Insurance Claim Question

[dave50]

If you bump someone but there is no damage to your own car but the other car has slight damage but is nonetheless going to claim off your insurance, do you still have to pay your excess even if you are not claiming for damage to your own car? Someone told me that you didn't, but I'm not sure.

[ToraToraTora]

depends on your policy but usually, yes. if it's a mnir bump, consider paying for the damage privately. You'll pay in the end anyway.

[New Judge]

As 3Ts suggests, check your policy wording. Very often excess only applies to Accidental Damage to one's own vehicle but not to Third Party claims.

[bert_h]

It's likely to vary with the insurance company, and with the actual policy details. About six months ago I nudged another car while revcersing in a confined space. The other driver claimed, and our insurance company told us it had cost them £500-odd, but because I wasn't bothered about the very minor damage to my own car, there was no excess to pay - they footed the whole bill. However, it's one down and one to go on our protected no-claims bonus.

[dave50]

Thank you for all your answers, I will check our policy.

[EDDIE51]

bert_h you are in for a shock when you get your renewal quote!
The protected ncb is not worth the paper it is written on.
As you now have a 'claims history' the base premium from which the 'protected' ncb is calculated will be doubled or trebled.
If your base premium is £500 now and you get 50% NCB so pay £250, the new base premium will be £1000 or £1500 so you get 50% NCB on that and pay £500 or £750. Worse still , this will continue for 3 years.

[bhg481]

We've been here before, some time ago. I was quite certain that you would have to pay the excess but it was finally proved to me (I can't remember who by) that you don't have to. In fact it's a legal requirement that your insurance covers ALL costs to the third party.

[Peter Pedant]

// In fact it's a legal requirement that your insurance covers ALL costs to the third party. //

oo-er I would like to see the ref for that ! what about a refused claim ?
and what are the functions of loss-adjusters ?

[bhg481]

Sorry PP, I've just spent the past 20mins or so trawling through questions I've been involved in to find the reference but I've missed it. I'll have another look.

[Peter Pedant]

Practical experience shows not
my car was written off when I was in hospital by a lorry
and we didnt get anything LIKE the value ( £15k)
They started off at £1,800 and we settled for five and then last week found it was sold on for scrap for eight

[bhg481]

Finally found it PP. Look at the reply from hc4361 at 15:18.

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Insurance/Question1304880-3.html

When I said ALL the costs, what I should have made clearer is that the insurer should not have to pay any of the costs to the third party ie, the insurance company should pay the settled costs.
I think the money offered for write-off cars is always a sore point. They seem to offer what a buyer would give you rather than what you would have to pay to replace the vehicle. It seems very unfair.

[New Judge]

"...what about a refused claim ?"

Motor insurers are not permitted to refuse to pay a legitimate Third Party claim, Peter. The only time they can do so is if the driver has broken the terms of the policy which would lead to cover being completely revoked. This is usually restricted to him being either disqualified or having his licence revoked.

[Peter Pedant]

well I was on the ITU at the time
and I knew I was getting screwed
but was too bl++dy ill to do anything about it

You are quite right my insurance policy was revoked for non declaration
and this should have had absolutely no effect on my claim in negligence for a lorry going into the back of my car . It still rankles