I've just been involved in a shunt. I drove into the back of another car, going at 35 mph through some roadworks. The other party braked suddenly when they saw a police car with flashing lights waiting to emerge from a side road. My fault, driving too close.
Damage to other party (newish Peugeot 306) was dented boot. My N-reg Nissan Micra is all bashed in at the front. Damage is:
* Severely buckled bonnet, won't close.
* Broken light cover on the passenger-side headlight
* Right headlight (driver side) totally smashed, wing section mangled at front.
* Radiator seems OK, but front bar it is attached to is bent?
* Plastic front fascia and number plate smashed in.
As only one headlight would work, the police would not let me drive off. So I got Green Flag out, who effected running repairs:
* Fitted new bulb in driver side headlight, so I have 2 lights working (no reflectors, though, so its pretty dim.)
* Fastened down bonnet with a piece of rope/cable. Still got a major buckle in it!
I drove 30 miles home in it, so it rolls OK. With "serious cosmetic" damage.
Question: I have 3rd party Fire & Theft insurance. Given that it is "my fault" -- driving into the back of someone -- can I claim on my insurance to get this fixed? Or might I be better trying to get it fixed up cheaper elsewhere. Maybe by buying new headlamps from a Nissan main dealer and getting a bonnet from a scrap yard?
Advice welcomed. I will have to call the insurance people tomorrow (Direct Line) and decide whether to get their repairers involved.
Mike
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Sorry to put this so bluntly but if you only have TPFT insurance, in the circumstances, you won't get a penny for your repairs.
If you do the repairs yourself from a scrapyard it might be worthwhile but if your insurance co. were involved I'm sure they would scrap it.
Use it up : Wear it out : Make do : Do without
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I doubt you will be able to claim on your insurance for your car repairs but you should be able to claim for the 306's repairs. What it is best to do with your car depends on its general condition(overlooking crash damage) and its mileage. If it has done over 100k I would scrap it unless you know of a scrap yard and do the repairs yourself. New parts from a main dealer are likely to be very costly.
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Did the police take your details? Caution you? were they a witness? dont want to alrm you but you could be looking at a NIP for careless or due care.
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IIRC.TPFT only covers person/car you hit. yours is not covered ie its down to you to cover cost of repair. Assuming its worth doing..?
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Steve
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Just called Direct Line. 3rd party = no claim by me.
Called Nissan main dealers -- £94 for headlight assembly. Asked about plastic lens cover for passenger side headlight -- I must buy another complete headlight assembly!
Seems like the scrap yards are my only hope. But they'll all have knackered headlights as well!
Mike
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Not likely. What if their Micra's have been rear-ended? Headlamps won't have been touched.
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Adam
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It all depends how handy you are. The cheapest option would be to buy another car privately, say an MOT failure or one with a side or rear end shunt, and then strip and swap all the damaged bits.
Alternatively, do the same from a source car at a scrapyard.
Or just buy another reasonable one for use, and keep the damaged car as a source of spares.
Buying anything new, or paying anyone to do anything, will be expensive and quite probably not worthwhile.
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The car drives pretty well, 60k mileage, 10 months MOT and I've just got a years insurance and road tax for it.
I've been on the blower this morning, trying to source the various parts from scrappies:
Passenger headlamp -- £20
Bonnet (green with rust spots -- the car is red) -- £30
Drivers side headlamp (£50 new, same day fitting available).
New licence plate -- £12 from Halfords
So, costs are already mounting!
If nothing else, this sorry incident will teach me not to get to sentimental about cars. And to leave more braking space when it is wet and greasy!
Mike
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I'm sorry - it's not funny but I was expecting a:
Passenger headlamp -- £20
Bonnet (green with rust spots -- the car is red) -- £30
Drivers side headlamp (£50 new, same day fitting available).
New licence plate -- £12 from Halfords
Good as new Micra Priceless
I'll get me coat.
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Adam
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I'd start with ebay, for odds and ends, and
www.bodyshopwarehouse.co.uk
www.carlamp.com/
About £40 for a brand new OE light.
£75 for a bonnet etc....
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Mike,
I think the incident should teach you to insure your car fully comprehensive next time and within a couple of weeks the car would have been repaired or written off and cash supplied to purchase a replacement.
All for an extra £100/ year (approx)
Ca***
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I'm TPFT because Fully Comp is £700 more. I thought £1300 was enough which is why I pay TPFT.
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Adam
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Adski.. That begs the question.Did you realise the difference between TPFT/FC. If you have a not too old a car. its well worth the Xtra. and saves a lot of grief. especially if you have paid a few grand for a car?..Bearing in mind I realise the fact young drivers are fleeced..Time they sorted that out
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Steve
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Steve,
I understand what you're saying but the fact is, if ever I crashed the car, at this age, I wouldn't claim. I have a 4 year old Focus which of course is my pride and joy but even then, it would be crippling to claim at my age.
Young drivers are fleeced. Of course, this is down to your Max Power brigade but that doesn't help pay the premiums does it? My first car (last year) cost 2 grand to insure Third party ONLY.
Of course, as soon as I leave Uni, I'm going to get Fully Comp - as you say - well worth it - but I'd argue only when you're older.
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Adam
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Have the same prob with eldest daughter..Just turned 17, has prov licence..was about to buy pug 206.nice motor..ie looked like new.insurance co want 2k all but 2p. to insure..a lot cheaper to take lessons..How frustrating can it get..time law changed
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Steve
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Being completely accurate, going full comp is only "worth it" (in the sense of likely to save you more than it costs you) if you know you are more likely to have an accident than the insurance company thinks you are.
The insurance company will charge you what it expects you to cost them - on average.
If you are likely to do £1000 of damage to your own car each year, on average, the insurance company will charge £1000 to give you fully comp.
It might also be deemed "worth it" to pay for full comp in order to cover yourself if you are unable to tolerate a total loss, to remove the risk of having no car.
-Mark
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I've already purchased the passenger headlamp, £20 from a scrappy.
I only need the front thick plastic "lens" part.
Looks like I just need to use a flat-bladed screwdriver to ease out 4 clips and remove the shattered lens on the car. Then replace with equivalent part from my scrappy-sourced headlamp.
Even I can do that...
Mike
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Expect to take a hit on the value of the car if you do repair it yourself.
The repair may only be cosmetic but you'll hardly be able to sell it as 'one careful owner'
Hugo
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Expect to take a hit on the value of the car if you do repair it yourself. The repair may only be cosmetic but you'll hardly be able to sell it as 'one careful owner' Hugo
Don't forget that the car's probably only going to ever be worth a grand on a good day. Cheap scrap yard repair sounds a good plan to me.
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>> Expect to take a hit on the value of the car >> if you do repair it yourself. >> >> The repair may only be cosmetic but you'll hardly be able >> to sell it as 'one careful owner' >> >> Hugo >> Don't forget that the car's probably only going to ever be worth a grand on a good day. Cheap scrap yard repair sounds a good plan to me.
I don't disagree, but it may affect value, even if by only a few quid.
A grand for an N reg Micra - Not that much I would have thought.
Hugo
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I'm sorry - it's not funny but I was expecting a: Passenger headlamp -- £20 Bonnet (green with rust spots -- the car is red) -- £30 Drivers side headlamp (£50 new, same day fitting available). New licence plate -- £12 from Halfords Good as new Micra Priceless I'll get me coat. -- Adam
Adam,
Next time you come back, keep your coat with you - with jokes like that you may need it in a hurry ;0)
H
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I noticed in the original post that you say the radiator is okay but the front bar is bent. The reason I've picked up on this is that my daughter (in a Fiesta) ran into somebodys rear tow bar. Her radiator was stove in and so was the bonnet and also broken headlamp etc. I drilled a hole in the front of the bonnet, put a bolt through with a nut and a strongback and used a ratchet winch to pull the bonnet back into approx shape (ie chocked the front wheels and put the other end of the winch wire to a gate post). Then I took the bonnet off, put it upside down on the grass and got it back into shape by walking around on it and a few bangs with a rubber mallet. A bit dented in the front but fully closing. Then I also winched out the front apron (underneath the front bumper) using the winch and replaced the radiator and got a second hand bumper for £15. She had another four years use out of that car (and three MOT passes).
The main thing was that the front cross member had not been not bent. If it had been then it would have pulled the outriggers slightly together and altered the suspension geometry. That would have cost more than the car was worth to put right.
So, even though your car is driveable, I would check that aspect before spending any money on the bonnet or lights.
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>The main thing was that the front cross member had not been not bent.<
I take it you mean the main chassis bar at the bottom of the car.
Don´t think that is bent...the thinner bar at the top front of the engine which holds the radiator, headlamps, bonnet lock etc. is bent. But it can be bent back easily by hand.
Scrappy replacement is going well. I have replaced one headlamp for 20 quid. I have another scrappy headlamp (also 20 quid) but the retaining bolt is rusted on. Ideas please for removing this...saw thru with hacksaw? I do not have a blowlamp and would not feel comfortable using one in an engine compartment!
When the headlamps have gone in, its time for a scrappy bonnet. This may take some fiddling to get the lock aligned etc.
Dunno about the radiator...I have driven 100 miles since the shunt. Fluid levels OK, engine temp. indicator OK but the heater feels a bit hotter than normal! I haven´t been stood in any long traffic jams yet...maybe get a scrappy radiator replacement while I am it?
In conclusion, the car is 10 years old. I am content to use scrappy parts to get it it in roadworthy, MOT pass condition. If it looks like an old banger so be it!
Mike
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