Is a crashed car loaded?

...Ghost... · 21-11-2025 03:58PM #1

I've been thinking about the requirement to report any accident to your insurance company and I am wondering if they screw you with this.

Say for example; My brand new 60 grand Merc is parked at M&S and I watch from the bagging area while some old lady in her Ford Focus backs into my front bumper. The foglight gets broken and the bumper is scuffed. Insurance policy requires me to report it. So, I do and I get a quote for €5,000 from an approved garage to repair. (no idea if that's realistic, just a random figure).

Old lady can't afford to pay privately. Her insurer pays to fix the car at the approved body shop. Either way, the insurance company has my car as being in an accident.

When I am searching for quotes next year, will my premium be loaded on this car because it has a minor accident recorded against it?

If I sell the car before that, is it worth less even if fully repaired by a Mercedes approved body shop with all damaged parts replaced?

And will the new owner be paying higher insurance because the car has an accident recorded against it?

I'm probably being a bit tinfoil hat here, but it got me wondering after seeing something similar today (not my car) and also having previous car damaged lightly and repaired before selling it a short while after for a different model. So, will the car attract a loading if an accident is recorded against it? Any sources aside from pub talk?

blade1 · 21-11-2025 04:10PM

Sounds about right

BlakeS94 · 21-11-2025 04:15PM

Your car won't be written off so it won't be categorised, I don't get how insurers could apply a loading to minor damage history and no write-off category.

I wouldn't worry about it.

The person who damaged your car however, their insurance will go up due to a claims payout on their policy

mk7r · 21-11-2025 04:39PM

You may be loaded yes, even though you weren't in the car it can be an indication that you may drive in accident prone areas, drive at a time of day that's unfavorable, park somewhere where you may be hit etc especially if it happens multiple times

cml387 · 21-11-2025 04:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124006968#Comment_124006968

I see this a lot and I think it's nonsense. We have been involved in three non fault accidents over the years, and we never had any loading on our premiums ever.

User1998 · 21-11-2025 06:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124006986#Comment_124006986

Loads of people on here seem to have the opposite experience to you. But that being said, even without any non fault claims your premium can still rise by hundreds of euro for no apparent reason

JVince · 21-11-2025 06:33PM

What requirement to report any accident?

Been driving 40 years and have never seen such a requirement on an insurance policy.

Allinall · 21-11-2025 06:42PM

for that scenario to play out, there’s one big problem.

Where are you going to get a brand new merc for €60k?

...Ghost... · 21-11-2025 07:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124007223#Comment_124007223

It's in your policy document. Here's a google search. It's crept in over the last few years.

...Ghost... · 21-11-2025 07:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124007253#Comment_124007253

It wasn't a real accident. Loosely based on one I saw in a carpark today between a banger and a 251 bimmer. There wasn't any damage as far as I could tell, just a little kiss. Plenty of new Mercs around for well under 60k.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mercedes-benz-a-class-a180-amg-line-auto-night-p/39349981

Is a crashed car loaded?

Comments