Windscreen replacement - will it count against me come insurance renewal?

X

xp_mckenna

Member
 Stansted, Essex
Hi all,

Hit a little snag with the car I'm supposed to be picking up this weekend.

On the test drive I noted that the windscreen had a chip in it - definitely in the field of vision, and I'm sure it would fail MOT. And it's unsightly. "No problem" says he, "I'll sort that out as part of the deal".

He's now come back saying that it can't be repaired and would need to be replaced and would rather knock money off the final price and leave me to sort it.

Part of me wants the car, part of me doesn't want the hassle of replacing the windscreen. And I'm also concerned that this will still count as a claim on my policy. I know it doesn't affect my 'no claims', but I'm sure when I renewed a policy last year a couple of windscreen claims came up.

Thoughts please?
 
From all the threads I have read of people having shoddy windscreen replacements done, if it was me I'd insist on it being the sellers problem.
i'd say get the seller to sort as part of the deal or walk away (that way, if a duff job gets done you can just pull out of the deal and not have all the arguments with auto windscreens about using OEM screen, trim, and problems I have heard with rain sensors etc).

Plenty of zeds about. Get the seller to sort it or find another one.
 
Claiming so soon after insuring the car might look a bit suspect (although legit). Plenty of good cars out there, so possibly I'd want the seller to sort and if it causes the deal to fall through, then it isn't the right car etc.

Having said that, plenty of opinion on here about potentially poor jobs replacing windscreens (non genuine windscreens and non genuine rubber seals) where people have had to fight to get the right stuff used, so I'd also be nervous of a 'cheap' job getting done so would want to do it myself.

If the quality worries you, do it yourself - if it doesn't, get the seller to do it.

And out of interest, when reducing the price, is that just to cover your excess, or the costs of a replacement (therefore negating the need to claim)?
 
I managed to pick up 3 chips and a windscreen replacement over 2 years. When I switched insurers last year I was advised by them that I had to report each of the 'claims' or the insurance would be invalid. The claims made no difference to the cost, the only downside being that they told me they won't quote if more then 5 claims have been made in the preceding 5 years, and each of the windscreen claims count towards the limit
 
Thanks for the input guys.

After deliberation I said I wasn't ready to claim on my insurance, and if he wanted to take off the price of a new windscreen fitted at my choice of garage down here (and provided a quote) then I'd be happy. Alternatively - and it's the option we're going with - he's going to sort it at his end.

Might have to wait a little longer, but solves the issue in the way we'd originally agreed...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom