A few weeks ago I got hit from behind. The other driver has admitted fault to their insurance etc etc, and I am now at the stage where I have to decide to have my car repaired at the Ins companies approved repairer or one of my own. I am not really sure how this is handled in the UK. In the US the standard procedure is to submit written estimates to the responsible Insurance company and they settle with you directly. From phone conversations I have been having with the Insurance company this doesn\'t appear to be an option and I am reluctant to ask for fear of it being frowned upon or cause any problems with my claim.
The damage to my car isn\'t too bad and to be honest I would rather carry out repairs myself and have the money to spend elsewhere, which I obviously cannot do if the Insurance company intends to pay the repairer directly. My question is, do UK insurance companies pay claimants directly after determining the cost of repairs?. Local body shops won\'t give free written quotes and I am hesitant to pay for them if I may wind up not getting any money from the insurance directly.
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Trancer,
Firstly you need to check the wording of your policy - it may set out the basis for settlement. A motor insurer usually has the right to settle it in the way they want to, although they will listen to your suggestions before deciding. Under the terms of your policy you are entitled to be put back in the same position you were before the loss occurred, although this is sometimes a matter of some dispute! In your case you could ask for a 'cash-in-lieu' settlement, which is just that - but if the damage is extensive they may hesitate to go on insuring the vehicle afterwards until they are satisfied that the repairs you have carried out are satisfactory from the point of view of roadworthiness. This may mean an inspection by their own motor engineer or an independent engineer that you have to instruct and pay for. Most insurers will alllow something in the calculation if you want to do the work yourself, but are most unlikely to pay the full cost on the basis of a professional repair. Insurance law says that a policyholder is not allowed to make a profit from a loss, so you will need to remember that if you are going down the c-i-l route.
There are usually advantages in going to one of their 'appointed' repairers - the company will often collect the car for the repair work and re-deliver it afterwards and/or you may be entitled to a loan car while the work is being carried out. It will also be much easier if you have to go back to the repairer afterwards with problems, i.e. poor paint finish, as their own bodyshops are more likely to put things right rather than upset the hand that feeds. When all is said and done you are not obliged to go to your own insurer for the repair - although you should inform them about the accident - as you are entitled to go directly agains the third party if you would prefer. However, dealing with your own insurer should be more striaghtforward, especially if you are not sure how to go about it.
Hope this helps.
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Never heard of anyone simply being paid out for the cost of repair. But surely it will be paid for by the other persons Insurance unless they operate on a knock for knock basis.
It certainly shouldn't do any harm to ask them but imagine they would still need the claims asseser to have a look at your motor to make sure its a genuine estimate.
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Sorry to destroy a myth Alvin, but the Knock For Knock Agreement bit the dust many years ago now and nothing has replaced it. Consequently every claim between motor insurers is decided on its merits rather than the automatic (but relatively cheap) operation of an agreement between those companies who were party to it. Yes, if you ask either your own insurer or the insurer of the other vehicle involved for a cash settlement then they will need to decide what the 'DIY' repair is worth - and that means an engineer's inspection.
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A few weeks ago I got hit from behind. The other driver has admitted fault to their insurance etc etc, and I am now at the stage where I have to decide to have my car repaired at the Ins companies approved repairer or one of my own. I am not really sure how this is handled in the UK.
trancer: my dad use to work in motor insurance for a wee while. he says if 100% fault other driver, you have right in law to be put in situation you were in before accident. no profit or betterment. just exactly as you were plus reasonable expenses and such like compensation. assuming no injuries.
he says 3 main options,
either pass work to agent
www.claimsguru.org.uk/disclaimer1.htm
www.claimsguru.org.uk/car.policy.htm
or deal with claim yourself and follow procedure
www.about-online-car-insurance.co.uk/third_party_c...l
or give whole job to your own insurance. also you or agent claim your excess off other driver.
www.about-online-car-insurance.co.uk/how_to_claim....l
my dad say remember ins co work for its own profit. not for your benefit. only to make life simple for insurance company. maximum savings and minimum cost and work for ins co.
pologirl has good long story on forum. use search button to find.
best person to sort problem is yourself. expect less from ins co.
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Thanks for all the replies. Just so its clear I am not making a claim on my own insurance, couldn't anyway as I don't have comprehensive cover. The claim is on the other driver's policy and while I don't know what % of fault is attributed to the other driver, he admitted it was his fault then, and later to the insurance.
The roadworthiness of the car isn't in question as the damage is purely cosmetic and even so, it wouldn't be the insurance company's responsibility to ensure the roadworthiness of my car. If it were my fence post that got knocked over they certainly wouldn't be inspecting my property to ensure I had a properly erected fence after repairs...or would they?.
Basically the way I see it, the accident caused damage which devalued my property by a certain amount, I want to be compensated for that loss of value. What I do with the compensation shouldn't really matter to them. While they won't do anything that will cost them more money than they want it to, paying me X pounds or the bodyshop X pounds, still costs the ins co X pounds. In fact paying me directly will cost them less as I wouldn't require hire cars etc.
I will put that to them, have them estimate the cost of the damage to my car, ensuring my claim is valid etc and compensate me directly for it.
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trancer
your claim is on driver who caused accident. he admitted fault. you did not. insist 100% his blame. driver at fault to pay. how you agree to sort out cost is matter between two of you. he can claim his cost from his insurance.
you insist dealing with him direct and let him worry his ins co.
however if you choose you can deal with his ins co. instead.
also search and read pologirl story.
also read link i gave above on how to d-i-y for a 3rd party claim.
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Thanks again dalglish, I already approached him with the option of settling directly, leaving the ins co out of it and saving his no claims in the process. The verbal quotes I got from a few bodyshops proved too high for him to cover personally so he opted to let his ins handle it.
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