To claim or not to claim? That is the question!

[Liam0404]

Okay so I recently parked my MK4 GT TDi 150 into the rear of someone and done a fair bit of damage (front nearside is destroyed, roof is a bit creased on the top by the passenger door, radiator cracked etc). The engine is fine and still runs as it should, also the leather interior is great condition too! All underneath seems solid too!

Question is do I claim and try and get some money for it (obvs I have to pay £500 excess plus my no claims will vanish), or do I break the car and try and get some decent money for it?
I'm 22 and have 5 years driving on my license!

Opinions please.

[dom]

I'd assume that the person that you ran into will be claiming anyway which means that you'll have a claim against your name. Are your no claims no protected?

[Waspy]

5 years on your license but how many no claims?

If the guy you hit is claiming, then as mentioned you are going to have a claim against you regardless. If you are able to reach an agreement without involving the insurance, I would try that, then break it. By the sounds if it, it might even be a write off. And nobody wins in a write off.

[Liam0404]

The person I ran into is being impossible to get hold of  said he wanted to settle outside insurance but can't get in touch!

When my renewal is up next year I would of had 5 years driving, 5 years no claims. No claims aren't protected atm. Having 0 no claims puts my insurance up next year about £400, but that's only the first year, not including the years after I'll be making up on my loss!

I have the space and time to break it, just wether I will actually shift the parts or not.

[tweed]

Ha cant get in touch with the person you hit usually means they shouldn't be on the road. No insurance or banned etc.

Break your car.

[Wayne]

Break it, you will shift most parts all ok.

[Gti_Jamo]

I had a similar issue years ago with a bump I had with another car and it was kind of my fault but i could never get hold of them and they never claimed against me. Which as mentioned already tells its own story. Was surprising at the time as i took the entire drivers side off thier Ford Ka with my mk2 cavalier sri which sustained minor damage. Few days later a yuppie in a porsche boxter totally destroyed it outside my house getting a bit throttle happy in the wet. I'd never claim on my own insurance if i can help it but certainly claimed on his. Best break yours and get something else.

[Diamond Hell]

Ha cant get in touch with the person you hit usually means they shouldn't be on the road. No insurance or banned etc.

Break your car.

All this, although take a set of photos of your car on a disposable film camera before you break it, so you have evidence of ALL the damage.  People are strange and the person who you can't get hold of might pop out of the woodwork six months later and you need to be prepared for that to happen..... although if they're being slippery I would suggest you just got bloody lucky as hitting someone up the chuff so hard you crease the roof of your car would normally result in an extensive period of having to deal with your insurance company around their personal injury claims.

Leave a bigger gap next time. 

[VW BUSH]

Just hope the driver and his passengers are not getting their stories straight. ......
If they are uninsured or banned and don't claim you still might get a knock at the door.
Difficult situation if you get found out not informing the insurance company, accidents are so much hassle.

[Liam0404]

I've informed my insurance company of the incident, and the police, so all good there, just not put it in as a claim yet. Need to find out what the 3rd party wants to do!

If I can get a signed letter off them saying they won't take it further and present it to my insurer, they will close the case! Then I can break the car!