Opinions Wanted on Insurance Claim Please

Pythia

Hi all,

I crashed into a 4x4 on Monday (my fault) and have just got the estimate back. Personally I think it's a little steep for the damage done.

A little background. I was parked outside my house, on the curb, parallel to the road. I pulled out to the right to do a 3 point turn. I had neglected to look right before pulling out and hit one of my neighbours on my right who was travelling along the road.

It was a Landrover Defender and estimates are as follows:

Badge - 14.53
Panel Assembly Fender Side - 249
Finisher Headlamp - 41.51
Eyebrow Front Wheel Arch - 99.60
Rivets - 5.00
Lamp Assy Side Flasher - 25.29
Lamp Guards Hinged Front Pair less Headlamp Wash/Wipe - 135
Bumper Front, with Covers - 261

Parts Total - 832
Labour 12*55 - 660
Paint - 120
VAT - 217
Total approx 1,830.

I have attached pictures of the damage I caused and also what my car looks like. I don't know very much about cars so if the charges are fair, that's fine, I'd just like some advice on whether the costs seem reasonable if possible.

Thanks!

Photo0062.jpg

Photo0063.jpg

Photo0064.jpg

Anan1

Your insurance company will assess the damage too, and will agree a figure with your neighbour's ins co - unless you're planning on paying for it yourself i'd just let them figure it out, TBH.

Tipsy Mac

Unless you are paying it out of your pocket I wouldn't worry about it. Once there's a claim against you it's a claim, doesn't matter if it's 300 or 3 million it's a claim and you start again from scratch with the no claims. You could recommend the person gets more quotes if it's out of your own pocket, fairest way would be you nominate somewhere and they do and meet somewhere in between on a price.

Pythia

Well I was considering paying it myself, based on what the estimate would be. I am 23, 1 year NCB and full license since Oct 08. Would prefer not to claim off insurance as I'm young etc and don't want it to rocket but I didn't think the damage would be as much as this. However, in saying that I know nothing about cars, hence this thread.

Anan1

Repairing crash damage is always a lot more expensive than one might think, i'm afraid. If you only have 1 year NCB then it mightn't be a bad idea to claim - it's only a small claim from the ins cos point of view, but €1800 is a lot of money for you to pay.

Barr

Pythia wrote: »

Well I was considering paying it myself, based on what the estimate would be. I am 23, 1 year NCB and full license since Oct 08. Would prefer not to claim off insurance as I'm young etc and don't want it to rocket but I didn't think the damage would be as much as this. However, in saying that I know nothing about cars, hence this thread.

Put it through the insurance all day long .. you only have a 10% bonus to loose !!

Fey!

Just a quickie; what badge are they refering to? Is the side flasher broken? Why do they need a pair of lamp gaurds, and are the existing ones actually of the hinged variety?

Despite this, it doesn't look like the worst quote ever. It takes a bit of a shunt to damage one of those things!!!

Pythia

Barr wrote: »

Put it through the insurance all day long .. you only have a 10% bonus to loose !!

They're actually giving my 40% for some reason... I've never lied to them either.

Anyway, that's great folks, thanks for the advice. So in the future, once I've claimed, when I tell insurance companies I have 0 NCB, or whatever, will they then ask why and ask how much I claimed for. Does the amount I claimed for relate to the insurance price or is it just the NCB?

Barr

Pythia wrote: »

They're actually giving my 40% for some reason... I've never lied to them either.

Anyway, that's great folks, thanks for the advice. So in the future, once I've claimed, when I tell insurance companies I have 0 NCB, or whatever, will they then ask why and ask how much I claimed for. Does the amount I claimed for relate to the insurance price or is it just the NCB?

Nope your bonus is just effected - the amount thats paid out is Irrelevant

Anan1

Barr wrote: »

Nope your bonus is just effected - the amount thats paid out is Irrelevant

Not quite, some insurance cos will overlook one small (as in perhaps sub-€3000) claim, whereas large claims can attract a loading in addition to the loss of NCB.

DanGerMus

Defenders are made for Dents.

They should leave it as is and thank you. And when someone asks what happened to them they can say it happened off roading at the weekend.
Throw em a can of primer to stave off the rust.
:pac:

Barr

Anan1 wrote: »

Not quite, some insurance cos will overlook one small (as in perhaps sub-€3000) claim, whereas large claims can attract a loading in addition to the loss of NCB.

Thats interesting .. which ones ?

January

Barr wrote: »

Thats interesting .. which ones ?

Most! It's a case by case basis though and usually depends on the type of claim.

Pythia, did you have any driving experience before you got your full licence? If you were insured on the provisional and then went to full your no claims bonus stands, you don't start a new one. May be the reason you have a 40% bonus.

Are you sure you don't have any bonus protection? Most companies offer it as standard these days, give em a ring and ask? It means you may be able to make the claim and retain your bonus. You can always claim for his car and fix your own yourself...

Pythia

adrieanne__x wrote: »

Pythia, did you have any driving experience before you got your full licence? If you were insured on the provisional and then went to full your no claims bonus stands, you don't start a new one. May be the reason you have a 40% bonus.

Are you sure you don't have any bonus protection? Most companies offer it as standard these days, give em a ring and ask? It means you may be able to make the claim and retain your bonus. You can always claim for his car and fix your own yourself...

I got my license in 2006 and had lessons at that time but didn't get insured until 2008.

I'm not sure if I have bonus protection, however I'll ask now as I didn't know it existed. I'm not going to have my car fixed as I'm 3rd party and the car still drives fine. Maybe I should have taken it out though, lol.

Paige Turner

Just one quick piece of advice - if you claim you may be forced to stay with your insurance company for a while after. My mum made a claim for accidental damage to her car, (someone hit it and drove off), and after never making a claim in twenty years, four companies refused to insure her due to the claim made. It was also only a small claim of €2,500.

brightkane

hey pythia,

first and foremost let your insurance company know. Let them send out the motor assessor and agree figures with the garage then maybe do one of two things.

Ask them can they give you a ball park figure of how much your premuim will increase by at renewel, I know my company can do that. Then you can make an informed choice.
If it might be effected by 1200 and they agree figures of 900 then you might be best off to pay privatley on the insurance agreed figures.
It might go up by 300 and then your best off letting it go through the insurance.

This is just an example and figures taken at random, hope that makes sence!