Firstly, a bit of (boring!) background to my Monday - I got in at about half 2 earlier today, washed the car between half 3 and half 4, went to go out at half 6 to find someone had driven in to the side of my car whilst it was parked on my driveway!!!

I first notice when my mirror was folded in slightly so as I walked round to unfold it, I was greeted with a large dent down the front wind and front passengers door with no sign of anyone around or a note on the car. The cill is dented and scratched as is the door and front wing.

Where do I stand legally, criminal damage, or is it just an insurance claim?

Any neighbours CCTV or witnesses etc?

Is your area a busy one at certain times? It will either be a front or rear of a car obviously, go have a sneaky walk around your street for a car with black paint on its bumper.

Had a walk around already and couldn't see anything. I also for knocked on the neighbours doors to see if they had been out and seen anything or if they had visitors during that time but nothing.

Certainly not criminal damage as you would have to prove the intent plus it looks like rtc damage. Fail to stop rtc on private property i take it?

Depends on your insurer - but they may refuse to cover any damage while the vehicle is on private property, so you may need to be particularly 'sure' of where it happened.

Certainly not criminal damage as you would have to prove the intent plus it looks like rtc damage. Fail to stop rtc on private property i take it?

Yes Arnold, no sign of anyone once I realised it had happened.

 

Depends on your insurer - but they may refuse to cover any damage while the vehicle is on private property, so you may need to be particularly 'sure' of where it happened.

I think I see what you're getting at skodacarman, you think it was maybe on the road?

I had a car damaged once whilst on private property and there was no problem with claiming on the insurance.

Ian

Yeah, private or public property shouldn't make any difference, especially if your driveway. They must have been doing a bit of off roading.

My sister drove into my car when it was parked on her driveway, I claimed off her insurance without any issues other than getting the car repaired being a total pain.....

to add a little humour to the OPs situation i once left my car parked up along with many others in the parking area of a pasture/walking trail and when i returned noticed dents, creases and scratches along the drivers side. At first i thought some c*** had crashed into me but after seeing huge snotty nose prints on the windows realised that the grazing cows on the pasture had walked alongside my car.... oh i can laugh about it now but not at the time as no one (local council, pasture masters) where interested.

 

to the OP.. hope you get it sorted soon 

Been on to the insurance this evening and the claim is going through. Was also advised to talk to the police and Thames Valley Police are very interested in hearing what happened and seeing the pictures so I have to give a statement tommorow.

I guess it was someone who used the neighbouring drives to turn around. Where the drive goes, at the top, there is 4 drives that join together side by side so it's nice and wide but still each one is private

Dan, I feel your pain. Good luck getting it sorted!

Cheers Dunc. Nothing the police could do as it's on private land, it's not classed as a Road Traffic Collition and there is absolutely no sign of a culprit so it would just be a waste of their time

little update for you all: had the car back a few weeks now and have given it a good clean to look at the repair work and I have to say what a decent job they have done.

 

would highly recommend Doug Drewett & Sons in Cowley, Oxford.

Would your alarm not have gone off?

for what ever reason, it didn't.

I've had my previous cars hit whilst parked in the driveway, my car nearly got hit last week but I stood in front of my car and made life very hard for the stupid b*tch. The annoying point is that there is a massive turning circle at the end of the road (about 200 ft) yet they all struggle on a single lane little road to do what ends up being a zillion point turn!!

Some people just shouldn't be allowed on the roads, complete lack of common sense