Car In Garage For Repairs. Taken Out For Road Test By Garage And Damaged

[dancermo]

My son has taken his renault clio, into a garage, after breakdown, the garage have then taken it out on road test, whilst on the road test the bonnet has flown open smashed the car windscreen , dented the roof , and pretty much demolished the bonnet,. The garage are saying that my son will have to claim on his own insurance, ? that cant be right can it? Surely the garage representative in control of the car is initially liable and then by association (employment) then the garage would be liable for the damage on their insurance?

[alexanderd]

I would not claim on my insurance, this is negligence by the garage. Their responsibility surely

[bednobs]

last week when i took my car in for an MOT to kwikfit, i had to sign a piece of paper saying i agreed they could take it to road test it under my insurance

[Baldric]

Sounds like the Garage Insurance to me!

[tonyav]

What year is the Clio, dancermo. There has been a recall about the bonnet catch.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-456894/Thousands-Renault-Clios-recalled-safety-checks.html

[tonyav]

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/bonnet-controversy-continues/1202487

[bhg481]

That's interesting bednobs - I don't know any people nowadays who are insured for anyone except named drivers to drive their car. That would make it impossible for people to agree to those terms.

[soapnumpty]

I work in insurance and deal with motor traders insurance. Assuming the garage has a motor trade policy it will automatically cover the staff to drive customers cars that are in their possession for repair, so they should be claiming under their policy. Your sons policy will only give third party cover whilst the car is being driven by a third party so his policy won't cover the damage. They are just trying it on.

[tonyav]

bednobs wouldn't that mean they would have to be a named driver on your insurance.

[bhg481]

Soapnumpty - I would be surprised if her son's policy would give ANY cover to other than a named driver. It might give HIM third-party cover to drive someone else's car.

[bednobs]

hmm, now you have me thinking. I signed something to ssay they would be raod testing it .. it hought it was about insurance, but perhaps not?

[rodders123]

stand your ground. Garage should claim on their insurance if your son didn't sign anything stating the garage disclaimed any liability.

[bhg481]

Probably just to give them permission to drive then, so they can't be prosecuted for driving without the owner's consent (which would probably invalidate their own insurance as well).

[bhg481]

I think Methyl has hit the nail on the head in that the garage were telling you to initiate the claim through your own insurers. If another motorist had run into you then you would get your insurance company to sort it out, even though it was completely the other person's fault. This is a very similar situation.

[soapnumpty]

Bhg481, I was typing this late and night after a few glasses of wine so not entirely clear! What I was trying to say is the sons insurers would be obliged to give third party cover when someone else was driving his car, if that person had no other insurance. In this case the person driving, ie the garage employee, should be insured under the garage's motor trade policy.

Dancermo, get your son to call his insurers to check out the situation but as he wasn't driving the car at the time of the damage I am sure they will tell you to claim through the garage on their policy.

[TWR]

Bednobs, I would have taken the car elsewhere. Dance, the Garage are to Blame.

[EDDIE51]

I had a accident where another driver came round a corner on my side of the road and hit me head on. I claimed on my insurance but the other drivers insurance took over the claim and paid for everything. I think this is the same situation .

[TWR]

Methyl, by doing that it will be on his Insurance records of making a claim. I would not go down that road Its no fault of Dancers Son.

[factor-fiction]

Yes, TWR, but if it's accepted a s a no fault claim and all proceeds are paid for by the garage's insurer then it won't count against him. Still, it's a hassle and can cause problems at renewal if the claim hasn't been resolved by then

[EDDIE51]

TWR it HAS to be reported to dancermo's insurer any way. You are compelled to report all accidents even when you are 100% not to blame.