Do I have to pay an excess?

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Sat 6 Apr 2013 14:18
Do I have to pay an excess? - Andy127

I parked my car in a car park and the driver in the next car dented my door when they opened their door without looking; I was in my car at the time. They admitted fault and said to let them know how much it would cost to repair as they didn't want to go through insurance. I got a quote and told the other driver, who said they would send a cheque but hasn't.

I want to put it into my insurance but the repair cost is less than my excess. Does the law say that I still have to pay the excess, or is it waived as I'm not at fault.

Edited by Andy127 on 06/04/2013 at 14:19

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Sat 6 Apr 2013 18:24
Do I have to pay an excess? - component part

Your insurance company will pursue their insurance company for the cost of the repair. Assuming they are insured and the insurance companies both agree with what happened and that the liability lies with the other driver you would not have to pay out any excess.

You would only pay your excess in the event of yourself making a claim against your own insurance company for your own loss.

What getting the insurance companies involved will do to your premium next year regardless is another matter....

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Sat 6 Apr 2013 21:54
Do I have to pay an excess? - Andy127

Thanks for that. The repair is going to cost £170/-, but my excess is £250/-. Do you think it's worth taking the risk of going through insurance?

My concern is what would hapen if the other driver turns round and pleads amnesia? What details do you legally have to provide in an accident, I have their name, address and phone. They wouldn't give me their insurance details, are they legally required to provide that?

Edited by Andy127 on 06/04/2013 at 21:55

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Sat 6 Apr 2013 21:57
Do I have to pay an excess? - daveyjp
You can claim directly against his insurance, no need to go through yours. Simply contact them with details.

Alternatively go through yours, but advise them you want liability sorting before the repair is carried out.
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Sun 7 Apr 2013 09:38
Do I have to pay an excess? - component part

Tough to say what effect going through insurance will have on next years premiums.

To be honest I doubt a no fault claim for £200 for a dented door will have much effect on renewal prices but any kind of claim could cause an insurer to load your premium to some degree.

But then even if it was loaded by £30 for the next five years, you'd still be better off than paying £170 out of your own pocket now.

So yeah, if I couldn't get the other driver to pay up I'd probably go through insurance. To be clear you will not have to pay a penny, provided their insurance company agrees to pay the claim.

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Sun 7 Apr 2013 10:19
Do I have to pay an excess? - skidpan

Simple answer is if you have insurance work done by your own insurance company you have to pay the excess before you get your car back and then claim the excess monies from the 3rd party via your legal policy. If the 3rd party insurers carry out the work there is no excess to pay.

Always amazed that people say their premiums are loaded after a claim. If you do not have protected no claims your premium will increase since you will lose whatever % age the rules say. Fortunately not had many claims in my life (3 from memory in 39 years) but the premium has never risen in the following year. Dad bent his Micra the other week, no other car involved, just a steel fence. Repairs cost £1200 and his renewal was due the following week. They reduced it by £60 since he had home insurance with them.

My advice would be to get quotes for the work needed, if its less than your excess just pay up and put it down as a motoring expense.

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Sun 7 Apr 2013 10:36
Do I have to pay an excess? - Andy P

If your insurance company tries to load your premium, go somewhere else.

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Sun 7 Apr 2013 22:38
Do I have to pay an excess? - Hamsafar

"Always amazed that people say their premiums are loaded after a claim. If you do not have protected no claims your premium will increase since you will lose whatever % age the rules say."

If you protect your NCB the premiums still get loaded just as much as if you didn't, but the number of stated years NCB doesn't reduce. You are just protecting an integer between 0-9, not the price.

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Sun 7 Apr 2013 22:50
Do I have to pay an excess? - unthrottled

but the number of stated years NCB doesn't reduce. You are just protecting an integer between 0-9, not the price.

Yes, but then you get clobbered by the question: "have you made a claim in the last five years?". Basically, you can't insure your way out of the cost of your driving errors. Insurance is a fools' tax. Use as little as you can get away with.

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Sun 7 Apr 2013 22:59
Do I have to pay an excess? - gordonbennet

Dishonourable toe rag fails his pledge, why am i not surprised...just another low life in the degenerating mass.

My lovely Mrs backed into an elderly chaps car in a car park, she apologised and told him she'd pay for the damage and thats exactly what she did.

The chap was obviously unsure whether he would indeed get paid, and the relief and pleasure in the thankyou note he sent to her following her cheque to cover the damage was humbling.

Wouldn't it be nice to turn the clock back to a time when a mans or womans word or handshake meant something....maybe if we could find an honest honourable politician again to lead our country and set an example it might just start something...yes i know pipe dream, breath not held.

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Mon 8 Apr 2013 09:41
Do I have to pay an excess? - Andy127

Thanks for all the advice everyone. The other driver has now asked for a typed up formal quote, the garage had given me a handwritten quote on their letterheaded repairs form. The garage said they can get in typed up in a day so lets see what happens after that.

Strange because the other driver was very apologetic afterwards and seemed geniunely sorry that they had caused the damage.

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Mon 8 Apr 2013 12:06
Do I have to pay an excess? - bathtub tom

Yeah! I had one like that. They then said they couldn't afford it right then and would I pay, they'd settle up later, promise!

They then refuse contact.

I got hold of their insurance details and they claimed I drove into them. Fortunately I took photo's that proved otherwise.

Their insurance eventually coughed up, but it took nearly a year.

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Sat 13 Apr 2013 12:37
Do I have to pay an excess? - Andy127

Happy Ending...

The other driver finally paid up and the door is now repaired. Took a while but got there in the end. Thanks everyone!

Edited by Andy127 on 13/04/2013 at 12:37

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