21st December I was hit at low speed while waiting to enter a roundabout.
Very minor damage (my car Honda s2000, his was an old vectra) - tow hook cover broken, cracked numberplate, some paint scrapage on the numberplate holder.
The driver of the other car had all his documents and gave me the details, but did say that he would like to avoid going through insurance.
I made no offers or promises, as I was concerned that though there was no overt damage, there might some impact damage behind the bumper.
As I was a bit angry/concerned (the guys in the car were foreign, but had UK car/address/insurance documents) I drove straightaway to a police station and asked them if the details that I had been given were correct - they confirmed that the car was registered to that address and in that name.
So - I place a call to my insurers, and as I have fully comp and legal cover, pass me through to the legal expenses unit.
I give them all the details, and I arrange for an estimate to be done by a Honda approved repairer.
I get the estimate back, and send it to the legal expenses unit.
And hear nothing.
Today I phoned up and was told that they had just been informed by the other parties insurance company that the policy was cancelled on the 9th December.
They are now going through the process of looking at the insurance register to see if he took out another policy.
Meanwhile, I'm thinking about changing my car and would need to trade it in.
What are my options?
1) leave it as is and hope that any trade in value is not effected in a big way by the very minor visible damage
2) hold off on doing anything until third party is pursued for insurance
3) claim on my policy (I have no claims insured) and get the work done and then get my insurer to pursue the third party
4) get work done myself and chalk it off in the interests of getting a better trade in on the car
Thoughts?
Very minor damage (my car Honda s2000, his was an old vectra) - tow hook cover broken, cracked numberplate, some paint scrapage on the numberplate holder.
The driver of the other car had all his documents and gave me the details, but did say that he would like to avoid going through insurance.
I made no offers or promises, as I was concerned that though there was no overt damage, there might some impact damage behind the bumper.
As I was a bit angry/concerned (the guys in the car were foreign, but had UK car/address/insurance documents) I drove straightaway to a police station and asked them if the details that I had been given were correct - they confirmed that the car was registered to that address and in that name.
So - I place a call to my insurers, and as I have fully comp and legal cover, pass me through to the legal expenses unit.
I give them all the details, and I arrange for an estimate to be done by a Honda approved repairer.
I get the estimate back, and send it to the legal expenses unit.
And hear nothing.
Today I phoned up and was told that they had just been informed by the other parties insurance company that the policy was cancelled on the 9th December.
They are now going through the process of looking at the insurance register to see if he took out another policy.
Meanwhile, I'm thinking about changing my car and would need to trade it in.
What are my options?
1) leave it as is and hope that any trade in value is not effected in a big way by the very minor visible damage
2) hold off on doing anything until third party is pursued for insurance
3) claim on my policy (I have no claims insured) and get the work done and then get my insurer to pursue the third party
4) get work done myself and chalk it off in the interests of getting a better trade in on the car
Thoughts?
