My girlfriend has had a hire car damaged - who pays ?

Question

My girlfriend has recently had a car accident - someone run into the back of her whilst stationary at lights. Whilst her car is in for repairs her insurance comapny has supplied a hire car. Unfortunately someone has smashed the wing mirror off that car whilst it was parked outside her house (drivers side parked against pavement, someone has knocked it off whilst walking). She is now worried that she will have to pay for the damage herself, she doesn't want to inform the insurance company through fears of her premium going up.

I have tried my very best to tell her to phone the insurance company and ask what action is best, she's very stubborn and insists on getting the repairs done and paying herself.

Can anyone offer some advice and possibly back it up with fact - possibly someone who works in insurance.

Last note, its a Corsa with an electric / heated wing mirror. I estimate repair costs to be £100-130.

Thanks a lot

Answer 1

I work for a hire car company so can answer this with some degree of certainity!

The first thing she should've done is report it to the hire car company as soon as it happened. If not they will likely pick it up once the vehicel returns. She will almost certainly have signed to accept laibility for any damage on the hire agreement.

She will be liable for the damage and cost of repairs unless she can provide details of who caused it. Then they would be held liable.

However if it is minor damage and she is honest they may let her off the cost as a gesture of goodwill. You'll have to see.

By the way someone else on here mentioned CDW. This is Collison Damage Waver and WOULDN'T cover here for this as it only covers actually collison which this wouldn't be classed as. It is a common mistake made by people who have it.

Answer 2

I'm not sure about liability laws in the blighty but here in the US typically when your driving a rental car provided by someone elses insurance they're also responsible for not at fault damage to the car, a mirror getting knocked off by a vandal would typically be on the insurance of the other person here.

Answer 3

Has she been supplied with a hire car or loan car? Normal practice for cars supplied as part of your insurance policy is for the insurance company to transfer your insurance to the hire/loan car.
The fact you are supplied with the car does not absolve you from paying for any damage.
Failure to inform the insurance company is an offence unless you have the repair done and pay for it. Where another vehicle is involved you are required by law to supply all details required.

Answer 4

Need to read the fine print of the lease terms for the hire car to answer that question. Why don't you give the car repair place a call and ask if you can't read it from the lease papers? They are unlikely to file an insurance claim - they will probably repair the damage themselves. But worth asking about, of course.

Answer 5

you dont say how long ago this "accident"occured..because i hope your girlfriend has reported the mirror accident to the police at the time..because she is in a very "grey" area of law here,,,the pedestrian may have injured themselves on the mirror,,,if a big if he / she reports that(definition of an accident at law)if,,due to the presence of a motor vehicle on a road an accident occured(an injury accident)then the driver/user/owner must report the accident within 24hrs or they commit the offence of failing to report an accident...that doesnt apply if its "criminal damage" namely damaged deliberately..failing that the courtesy cars i have used over the years made you sign insurance cover on collection of the car,,if thats the case then they should pick up the bill....eventually...your girlfriend may have to pay initially but should get it back...it may if there any problems it may be simpler to pay it herself ,instead of claiming off her own insurance as she may have a £100 excess on her insurance(£30 OVERALL LOSS)BUT ON INSURANCE RENEWAL insurers being what they are will cancel her no claims bonus and the £130 may turn into an extra £260 on renewing her insurance...do the sums enquire all the costs and i hope it all works out ok

Answer 6

You'll probably have to pay the excess, it differs on individual policies as to what insurance your under when you have replacement cars.
last time i had to claim the courtesy car was under a policy with the garage, not my insurance, so if i had an accident in it it wouldn't effect my premium.
Also, you want to check on repair costs. someone once smashed my heated wing mirror on my astra, the mirror glass alone was nearly £50 from Vauxhall.

Answer 7

When she took the hire car, did she also take out a CDW and have any accidents to that car covered? If she did, the Insurance Company would be unlikely to increase a premium - ask them.

Answer 8

hire cars do get more knocks then Private the hire company will be used to it,I once hired when abroad parking the car when i returned it had a massive dent to the off side door ,the hire car company had my passport and a large deposit,I took the car back leaving it parked near to with the off side parked away from sight ,I didn't let then know they gave me the passport back and refunded my deposit,I left the hire shop ,never hearing anything

Answer 9

It sounds like vandalism damage. Vandalism is covered by comprehensive insurance, subject to the appropriate deductible. In the US, rates are not affected by comprehensive claims.

Answer 10

.you should try calling the rental company, the car should be insured by them. Then they will pay for all damages