Do car insurers check if police reports have been filed involving you or your car?

Question

This morning before work I went to the gym and when I returned I found that someone had dented my back driver-side wheel arch. I filed a police report, hoping they could get access to the CCTV footage there (so long as the system was working correctly) and find out who was responsible. However, if they're not able to trace the person responsible, I'm not keen to lose my first chance of a no claims bonus and end up with even more expensive insurance. (My insurance last time was £700 for a Punto because someone crashed into me and the claim was outstanding when I renewed. I didn't get any money back though when it was found to be not my fault, so under 25s must be the same risk profile for insurance purposes whether they cause a crash or are victim of one). Please could someone let me know the insurance implications if I:

1) Report it to my insurance and future insurers but don't make a claim, repairing it myself.
2) Don't report it and repair it myself.

Thanks very much.

Also, I guess the crux of the question is... can a future insurer hold it against me, or declare my insurance invalid, if I don't tell them something I already told the police?

And do the police share details with my insurer without being asked? They took my insurance details when I went to them to try to get the CCTV.

Answer 1

If your report a claim to the insurance company they will try and use it against whether it's your fault or not, they will look at you as high risk, a person things just happen too, they did it to me. Your best thing to do is see if you can get the tape, if you can't locate the person then you are probably better off fixing it yourself, it will be a lot less than that insurance increase.

Answer 2

Knowing what state you are in would help get you more definitive answers, but I will throw out some general ones in the hopes that it will help. For the car claim- If you have collision coverage it comes down to 2 issues......... rental car and simple math. You didn't give complete details on the facts but if the other driver's insurance accepts 100% of the liability then it is best to collect from them as they will pay for ALL your damages and provide a rental car. Make sure to check with your company to see if you coverage to pay for a rental car. If the other company doesn't accept 100% then it would be best to collect from your own company. There is a small possibility that the other company may not owe 100% of the damages. In many states all drivers can be held partially responsible for an accident. Just because the other driver ran a red light that does not automatically mean they are 100% at-fault. Even if you have the right-of-way entering an intersection you still have a duty to make sure it is safe to proceed through it. Let's say the car damages are $5000 and the other company offers 85% of the car damages. That equals $4250.00 which means you are out $750.00. However if you collect from your company they will pay you the $5000.00 less your deductible....let's assume it $500. That way you get $4500 up front and you should also get 85% ($425.00) of your deductible back when the two companies settle. This way means in the long run you are out only $75 instead of $750.00. RE the injury claim- A lot of people are just telling you to get an attorney, but they aren't giving you any concrete reasons why should do that. It' really not that simple. Make sure to ask both insurance companies what the statute of limitations is for making an injury claim. That is the date you either have to settle or sue by. Unless you have catastrophic injuries it is best to try to settle the claim yourself. If you can't settle it or don't like the offers then you can hire an attorney. However, please don't think that the attorney is always going to have your best interest at heart. Most, not all, lawyers are in it for the $. In order for an attorney to be of any value to you, they must be able to get the insurance company to settle your claim for 33% more than it's value. The 33% plus expenses is what they will charge you. Your automobile Med Pay/PIP coverage or your health insurance should pay the med bills as they come due. Whoever pays them should get reimbursed by the at-fault parties insurance company when you settle the injury claim. You have to give medical records and bills to the other company. Otherwise they have nothing to evaluate your claim on. It won't hurt your case at all to provide the records unless you have some old injuries that you weren't truthful about. Other than that it won't hurt. Depending on where the stitches are they may leave a visible scar. If that is the case visible scars on females can add significant value to the injury claim. Take pictures of the scar right now and then every two weeks until it is healed. Use a camera that dates the photos. When the company makes you a settlement offer your instinct will tell you if it is reasonable or not. Keep in mind that you have the right to make counter offers to the company. Try to keep any emotions out of it. Yelling, crying or screaming etc will get you stonewalled real fast and may get your offer reduced. If you think the offer stinks then hire an attorney. Good Luck.

Answer 3

Many years ago I was a traffic police officer. In those days insurance companies would ask for details of accidents reported to them but they would not/could not trawl police records. However I heard of an instance where a Rolls Royce suffered minor damage which was not reported to the insurance company. Soon after the Rolls suffered major damage which was reported. The insurance company refused the claim because of something in the small print which required all matters to be reported. This was a Rolls and the repairs were going to be expensive. Most cars over time collect damage, in general the insurance companies accept this as a fact of life. Go ahead and repair it yourself.

Answer 4

If you make a claim then insurers might check if a police report has been filed, especially if they have grounds to suspect a large dodgy claim,. However they don't trawl through the police records as a matter of course. Your concern is which is cheaper, a self repair or excess+ loss of bonus. While claims have to be notified reasonably promptly you have reasonable time to get an estimate or two before deciding. Most insurers operate a no-claim system so even if you tell them they won't penalise you if you fix it yourself

Answer 5

Hi Chris
basically, you dont have to tell the insurance company if you wish to do it yourself as there is no 3rd party involved. If there was you would have to advise them (that includes street furniture as this is owned by the council).
If you do decide to make a claim, it will be treated, as a claim and will affect your next premium, even if you have your NCB protected they will still load you for having a claim but you will keep your 65-75% discount, As i found out.
so if the repair is going to cost a few then dont claim, if its expensive and its a newish car then claim but be prepared for higher premiums next year.
No the police dont talk as such to the insurance companies, thus they would have no cause to exchange details, and you would not commit any offence for telling the insurer either.
So its in your court!, whats financially better for you!.
hope this helps, a little!.

Answer 6

My advice is to either repair it yourself or just don't repair it at all. The insurance company do not need to be involved.

Answer 7

dont report it to insurance fix it yourself its a lot less hassel

Answer 8

don,t report it..