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I've damaged my car door - should I claim against my insurance or pay for the repair myself?

I have damaged my passenger side door reversing into my drive. The car is worth around £23k, it is on a PCP deal and I don’t give the car back for another three years. The excess on my insurance is £350, and I have had a quote to get the damage fixed by a local guy for £575. Firstly, should I claim on my insurance? Secondly, should I actually leave the damage, and look at getting it fixed nearer to the time when I have to hand the car back? The worry being I pay out the £575 now and the car sustains further damage within the next three years.

Asked on 10 January 2019 by Peggy Newton

Answered by Honest John
Don't claim and have the vehicle repaired for the £575. If you do not get it repaired now, it will cost more in the future as it will deteriorate. You also find that cars that have damage on them somehow seem to acquire more due to people thinking you do not care about it. After getting a new car for £23k, do you really want to be driving it around looking sorry for itself?

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