Insurance claims - when to declare

mrochester · 2 Jul 2020 at 13:03

Hi.

My sisters car was totalled this morning by a (possibly) high driver. Her car was parked by the side of the road at the time.

The other driver was totally at fault and his insurance will be covering all costs.

If I were to add my sister to my car insurance so she still has access to a vehicle, would I have to declare the accident her car was involved with?

Many thanks.

M.

SonicSW20 · 2 Jul 2020 at 13:05

mrochester · 2 Jul 2020 at 13:07

SonicSW20 said:
Yes.

I suppose the next question is, how much of a difference is it likely to make?

Martynt74 · 2 Jul 2020 at 13:17

Only the insurance company can decide that, some people barely notice a change, other times it's a jump.

Can she not get a courtesy car? It'd be unusual not to in this situation.

Stu999 · 2 Jul 2020 at 13:19

I like the optimism that the other driver was insured.

mrochester · 2 Jul 2020 at 13:23

Marvt74 said:
Only the insurance company can decide that, some people barely notice a change, other times it's a jump.

Can she not get a courtesy car? It'd be unusual not to in this situation.

I don’t know yet as I don’t have all of the details yet. I had just thought it could be a good idea as she just lives around the corner and my car is currently sitting on the drive not really going anywhere at the minute.

mrochester · 2 Jul 2020 at 13:24

Stu999 said:
I like the optimism that the other driver was insured.

He is insured.

Stu999 · 2 Jul 2020 at 13:35

mrochester said:
He is insured.

Good stuff. The ‘possibly high’ bit had me concerned.

On the OP, when you add someone to a policy they ask about claims history, ever refused insurance, motoring convictions, etc.

Mr Badger · 2 Jul 2020 at 13:53

mrochester said:
Hi.

My sisters car was totalled this morning by a (possibly) high driver. Her car was parked by the side of the road at the time.

The other driver was totally at fault and his insurance will be covering all costs.

If I were to add my sister to my car insurance so she still has access to a vehicle, would I have to declare the accident her car was involved with?

Many thanks.

M.

Declare everything to avoid the risk of your insurance being invalidated when you need it.

If her car was parked legally then it sounds clear cut. However, just because someone says their insurance will cover it today doesn't mean that they won't change their mind later, especially when they have been contacted by a dubious claims management company or sought advice on an Internet forum...

theone8181 · 3 Jul 2020 at 06:15

Mr Badger said:
Declare everything to avoid the risk of your insurance being invalidated when you need it.

If her car was parked legally then it sounds clear cut. However, just because someone says their insurance will cover it today doesn't mean that they won't change their mind later, especially when they have been contacted by a dubious claims management company or sought advice on an Internet forum...

I'd love to know how someone could try and avoid the fact that hitting a parked car can't be anything other than there fault.

mrochester · 3 Jul 2020 at 06:20

As a follow up to this my sister had a courtesy car delivered within an hour of speaking to her insurer.

Thebug · 3 Jul 2020 at 06:40

Shouldn’t the person at faults insurance be supplying the curtesy car?

mrochester · 3 Jul 2020 at 06:50

Thebug said:
Shouldn’t the person at faults insurance be supplying the curtesy car?

Theyll be paying for it, yes.

WJA96 · 3 Jul 2020 at 07:19

mrochester said:
Theyll be paying for it, yes.

I’m assuming it’s through a management company and to get the car your sister had to sign a liability document stating that if the other side didn’t pay up, your sister was liable to pay the fees on the loaner...

mrochester · 3 Jul 2020 at 07:20

WJA96 said:
I’m assuming it’s through a management company and to get the car your sister had to sign a liability document stating that if the other side didn’t pay up, your sister was liable to pay the fees on the loaner...

No idea, sister rang her insurance company, insurance company put her in touch with enterprise, car was delivered. I presume my sisters insurance company will simply recoup the costs from the other drivers insurance company.

koooowweeee · 3 Jul 2020 at 11:19

Thebug said:
Shouldn’t the person at faults insurance be supplying the curtesy car?

Usually yours,then they sting the other insurance company with a massive bill for it

ShivP · 3 Jul 2020 at 12:01

Best in this case to just deal with your own insurer IMO as it could get a bit messy, and your insurer is on your side

Abyss · 3 Jul 2020 at 12:08

ShivP said:
Best in this case to just deal with your own insurer IMO as it could get a bit messy, and your insurer is on your side

I envy your faith and optimism in insurers

I've found insurers to be on their own side of whatever is the least painful cheapest option for them.

From past experience I've found it better dealing with the 3rd parties insurer who have always been keen to keep me on side (to minimise their costs and avoid claim management company fees). It also avoided any risk of my insurer witholding my no claims, temporarily charging an excess or trying to recoup hire car fees. The most resistance I had was when the insurer wanted to give me a small courtesy car and one quick reminder they were obliged to provide something similar sorted it out.

Mr Badger · 3 Jul 2020 at 16:15

theone8181 said:
I'd love to know how someone could try and avoid the fact that hitting a parked car can't be anything other than there fault.

Who knows, I did say "If her car was parked legally then it sounds clear cut". However some people will make up all sorts of nonsense to try and shift the blame once they have had a chance to think about it/seek advice, especially if there are no independent witnesses or camera footage. Parked car? No way - it reversed into my path, honest!

Insurance claims - when to declare

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