Car insurance question UK?

Question

There was a hit and run on my car , the car that smacked into mine was not insured and nobodys been charged with it yet. My insurance company say that can apply to special motor insurance bureau for the damage to my car but the excess is £300.00! and I've been told it could take months to get the money. My car is damaged all along one side and needs two doors and a rear quarter.I just don't know what to do, I can eitherwait several months to get it fixed and pay the first 300 pounds which I can ill afford especially as it isn't my fault or I can get it fixed as cheaply as I can , my husband has offered to put the doors on for me, I really want to go through the insurance in some respects as thats why I've got insurance and maybe they'll go after him but in another sense I'm just not sure.It grieves me so much that I will have to put my hand in my pocket either way and that piece of scum won't . Any advice appreciated.

Answer 1

firstly if you go through insurance unless you have a protected no claims bonus or no, no claims then claiming would increase your next years premium anyway.

In my professional opinion if you can get the repairs done for less than your excess then do so. you can go to the motor insurance bureau to try to claim back your repair costs, but they will simply pay you themselves, and the scum that hit your car won't have to pay a penny.

I don't know what car you have but be assured that if the repair costs are high, which from the damage you have described is likely, and your car is more than five years then your insurance company are likely to write off the vehicle. insurance companies have to replace any damaged parts with new so the costs are much more expensive, usually once the costs exceed 60% of the cars value it's a write off!

if the vehicle is written off then all they will do is make a payout for the value of the car less your excess, and i suppose at least that way you may end up with a cash payout rather than paying a £300 excess!

before you claim look at your insurance documents and check out your no claims bonus and protection, the policy booklet should give you details about the amount of reduction for each no claim year then work out how losing 2 years will affect your premium, and remember that premiums do fluctuate but at least it will give you an idea how much you will be out of pocket next year.

if you go through the motor insurance bureau they will only payout your excess as any additional costs are covered by insurance, and they only payout for uninsured loss. all the motor insurance bureau do is collect money from all liscensed insurers and process uninsured loss claims. it's like a private company tax!

good luck and if you have any more questions e-mail me!

Answer 2

You have to pay the excess regardless of whose fault it was. Even if it was somebody else's fault, how would you prove it was their fault and not your fault?

You buy comprehensive cover to pay for damages to your car. If you are not insured then you just have to accept that your car may get damaged, just as everyone else has to accept that your non-insurance pushes up premiums for everyone else.

I'm not sure if it is true that non-insured people have more or less accidents than insured people. I would have thought it would have been the other way around. Perhaps I am cynical though.

When I crashed into the back of a car in 1993/4 at a T-junction there was no damage to the car in front's car, just my front light glass and side fender. I took his number plate just in case.

Anyway, the excess was £250 and I paid the garage that and they fixed the damage and claimed the rest from the insurer. The insurer recommended the garage.

All I can say is that you must be with the wrong insurer for dealing with claims. Probably the cheapest insurance you could get. Am I right?

Answer 3

One thing you can do is make the police charge him for being uninsured. As you know our police police do not like anything that involves work. When my niece was had the same problem they were not interested until I threatened an Inspector with the papers and with writing to the Chief Constable. They did something then.
This may not help on the insurance front but you can always try the Small Claims Court to re-coup your losses.

Answer 4

Wait until the driver that has hit your car has been charged.
Then take him to civil court to recoup the £300 excess to pay for the damage, also take photos of the damage and gather as much information as you can, IE total cost of repairs etc, save your bus tickets as well as you should be able to claim them back.
This should cost you about £30 to start the court proceedings

Answer 5

hi there, personally, if it's an older car, i would fix it up myself, going thru your insurance, it will just knacker your no claims and your claim will just be adding on to your renewal for the next 2-3 years, if it's a newer car shop around and get as many quotes as you can and use them against different bodyshops. paint isn't alot of money, labour is you'll be paying anything from £30 an hour, insurance companies will be paying £80+ an hour

Answer 6

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RE: Car insurance question UK?

Answer 7

Sounds like you've got a really raw deal. I don't know the answer I'm afraid but suggest naming and shaming your insurance company!

Answer 8

i wonder how much £300.00 in canadian money ??

Answer 9

I had the same problem, nothing you can do, please don't shoot the messenger, I am so sorry!