I had my car damaged a month or so ago, the culprit doing a runner and causing over £500 of damage to fix to the rear quarter. Since then, my car has been hit again, to the front of the car, denting the bonnet & bumper. Fortunately, I got the details of the person who did the front end damage and I have a had a quote of £575 to fix the front end, however, if I get both the front & rear damage done at the same time, the bill for the rear will come down to £200 (I guess the materials/paint costs will go on the front end damage).

Anyway, initially the culprit was going to pay me a cheque to get the damage sorted, but they have now changed their mind and want to go though their insurers. So, I have a couple of questions:

- Do I get any say at all in who fixes my car? After all, it's in my own interest to get the car fixed at the bodyshop that did the above quotes as it reduces the amount I'll pay to fix the rear end damage.

- Should I deal direct with their insurer, or go through mine?

Thoughts?

When i had my knockthe insurer asked for three quotes then asked which to go with and sent a cheque.

I would personally get your insurance company involved (you will need to tell them anyway) make sure you arent out of pocket as well so get a car while the working being done etc.

As for the repair - I was allowed to choose and as long as they approved the costs all was fine.

It is your right to have the car repaired anywhere you want, do not let the insurance co bully you.

You are in a strong position but beware the body shop repair costs do not escalate and result in a right off by the insurance firm.

How much do you think the car would cost and be realistic! It is important to keep the repair bill below the value. I’m not sure what margin they would use but I’m sure someone else on here does or perhaps a Google search would help…
A new bonnet costs about £800 from fiat so work with the body shop to work out how much can be repaired with the right off figure in mind.

Good luck

I think Tim has a 2000 plus so it may be unlike they would right it off with the description of the damage.

Just seen that and sent him a pm.

Its around 60% of the value of the car they will repair up to. You should be fine.

Ross

If you want a particular garage to do the work then make sure that any other quotes are from garages charging a lot more! That way "your" choice is cheapest anyway.

Yep, you are correct...

Thanks for the repsonses guys, I'm really not concerned they'll write it off, far from it - just wondered if I was best to sort it directly with 'their' insurer, or to go through mine...

Go through theirs and call yours to tell them whats going on. When I went through this my insurance told me they did not need to know but not sure the rest of them work that way so best to cover the bases.

Yeah, that's my thoughts too.... cheers!

U can demand the bodyshop u want to use, as long as the price isnt overly higher than their approved bodyshop.

Btw, most bodyshops will stick the rear end damage in with the front, so try and get it for free as part of the quote!!

Ross

There was a very good article in the honest john section. if you search through my previous posts you should be able to find it.

Basically you have the right to have your car put back to the condition it was in before the accident even if that means the insurance company has to pay more than the car is worth (that isn't your problem and dont let them fob you off).

You must sue his insurers through the court though, dont go through your own insurance company.

here you go.

http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=649182#Post649182

Me =

I took a call from the husband of the woman that hit my car, he said that they have now decided to go through the insurance instead and that they were denying liability. So, I'm not particularly ecstatic about it, but have passed all the details on to my insurer to sort out.

However, our car wash guy at work mentioned that somebody had been out twith a tape measure weighing up the damage to my car yesterday, THEN, I speak to the bodyshop who I want to fix up my car who say that 'the husband' actually went in to try and negotiate the cost of repair DOWN and couldn't understand why it was so expensive to respray a bonnet & bumper (must have been after he'd measured up my car!).. so, basically I think he expected the repair to cost a few quid and because they are now faced with reality are attempting to get out of paying.....

I've passed this info on to my insurer (Highway), so I'll see how good they are at reclaiming the costs I suppose

Really winds me up stuff like this..

Sorry to hear that Tim.

Stick to your guns with your insurance company and make them fight it (sometimes they do need to be cajoled).

Hope you get it sorted.

I can imagine.

I expect wifey ran home after the prang and said 'oops I hit someone, darling' and when asked what she hit probably said 'oh, some old Fiat'...

Why can't people just take proper responsibility instead of trying to weedle out of things? She/hubby needs to suck it up - make sure they do.