UK Motor Insurance (Claim) question

[TheElite]

So, my car was recently hit and both of the near-side doors have been damaged. It was parked at the time. The other driver assumes full responsibility and has told me that he would like to get it done via his insurance.

Now, my question is, will my insurance be affected in anyway? The reason I ask is because when one applies for insurance, it asks if the person has been in an accident in the last 5 years, regardless of fault.

[Daedroth]

From my experience, yes, even if you weren't at fault, insurance goes up. By how much, I have no idea.

[Phemo]

Yes, it's ridiculous but since insurance is all about statistics and you've been involved in an accident - even though it wasn't your fault - you're now deemed a higher risk so your premium will go up. Impossible to say how much unfortunately but it obviously won't be as substantial as if you had a fault claim.

[Haggis Veteran]

It shouldn't

The company are not paying out anything and you have not caused an accident

they tried to do this with me and i put a complaint in and threatened to go to the FSA

the apologised and claimed it was a system error

some more info

Your car insurance rates aren't necessarily going to increase at renewal time if you make a claim under your own insurance policy for an accident that wasn't your fault. Most laws prohibit insurers from surcharging policyholders or raising their premium rates for accidents in which they weren't at fault. However, those laws do not preclude your insurer from dumping your policy at renewal time if you've made a couple of recent claims. If you drive in a high-risk area and are subject to being hit, even if you are not at fault, your insurer might find you too high a risk to insure.

http://www.insure.com/car-insurance/third-party-accident.html

[Liquidfox]

It shouldn't

The company are not paying out anything and you have not caused an accident they tried to do this with me and i put a complaint in and threatened to go to the FSA the apologised and claimed it was a system error

I don't believe that in the slightest. Your risk has changed because the vast majority of non-fault accidents could have been avoided by the non-fault party (you lane switch and pull out in front of somebody, they're at fault since they go into the back of you, but it still could have been avoided). Even though it's seemingly unfair, they're quite within their rights to charge what they like.

[Brian M. Veteran]

Statistics show that people who have been involved in a non-fault accident (of whatever kind) are more likely to be involved in an accident in the future.

Insurance is all about numbers.

[Japlabot]

Check the wording carefully, it might ask how many ACCIDENTS or how many CLAIMS. Typically if you are not at fault it would be the other party doing the claim with their insurer and you wouldn't need to CLAIM through your insurance at all.

[Arachno 1D]

I think you lose one years no claims unless you have insured against it.

[TheElite]

Wow, I'm getting some mixed responses here.

I think I need to do a 'mystery call' to an insurance company and find out what the real deal is.

[nominak]

Not at fault claims shouldn't raise your insurance one single red penny.

I recently had a run in with a deer, and because it wasn't my fault, my insurance will remain the same.

4 years ago, I had rear ended someone, and my insurance went up then.

[mulligan2k]

i had a no fault claim, went through my insurance and they claimed the money back from the other person's insurance (?500) my insurance has beehn about ?150 a year extra for 2 years now, only a three year window on declaring claims so next year will be my last extra high premium i hope.

i heard that for every ?1 of premiums the insurance companies got over the last few years they spent ?1.50 in claims, so any excuse to get more premium and they take it

best advice, get some quotes and speak to the guy to see if he wants to pay out of his own pocket, he and you will end up paying more back in premiums

[Dan~]

If the accident was 100% not your fault, your insurance premiums won't go up, it cant, as you've done nothing wrong.

The person who caused the accident, their premiums go up as there now a hazard, with hazard up goes insurance.

So don't worry.

Have you informed your car insurance company? As I believe you have to, your fault or not

[Steven P. Administrators]

I've been hit twice in the 21 years I've been driving and still have maximum no claims, my Insurance didn't go up either, but maybe the rules in The Netherlands are different?

[wildk]

If it helps, I was hit whilst parked, and although it was not my fault my premium was increased straight away untill the claim was settled as my insurers deemed both parties to be at fault automatically, Once the claim was settled my premium was reduced and as i was paying monthly at the time the direct debit reduced accordingly. It still appears on my claims history at renewal time, though as a no fault accident. Hope this helps.

[BGM]

If the accident was 100% not your fault, your insurance premiums won't go up, it cant, as you've done nothing wrong.

The person who caused the accident, their premiums go up as there now a hazard, with hazard up goes insurance.

So don't worry.

Have you informed your car insurance company? As I believe you have to, your fault or not

Err wrong, it's called a no claim bonus, not a no fault bonus. Too many people have this misconception..

Statistically, if you are involved in an accident, fault or not, you are more likely to be involved in another accident.. Therefore your premiums will go up.

Anecdotal evidence may, on occasion, prove this to not be the case but I is very much the exception to the rule.

[BGM]

Not at fault claims shouldn't raise your insurance one single red penny.

I recently had a run in with a deer, and because it wasn't my fault, my insurance will remain the same.

4 years ago, I had rear ended someone, and my insurance went up then.

What he **** did the deer do? Drive into you?? Haha

[Axel]

Dopey lady reversed into me last year and my insurance went down...

[sharpy2k4]

I've had two accidents which were not 100% my fault and the other party accepted full liability. The difference in my premiums when I get quotes is approx ?150 per claim even when i point out it wasn't my fault.

Thats ?300 extra a year I have to pay more by declaring them than if I never mentioned it. I rung up and asked why this was, "statistically I am more at risk now I have had an accident"

[Liquidfox]

I've had two accidents which were not 100% my fault and the other party accepted full liability. The difference in my premiums when I get quotes is approx ?150 per claim even when i point out it wasn't my fault.

Thats ?300 extra a year I have to pay more by declaring them than if I never mentioned it. I rung up and asked why this was, "statistically I am more at risk now I have had an accident"

In some ways they're right. How many accidents that are non-fault could be avoided if the 1st party was a bit more observant. Take switching lanes for example, you switch lanes in front of somebody and they go into the back of you, they're at fault, but it still could have been avoided by some observation on your part.

[Crisp]

Does your insurance cover you if hit by an alien craft?

[sharpy2k4]

In some ways they're right. How many accidents that are non-fault could be avoided if the 1st party was a bit more observant. Take switching lanes for example, you switch lanes in front of somebody and they go into the back of you, they're at fault, but it still could have been avoided by some observation on your part.

I understand your point, however in my case first one was i got tboned at a junction. Women pulled out early into the side/front of me. Second one, a van went straight up the back of me when i was stopped to turn at a junction.

In this case I couldn't have been any more observant as I had done all that was required of me. Ah well, after 4 years driving I have it down to ?50/month instead of ?160 when i started.