Insurance claim from abroad

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Wed 30 Sep 2015 23:14
Insurance claim from abroad - mazore

Hello.

An expensive looking car reversed into me while I was stationary in an EU country recently and caused dented side panel damage to both vehicles ( I'm a Uk resident and my vehicle is UK regsitered and insured).

My insurers said they would put it forward as a no fault claim but it could take time and also be tricky if the other party didn't admit liability (I took photos of damage and relative vehicle positions). The driver initially professed how sorry she was to my wife but I could tell the guy with her wasn't at all happy about that and had words with her in their mutual language.

So now despite a protected no claims bonus my renewal which is due in a month or so will go up.

My insurers said they would reimburse any increase if the claim went in my favour.

The complication is that this happened a couple of days into an extensive overseas trip (several months - which I am fully comp covered for) and I was getting very ambivalent signals from the person I spoke to on the claims line about when and where I should get it repaired, he suggested at one point I might consider waiting until I returned back home. I didn't particularly care for this.

What should I press for? What timescale of action can be involved?

Then there is the excess of several hundred pounds. What happens if I decide it is not worth it to pursue the claim and pay for fixing it myself? Is there a procedure for this and how does that effect things.

I've been driving for several decades and never had to make a claim before.

Edited by mazore on 30/09/2015 at 23:24

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Wed 30 Sep 2015 23:31
Insurance claim from abroad - RobJP

The problem with getting it repaired abroad is that your insurer might not operate in the country you are in. As such, getting the work done might well take longer, what happens if you aren't happy with the quality of the work, is parts availability as quick as it is in the UK, etc, etc. Along with, are you travelling around, if the car needs to be in for a few days, if any delays, alternative transport, getting you back to where the repaired car is to be picked up. Lots of points (and potential complications) to consider.

If, as you say, it is dented panel damage only, then just get on with driving the car (though I'm mystified as to how BOTH vehicles can suffer 'side panel damage only', as you say) and get it fixed when you're back in the UK.

When you do get back to the UK, contact a local bodyshop, and ask them for a price for doing the job. Compare that with the excess you'll have to pay, and make a judgement call on it.

Finally, yes, you may well find that your insurance premium gets hiked up at renewal, especially if the other party refuses to admit liability. That's OK though. Lots of companies out there fighting each other for business, so you may well end up with a cheaper premium once you've shopped around.

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Thu 1 Oct 2015 00:06
Insurance claim from abroad - focussed

There is no difficulty with this -apart from the usual language problem.

All bona fide insurers operate within EU-wide rules and procedures.

European law allows UK citizens to commence a claim from the UK.

www.accident-claim-expert.co.uk/holiday-accidents-...l

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Thu 1 Oct 2015 11:45
Insurance claim from abroad - mazore

Thank you both for the information.

Re: both cars panel damage. The other car reversed at an angle into me, I think their intention was to reverse a bit and then circle forward before entering the road which was a busy fast moving main road, so I doubt they would contemplate backing out into it.

I was at an angle to the road facing forward and had to wait a considerable time for a gap in the traffic. The corner of their (4x4) rear bumper inflicted the damage but the angles of the vehicles also meant that a small portion of their bodywork was also dented. Their bumper looked unharmed aside from scrapes on the paintwork.

Were it to come to me seeking another insurer how would they take to a claim still in progress?

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