It's that relationship... your car had an accident, but you didn't. At that point, you were merely the registered keeper, not the driver. For you to be in an accident you have to be in the car, surely? lol

Not according to the insurance firms, as Ken's said. You and the car are classed as the same, whether you were together, driving, stationary, or it was parked outside as you ate your dinner. For the purposes of claiming on an insurance policy, you have to declare it. The MID will show it, and if you chose to hide it from your new insurer, when you need to claim, you'll have voided your policy the same way as an undeclared mod.

Not really.. it all depends how they ask the question. If you give an honest answer to the question - which is recorded - then what can they do?

............will this effect my premium or no-claims?

Yes, and the clue is in the wording......... because it is a NO-CLAIMS discount, as opposed to a NO-BLAME discount. To protect your no-claims discount, the other driver's insurance co. will have to re-imburse your insurance co. and this is unlikely unless the other driver has been prosecuted and found guilty of an offence in court. The next time you fill in an application for insurance cover you will have to disclose this claim and that's when it will affect your premium or NCB (unless you have paid an additional fee to protect your current NCB.)

But the OP shouldn't be claiming?

I understand both sides of the argument, and I hope for the best, but I'm prepared for the worst.

I guess only time will tell come renewal time. But my insurance company did tell me over the phone that it won't effect my discounts or premiums as it's not me or my insurance that's paying for anything and it's non-fault. There is also nothing to dispute, as the traffic police attended before the vehicles were separated, so the traffic officer knows the score. Plus there were over 5 witnesses, none of which were in any vehicles or are relatives of either party. I also have about 20 photos, and an admission of guilt from the guy given in the presence of the traffic officer. Basically I covered my ar*e, and the guy can't get out of it.

Yep , in that case it's very likely that they will reclaim all their costs from the other party's insurers.

Most insurance companies won't load you for a no-fault claim where all costs are reclaimed but some still will do. I know that makes no sense , but that is the way they work.

Yes, and the clue is in the wording......... because it is a NO-CLAIMS discount, as opposed to a NO-BLAME discount. To protect your no-claims discount, the other driver's insurance co. will have to re-imburse your insurance co. and this is unlikely unless the other driver has been prosecuted and found guilty of an offence in court. The next time you fill in an application for insurance cover you will have to disclose this claim and that's when it will affect your premium or NCB (unless you have paid an additional fee to protect your current NCB.)

He's not claiming from HIS insurance though, so why would it affect HIS NCB? He's claiming from the IDIOT's insurance. He's merely informed HIS insurance company that the IDIOT's insurance company might be in touch.

The more I think about it, why would the OP's insurance company even need to get involved? It's a matter between IDIOT and IDIOT's insurance, and the OP. Especially if IDIOT isn't even contesting his own idiocy. (Confused Icon)

Yep , in that case it's very likely that they will reclaim all their costs from the other party's insurers.

Most insurance companies won't load you for a no-fault claim where all costs are reclaimed but some still will do. I know that makes no sense , but that is the way they work.

But OP is not claiming from HIS insurance so what costs would there be for them to claim back from the IDIOT's insurance?

But OP is not claiming from HIS insurance so what costs would there be for them to claim back from the IDIOT's insurance?

He *IS* claiming from his insurance - they have arranged his repair.

He says several times "I've contacted my insurance..." and so on.

If he had dealt direct with the third party's insurers then there definitely wouldn't be any costs to his own insurer , but until the final bill is settled then this will count against him and if the policy comes up for renewal before the claim is complete he'll see this.

Apologies, I didn't think the OP had arrranged the repair with his insurance? In that case it's a different ball game.

Bodge, why not arrange the repair with the IDIOT's insurance, or is the ball rolling too far ahead now?

Not really.. it all depends how they ask the question. If you give an honest answer to the question - which is recorded - then what can they do?

"in the last X years have you had any accidents, claims or losses regardless of fault?"

A pretty clear cut question to give an untrue answer to. Would your really risk invalidating any future insurance claims over it?

Well I got a letter from my insurer on Monday, just saying what the process is and what is being done.

The letter also stated that this will not effect my NCD or premium with them, and that I don't have to pay any excess on the repairs. This did obviously come with the disclaimer that if the third party contested, and the incident became fully or partially my blame, then the previous statement would become invalid. Obviously I'm safe in that aspect though, so nothing to worry about there I don't think.

The car is currently in the body shop being repaired, and I hope to have it back within a week. I've been supplied with a very nice courtesy car too! Leon 1.6 100bhp baby!!

So far I'm very happy with the service I've received. Hopefully I'm not speaking too soon!

Fingers crossed the other party doesn't change their mind about what happened after the event then

"in the last X years have you had any accidents, claims or losses regardless of fault?"

A pretty clear cut question to give an untrue answer to. Would your really risk invalidating any future insurance claims over it?

No accidents

No claims (on the assumption that the other party had claimed for my vehicle)

No losses (since I've not lost anything)

No claims (on the assumption that the other party had claimed for my vehicle)

Or look at it another way, you have claimed off their insurance, after all if you didn't want to claim then the car would not be repaired at their cost.

Look, all I'm saying is that insurance companies are generally bad and will weasel out, so why can't we do it on technicalities, too?

Look, all I'm saying is that insurance companies are generally bad and will weasel out, so why can't we do it on technicalities, too?

*Sigh*

The incident will be listed on MID along with your reg. Insurer will see it clearly when you renwe and dont declare. They'll happily take your cash, knowing full well you've voided your policy with them by not coming clean. They then wont payout when you need them to. Even for a free stone chip repair. Imagine how silly you'll feel finding this out in a packed Autoglass on a Saturday morning - and yes have seen similar happen!

I'll scan in the letter from my insurer once it's all been settled.

Basically states NCD is unaffected, and that I don't pay any excess.

All I've paid out for was the £50 deposit on the courtesy car, which I've now got back from them since returning the car.

Some may argue that since my no-claims discount is unaffected, then I can't have had a claim. And since I've not paid any excess, because it's the third party that's paid, then I haven't claimed.

I'm not complaining at the moment as my cars come back immaculate. More immaculate than before

Looks like the repairer got a bit carried away with the repairs.........

Just as an update to this, renewal time has been and gone.....

This was classed as a claim (non-fault, and no cost), but did not affect my premium. It was identified on my policy, which I'm fine with. But they have me down as the "driver" which I argued with them, as no-body was driving the car! They can't even say well you had the keys, because my dad has my spare set too! Anyway, I was assured that it did not affect my premium by my broker and insurer, so I'm happy enough.

However, my premium did go up by £40 this year! Apparently this is part of premium increases across the board, and is no reflection on me or my car. Fair enough, but this is the first time in 11yrs that my premium has ever gone up for no real reason!

Must be all the retards driving into parked Skoda's......

Pi is the reason (personal injury claims) that have gone up in the last few years, for this reason we are all paying higher insurance.

Pi is the reason (personal injury claims) that have gone up in the last few years, for this reason we are all paying higher insurance.

Really?

Insurance folk always cite inexperienced and uninsured drivers for premium hikes.

Add on the increase for uninsured drivers, etc. etc.

Things like the winter claims, volcano eruption and monsoons will all put your insurance premiums up.

Snow, inexperienced drives, uninsured drivers, phase of the moon, colour of the guys T-shirt, the random dice system etc etc....

or that is what it often seems like.