thing....his next door neighbour drove his van round to park in the friend's driveway (he was doing some work for him so needed tools). The neighbour reversed into my friend's car while getting out. The neighbour wanted to claim on insurance so they did.
This was around 5 years ago and my friend's premiums have been 25% more since (over and above the yearly increase).

He is not very happy with his neighbour, strangely enough! :wink:

Basically, muppet neighbours cost you money. Simples. :x

 

[Mr Tidy]

I'm sorry to see that Mark.

Someone drove into the back of my 3 Series last year and I claimed from his insurer so I wouldn't have a claim recorded on my policy. Sadly they made it a Cat N because the bodyshop they recommended padded out their estimate. They were also really mean with their valuation, but other than that it all worked out fine.

I'm just renewing through Saga and they told me a non-fault claim wouldn't affect the premium with my insurer Acromas. But they wanted a copy of an MOT Pass Certificate after the accident because it was Cat a N.

Hope you get a good outcome.

Well it seems Saga were telling porkies because they put the premium up nearly £20 and added £50 to the excess - thieving gits!

Still from what Pondy said maybe it could have been worse.

 

[Argyll Andy]

Hopefully Mr Tidy will be on soon, as he has some background in insurance. My understanding is that you should just hold the neighbour responsible, claim off him directly and it’s up to him to get his insurer involved. There should not be any need to involve your insurer who will inevitably bump up premiums etc. I may be wrong though.

This is pretty spot on to a degree, my insurance company said they would hold the information on file but I had to tell them the car had been in an accident/incident even though I wasn’t in the car. They said they wouldn’t hold it against me claim wise as the other parties insurance contacted me directly and took full responsibility, they also asked me not to claim my own insurance. My insurance was due 20ish days later, I’d already had my renewal quote and it didn’t increase a penny after I had spoken to them.

Other company was LV, I’m insured by BMW

 

[Pondy]

Well it seems Saga were telling porkies because they put the premium up nearly £20 and added £50 to the excess - thieving gits!

Saga are great! I got six months FREE insurance on my F31 the other day thanks to their cock up.

Downside is I have been driving around in an uninsured F31 for nearly 4 months. Their computer decided to not process the change over from my Z3 to the F31 back in January. Funny, though, cos they took the additional premium. :x

Only a letter from from the MIB (Motor Insurance Bureau, apparently) highlighted it.

 

[flimper]

I've told AXA I don't need a hire car, but I've just seen what I can choose from and am tempted to change my mind!

TVR Tuscan Targa (4.0), Porsche Boxster S (3.2), BMW Z4M (3.2),
Mercedes-Benz CLK350 Cabriolet (3.5), Mercedes-Benz E 350
Cabriolet/Coupe, BMW M3 E46 (3.2)

 

[Big Bad Boris]

Hopefully Mr Tidy will be on soon, as he has some background in insurance. My understanding is that you should just hold the neighbour responsible, claim off him directly and it’s up to him to get his insurer involved. There should not be any need to involve your insurer who will inevitably bump up premiums etc. I may be wrong though.

I believe you need to inform your insurer, but don’t actually open a claim.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I've told AXA I don't need a hire car, but I've just seen what I can choose from and am tempted to change my mind!

TVR Tuscan Targa (4.0), Porsche Boxster S (3.2), BMW Z4M (3.2),
Mercedes-Benz CLK350 Cabriolet (3.5), Mercedes-Benz E 350
Cabriolet/Coupe, BMW M3 E46 (3.2)

Can you change your mind?

I'd love to have a TVR for a few days!

And Saga weren't too happy that I didn't report it For Information Only - maybe that's why they charged another £20 and increased the excess? :lol:

 

[Nanu]

I had a claim when a drunk driver hit my car, witnessed Police prosecuted him and I claimed off his insurance but out of curtesy informed my insurance as I thought they would find out anyway.

My premiums went up and when I queried this they said it was because I was an increased risk. Had to declare it for the next 7 years.

 

[Zedebee]

Hopefully Mr Tidy will be on soon, as he has some background in insurance. My understanding is that you should just hold the neighbour responsible, claim off him directly and it’s up to him to get his insurer involved. There should not be any need to involve your insurer who will inevitably bump up premiums etc. I may be wrong though.

I believe you need to inform your insurer, but don’t actually open a claim.

Do read your small print, but I don’t see why you should have any obligation to inform your insurer if your car is damaged and you have no intention of making a claim. They are not a party to the transaction. Clearly if you have damaged someone else’s vehicle or property you would need to notify them so as not to invalidate the third party element of your insurance.

 

[pvr]

The small print does say “accident or loss whether claimed or not”. Unfortunately no way of getting out of that one

 

[MikeyH]

I thought there is something about full disclosure on insurance forms

 

[beanie]

I had a claim when a drunk driver hit my car, witnessed Police prosecuted him and I claimed off his insurance but out of curtesy informed my insurance as I thought they would find out anyway.

My premiums went up and when I queried this they said it was because I was an increased risk. Had to declare it for the next 7 years.

This sort of thing always strikes me as an abuse of statistics. It’s one thing to cause an accident or be partially to blame, but to be a victim that sufferers through zero personal fault shouldn’t lump you in to the same category.

Perhaps they should refund their increase if you don’t claim within those seven years :lol:

 

[pvr]

It is an abuse by the insurance companies, and only done in the UK.

 

[tomscott]

My car was stolen while under the care of a garage. Not on my property or my care.

The garages CCTV was conveniently non operational. In the end my insurance lost the case in court and I ended up loosing my 14 years no claims because even with protecting your no claims they only protect 3 years. So essentially it was all claimed on my insurance even tho it was no fault of my own and all the fault of the garage. It was in a locked compound and they wrote the numberplate on a keyring attached to my keys.

My insurance was around 320 and this year the cheapest renewal was over 900 and I have to wait 5 years to stop declairing it.

I was with admiral and they were a complete nightmare. They made made decisions on my behalf without first asking.

This was at the peak of the car cost craze. It was a 3 year old clubman JCW with 10k on it and pretty much every option you could get and there wasn't another one for sale similar for less than 28k. Admiral offered me 16k and with negotiation the top I could get was 18.5k thankfully this paid the rest of the finance and left me with my deposit. That being said if I needed to go and buy another I wouldn't have been able to.

Bottom line you have to have insurance due to law but they are never on your side, the cost of the insurance and then they fight with you when they need you most.