Car reversed into a lamppost

tart29016

I reversed my car into a lamppost yesterday, I know I am an idiot.

The lamppost is ok in case anybody is wondering.

Damage to the car are -- rear light cover is gone, a dent about approx 2'', some scraches, and the parking sensor needs to be looked at as it has a long beep.

The car is an audi A4 2013 and I do have a comprehensive insurance cover and around 4 years no claim bonus attached to it.

I am devastated to say the least.

anyone has any advice? Should I go to my insurance company? or should I take the hit myself?

Gutted..:(

antodeco

Take the hit yourself. The excess on the insurance could be a large portion of what the repair could actually cost you!

colm_mcm

Stick a light on it and get a 'smart' repairer to look at the bumper with a view to repairing it.

It looks like you didn't do any body damage.


You have parking sensors?

bazz26

Go get a quote for the repair work then decide if you want to pay for it yourself or go through your insurance.

colm_mcm

Is it an LED rear light?

tart29016

Thanks guys, wondering should I go to the dealer or try a local body repair shop first?

@ Colm -- it is an LED light but the light is not broken, just the plastic cover.

Miike

tart29016 wrote: »

Thanks guys, wondering should I go to the dealer or try a local body repair shop first?

@ Colm -- it is an LED light but the light is not broken, just the plastic cover.

Body shop if it was me. Bumper is repairable to a near perfect condition. Parking sensor is mostly likely beeping since it's knocked in and acutely angled towards the bumper, fixing its placement would more than likely sort that.

http://www.micksgarage.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=5449523&modelid=6418 for the rear light.

tart29016

Miike wrote: »

Body shop if it was me. Bumper is repairable to a near perfect condition. Parking sensor is mostly likely beeping since it's knocked in and acutely angled towards the bumper, fixing its placement would more than likely sort that.

http://www.micksgarage.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=5449523&modelid=6418 for the rear light.

Thanks Miike, really appreciate your advice.

greasepalm

are lamps not all in one with led built in?

Miike

greasepalm wrote: »

are lamps not all in one with led built in?

Thankfully the way OP's has been damaged he can just transplant the LED unit in to the new housing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMTF9_0eUTI

punisher5112

Op make sure that light is taped over and no moisture gets in or new complete light will be needed.

Atlantic Dawn

Some nice repairs done here in this post, maybe see who did this job and how much...

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=102435102&postcount=3512

greasepalm

knowing my luck it would crack.

Miike

greasepalm wrote: »

knowing my luck it would crack.

Well known mine it would be robbed out of it while I'm waiting to get it fixed.

Make sure it's taped off as suggested above OP. LED Units arent cheap :rolleyes:

tart29016

Cheers guys for all the response.

I've thought about it last night and called my insurance company this morning.

So I do have a NCB protection which allows me to make 2 claims within 3 years. And the excess on my policy is €250.

I called the audi dealer as well and without seeing the car the ballpark figure cost is 1Kplus.

do ya all rekcon it is worth while to go through the insurance then?

run_Forrest_run

tart29016 wrote: »

I called the audi dealer as well and without seeing the car the ballpark figure cost is 1Kplus.

do ya all rekcon it is worth while to go through the insurance then?

even if the insurance covers it I couldn't sleep at night knowing the main stealers were getting that sort of money for the work.

lawred2

tis but a scratch

worded

From what I've heard people regret going via insurance for small claims

Your premium can go up even if your Ncb is intact. You can't easily move ins co and they can hike Ind premium - what will you do then?


Get it repaired via a non dealer IMHO

oinkely

And your NCB is most likely useless come renewal time if you try to move to another company. They will ask you have you a claim, you will say yes, and they will laugh at your protected NCB. A good indy will repair it for a fraction of what the main dealer will charge and that will be less than it will impact on your insurance renewal next year.

IMO you would be daft to go through insurance, all you would be doing is putting off paying out the money until next year, and the year after, and every year after until you can say no to the 'any claims in the past 5 years' question.

lawred2

Anyone considering using an insurance company for a new taillight and some paint work is bonkers

ohnonotgmail

Given that your excess is 250 it might only cost you another 250 to get it done in an indy. As others have said you might not lose your NCB but effectively you do as you are stuck with your current insurer.

James Bond Junior

Find a good indie body crash repair place. Chances are Audi will farm the work out to an indie place anyway and you'll pay twice in effect.

JohnBoy26

tart29016 wrote: »

Cheers guys for all the response.

I've thought about it last night and called my insurance company this morning.

So I do have a NCB protection which allows me to make 2 claims within 3 years. And the excess on my policy is €250.

I called the audi dealer as well and without seeing the car the ballpark figure cost is 1Kplus.

do ya all rekcon it is worth while to go through the insurance then?

I wouldn't go through insurance nor would I go to an audi dealer to get it repaired. I would get a good bodyshop to repair it.

goz83

DO NOT GO THROUGH INSURANCE.

For less than your excess, you can get this done yourself.

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/AUDI-A4-B8-2014-PASSENGER-SIDE-REAR-LIGHT-WITH-BULB-CLUSTER-8K5945095AA-/142249944271?hash=item211ec1e4cf:g:5f4AAOSw44BYf0ri

Buy that light. Ship it to Parcel Motel up north to get shipping down to £5 plus Parcel Motel fee (€5.50). The whole thing will be just over €60.

Install yourself, of get installed by indy garage while the sort the bumper out. If you are in Dublin, I recommend you go to GVD Autos. I have had these guys do lots of work for me. Tell them the guy with the blue fto sent you. George will look after you. The fitting of the light and bumper repair should cost under €150 there...but don't hold me to it.

Going through insurance will mean a higher premium. Your NCB is worth very little when it's only discounting a massively raised base premium.

StiffOldMan

Ok, I'll be the elephant in the room. How did you manage to crash with parking sensors?

tart29016

ok, here are some updates.

phoned around to a couple of local garages and was quoted from 700 -- 1300 (not audi dealer). This price includes fixing the bumper NOT replace it. But was suggested that if might be worth while to replace it and this will cost an extra 600-700.

The price quoted to me are way higher then suggested here. Am I being ripped off here?

goz83

tart29016 wrote: »

The price quoted to me are way higher then suggested here. Am I being ripped off here?

see post number 24

a snap of the damage will get you a quote

elperello

tart29016 wrote: »

ok, here are some updates.

phoned around to a couple of local garages and was quoted from 700 -- 1300 (not audi dealer). This price includes fixing the bumper NOT replace it. But was suggested that if might be worth while to replace it and this will cost an extra 600-700.

The price quoted to me are way higher then suggested here. Am I being ripped off here?

You really would be better going to the guy Goz recommended or similar with the replacement lamp and showing them the job. When they actually see the car in the flesh you will get a proper quote.
Good luck.

9or10

tart29016 wrote: »

Cheers guys for all the response.

I've thought about it last night and called my insurance company this morning.

So I do have a NCB protection which allows me to make 2 claims within 3 years. And the excess on my policy is €250.

I called the audi dealer as well and without seeing the car the ballpark figure cost is 1Kplus.

do ya all rekcon it is worth while to go through the insurance then?

Yep the theiving baskets insrance company will let you keep your NCB but next year your premium will go up big time - been there got the t-shirt

Arcade_Tryer

Car reversed into a lamppost

Damn driverless cars...

Miike

goz83 wrote: »

DO NOT GO THROUGH INSURANCE.

For less than your excess, you can get this done yourself.

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/AUDI-A4-B8-2014-PASSENGER-SIDE-REAR-LIGHT-WITH-BULB-CLUSTER-8K5945095AA-/142249944271?hash=item211ec1e4cf:g:5f4AAOSw44BYf0ri

Buy that light. Ship it to Parcel Motel up north to get shipping down to £5 plus Parcel Motel fee (€5.50). The whole thing will be just over €60.

Install yourself, of get installed by indy garage while the sort the bumper out. If you are in Dublin, I recommend you go to GVD Autos. I have had these guys do lots of work for me. Tell them the guy with the blue fto sent you. George will look after you. The fitting of the light and bumper repair should cost under €150 there...but don't hold me to it.

Going through insurance will mean a higher premium. Your NCB is worth very little when it's only discounting a massively raised base premium.

His lights are LED, That's not the correct lamp. I linked the right lamp and he can transplant the LED Unit into it with 30 seconds work