[Stan Thomas]

Can anyone with specific motor insurance knowledge advise me how to proceed, having just been run into from behind by a foreign 38 tonne lorry in a slow moving traffic queue on the M6? Full details were taken by a National Highways Officer and the police and he admitted (by interpretation) that he was to blame and there was no damage to his vehicle whatsoever.

He has dented and distorted the fit of the boot lid, and the N/S light cluster has been pushed in slightly (but not broken) which suggests the rear wing may have been pushed out of position but otherwise it is undamaged.

Normally of course I would put it through the insurance, but they would then not only increase my premium for having been involved in an accident (for which they have the perogative to do so - especially as I'm due for renewal in ten weeks time which is long before any settlement would be forthcoming), but may well just want to write the car off and pay me out for which I am fully comprehensive, with legal cover, agreed value and salvage retention. But that would either then hyke up my premiums and/or they might even refuse to insure me further due to my advancing age? In any event, the car is much too good to be written off and it would be the loss of another Rover.

In the alternative, is it a feasable proposition I could refrain from making a claim at all on my insurance, and progress the recovery of the cost of repairs myself? If so - and this is the principle question - should I tell my insurers about the accident and my decision to handle the recovery of my costs myself, which ostensibly means as I'm not making a claim my insurance is unaffected? Would they agree to that??

Or should I just keep stum and get the repairs done, given the Polish lorry driver did not ask for or obtain my insurance details anyway?

Has anyone had a similar experience?

Regards to all,

Stan.

P.S.
Anyone know of a good repairer with panel beating capability in the Wolverhampton, Stafford or West Midlands area??

[BlairHobson]

It's a difficult one, we had the same dilemma with my daughter last year. What it boils down to is simply whether the other driver will declare it to their insurance company and whether they will get in touch with yours to admit liability. If they don't and you don't then no-one is any the wiser. If they (or someone else in the chain) do and you don't and you take out new/renew insurance without declaring it and it comes to light then it automatically invalidates your insurance, which could cost you a lot more than a slightly increased premium (if that happens). We declared it.

[Stan Thomas]

Update:

Rimmer Bros appear to have a new boot lid for £530 inc. VAT - part number 160230. Can anyone confirm this is correct for my 1997 400 bodyshell please?

[itcaptainslow]

That part number pertains to a spring, not a boot lid.

[Montegoman]

I think there must be an error in the part number. Even Rimmers can't charge £530 for a boot spring!!!

[Paul_1978_yorks]

Sorry to hear about your incident Stan - from what you say it suggest relatively minor damage. Hope you get sorted as it's a great car. Don't let Copart or similar organisation take it - you'll never see it back.

[Mr Teddy Bear]

Sorry to hear this Stan assuming you have a classic policy you should be o.k?

I would ask around for salvage spare parts on the Facebook group.

[Mr Teddy Bear]

Can anyone with specific motor insurance knowledge advise me how to proceed, having just been run into from behind by a foreign 38 tonne lorry in a slow moving traffic queue on the M6? Full details were taken by a National Highways Officer and the police and he admitted (by interpretation) that he was to blame and there was no damage to his vehicle whatsoever.

He has dented and distorted the fit of the boot lid, and the N/S light cluster has been pushed in slightly (but not broken) which suggests the rear wing may have been pushed out of position but otherwise it is undamaged.

Normally of course I would put it through the insurance, but they would then not only increase my premium for having been involved in an accident (for which they have the perogative to do so - especially as I'm due for renewal in ten weeks time which is long before any settlement would be forthcoming), but may well just want to write the car off and pay me out for which I am fully comprehensive, with legal cover, agreed value and salvage retention. But that would either then hyke up my premiums and/or they might even refuse to insure me further due to my advancing age? In any event, the car is much too good to be written off and it would be the loss of another Rover.

In the alternative, is it a feasable proposition I could refrain from making a claim at all on my insurance, and progress the recovery of the cost of repairs myself? If so - and this is the principle question - should I tell my insurers about the accident and my decision to handle the recovery of my costs myself, which ostensibly means as I'm not making a claim my insurance is unaffected? Would they agree to that??

Or should I just keep stum and get the repairs done, given the Polish lorry driver did not ask for or obtain my insurance details anyway?

Has anyone had a similar experience?

Regards to all,

Stan.

P.S.
Anyone know of a good repairer with panel beating capability in the Wolverhampton, Stafford or West Midlands area??

Jonathon Living does

[itcaptainslow]

Update:

Rimmer Bros appear to have a new boot lid for £530 inc. VAT - part number 160230. Can anyone confirm this is correct for my 1997 400 bodyshell please?

The reason the part number showed as a spring is you’ve missed the letter prefix ‘BMD’.

There are several 4dr bootlids listed for different chassis number ranges, so to check accurately I would need the car’s VIN.

[Stan Thomas]

I've 'phoned Rimmer Bros with the VIN number and they do have a boot lid. However, although dented the repairers say it can be rectified (which at least leaves the new one for some other unfortunate in the future).

I've been in touch with the British agents (*) (a legal requirement) for the transport company's insurance in Poland under the "green card" agreement and they were quite helpful - so I'm just waiting now whilst remaining seated for the estimate.

Stan.