Settling an RTA claim privately.

[Beretta V]

Reading this depends on the owner’s situation. The age of car and size of repairs will be close to a total loss. Check value vs repair cost. If it’s close going through insurance could be a nightmare ending up you looking for a car and having to spend out!!

 

[HandB]

I have only ever had a few cosmetic scuffs and dents on my cars and I never bothered with claiming on insurance or from anyone else for that matter. But that video shows structural damage so I would inform the insurance company.

 

[Pedro]

So, if you’ve got a no claims bonus, that means you get a discount on your premium on a sliding scale depending on how many years bonus you’ve got. Generally when you have the maximum no claims bonus, you can “protect” it. Then you don’t lose anything by making a claim. Within limits. It’s usually something like you can make 2 claims within 3 years without penalty. More than that and you lose some of your no claims bonus. Which’ll mean your insurance will go up. Obviously different insurance providers will be maybe a bit, um, different.

 

[FrenchieBoy]

UPDATE:
As things stand now I met up with the other driver this afternoon and got another quote. The second quote was surprisingly close to the first. We agreed between us that it was just as well settled privately so he has now paid in straight cash. I have already found and bought a second hand NSF door (In perfect condition) which cost me £50 and on Monday I will be getting the colour matched paint. Once I have that I have the door sprayed up and fitted (Which our lad is going to help with) he is going to rub the complete body down, fill and spray any of the smaller bits that needs it and spray them to get the car back into the good condition it was in before the "prang". That will leave me enough cash to do anything that needs doing to get it through it's next MOT which is due in just over a month and still leave me with cash in pocket so problem solved well and truly in my favour.
Once this is all over and I have a full 12 months MOT on the car I think I will just sell the car and upgrade to a newer one!
It's been a pain in the back side but now sorted and my maximum no claims bonus is safe again!

 

[bogtrotter]

Not if you have no claims protection...

That's true but not everyone has for various reasons.

 

[bogtrotter]

Yes, My brother worked in the motor trade, after he did his twenty years in the police. You've a new wing, what in past times would be a new door skin for the front door and, possibly, a new rear door skin. A lot depends on what the maker of your car supplies as parts. I don't think anyone now does a door skin anymore. So that's a new front door at the very least. In any case the door will likely have to be stripped of its internals and then reassembled. That's costly in labour. The bill for £730 that you say you have appears a low estimate to me given my own knowledge from working until two years ago in the Inspection Department of the Neovia inventory parts facility for Land Rover. Have you had a quote from an official agency for your make of car or, at least, their approved repairer. IMHO, as said, that's a lot more than £730 there.

Id agree if it was just getting a second hand bumper but I can't see someone paying cash to have that amount of damage repaired.

Not that big a job if you are prepared.to.use secondhand panels and can do the work yourself paint will.be the most expensive part
Could replace the panels for £200 probably a bit less if you are not in a rush you can even pick them up in.the right colour.

 

[Morkai]

Not that big a job if you are prepared.to.use secondhand panels and can do the work yourself paint will.be the most expensive part
Could replace the panels for £200 probably a bit less if you are not in a rush you can even pick them up in.the right colour.

Sounds like Frenchie got a good price for the repairs, I was expecting much more just going by the cost of the repairs my GF recently had done on her car (someone hut hers when it was parked and drove off).

 

[bogtrotter]

Sounds like Frenchie got a good price for the repairs, I was expecting much more just going by the cost of the repairs my GF recently had done on her car (someone hut hers when it was parked and drove off).

Yes I think he did it really is a lottery my daughter was quoted £600 to fix a scratch from a supermarket trolly.
I did it with some wet and dry paper a smidge of filler and a £17 rattle can total cost less than £25.
I can spot it as there is a slight difference in the paint shade due to weathering of the original a pro would have mixed the paint to compensate for that if it was new car then you might have paid the £600 but for an older car and when I say a slight difference I mean
slight I do mean slight you would never see it unless you were looking for it.
I could improve on it which I might do someday if she insists.

 

[GrahamK998]

I was rear ended by an Asian chap in Liverpool in the 80's, same story but pulled a wad of notes from his pocket and asked how much

What happens in Merseyside should stay in Merseyside!
#Overshareing

 

[eggy74]

Really?

Yep, it was where the rear brake pedal had bent and just touched the frame, no dent, just a scratch, but obviously the labour costs in striping the whole bike down and reassembling on a new frame would be huge. Black marker pen was free and took 5 seconds

 

[kes]

What happens in Merseyside should stay in Merseyside!
#Overshareing

I take your point but Merseysider's tend to push the boundaries before anyone else. My dad had a transistor radio stolen from his car in Liverpool in the 60's. The police reckoned the thief had used the coathanger approach to get it but thoughtfully locked the door afterwards now thats ally. Liverpool people tend as a rule to be really pleasant and helpful (not in that way) but they do tend to 'innovate' earlier than most.
If you know where to go you can usually buy back your stolen goods, most tend to go for 'new for old' replacement.