Crash

PatsyR

Crashed the car yesterday, it spun out on a greasy road due to the rain. Anyway it was only my car but I've only 3rd party insurance. It will probably cost a few thousand to repair it so I'm wondering if anyone could advise on what my options are, what to do next? Probably still in a bit of shock so not thinking the straightest but I'm guessing I'll need to cancel tax and insurance? Thanks

Seth Brundle

You've not given us an indication of the damage and whether the car is drivable or not. If it is drivable then don't cancel the tax or insurance.

In terms of the repairs, get some quotes from different places.

Lastly, upgrade your policy to fully comp! Sometimes it's even cheaper than TPF&T

mullingar

You are probably required to inform your insurance co, but there will be many that will advise you not to as it will be recorded as a loss and this of course will be on your insurance record (read: increased premium).

Maybe just scrap it and cancel the insurance afterwards.

PatsyR

It isn't really driveable. I think the wishbone is gone so steering is pulling. Windscreen is very cracked but intact. Massive dent to drivers side above the wheel and lots of paint damage and then the airbags all deployed on the side as well so I doubt I'll be able to afford to fix it.

Daaryl

If the airbags deployed the insurance company will right the car off i'd say.

PatsyR

So maybe I should just cancel it and say nothing

Daaryl

PatsyR wrote: »

So maybe I should just cancel it and say nothing

Don't cancel it just yet i'd say.

Donnelly117

mullingar wrote: »

You are probably required to inform your insurance co, but there will be many that will advise you not to as it will be recorded as a loss and this of course will be on your insurance record (read: increased premium).

Maybe just scrap it and cancel the insurance afterwards.

Why would he/she be required to inform their insurance? If they are not making a claim, which they aren't as there is no 3rd party to claim involved, I don't see the point in involving the insurance. As long as the car is off the road until its is roadworthy again the insurance wont care surely?

PatsyR

I'm paying insurance by direct debit and I've no idea if or when it will be roadworthy again

Daaryl

PatsyR wrote: »

I'm paying insurance by direct debit and I've no idea if or when it will be roadworthy again

If i was in your position i'd try buy a little run around for under 500

Donnelly117

PatsyR wrote: »

I'm paying insurance by direct debit and I've no idea if or when it will be roadworthy again

To my knowledge you can suspend insurance if there are periods during the year when insurance is not required. They will get you to send back the insurance cert to ensure you're not using it on another car and send you a new one when you require to be insured again.

Maybe someone can correct me on this though? Im not 100% sure...

Obviously they will probably ask why you want to suspend it though... I dont see an issue with telling them its is off the road until it is fixed.

Stheno

Donnelly117 wrote: »

To my knowledge you can suspend insurance if there are periods during the year when insurance is not required. They will get you to send back the insurance cert to ensure you're not using it on another car and send you a new one when you require to be insured again.

Maybe someone can correct me on this though? Im not 100% sure...

Yeah I'm fairly sure you can do this

Tenshot

PatsyR wrote:

I'm paying insurance by direct debit and I've no idea if or when it will be roadworthy again

You may be able to suspend your insurance policy until you figure out what you're doing. This should stop the monthly payments, but keep the policy alive (with no cover) until your annual renewal date.

This is a good idea if you expect a significant break before you replace your car. My engine went a couple of years ago, and I only got a replacement this month. I had the insurance suspended for ten months until June 2014, when it expired naturally.

I found out when renewing this month that if you're without cover for more than two years, you lose your no-claims bonus. Because I'd kept the policy alive, the clock only started from June 2014, rather than August 2013 when I originally suspended it (I'd have missed out by a couple of weeks!)

Something to think about if you're not sure how quickly you'll be getting a replacement.