Question re: fender bender...

[Nufy]

My son had a small fender bender today coming home from school.

The non guilty party is driving with an out of date insurance card...

Damage is minimal and no one is hurt.

What are my options ?

[Locke]

The card might be out of date but so long as the policy is valid then you should still be okay. Some people never put the up to date card in their car because all of the information (except the dates) stays the same.

[blankall]

I assume you're saying that your son hit another vehicle. The other vehicle doesn't have proof of current insurance?

It doesn't really matter if the non-liable party is insured from your perspective. It's your policy paying for any damage. If no one was hurt and damage is minimal, you may want to look at paying for the damage yourself. The other option is to have the insurance company pay for it, which may affect your premiums. Do the math to see what's more cost effective.

[Nufy]

Yep...My inner scottsman / a-hole was thinking of a way to get out of it but it will be a good lesson for my son when he has to pay me back for the costs...

[Corral]

Be sure to get the estimate on the other vehicle before you assume damage is minimal from a $$ perspective. Minimal damage on a newer vehicle can easily run $2K or more. And I mean just scratches and small dents.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Nufy

Yep...My inner scottsman / a-hole was thinking of a way to get out of it but it will be a good lesson for my son when he has to pay me back for the costs...

I remember my first accident as a teen and owing my dad money for the repairs. I loathed owing him money

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Nufy

Yep...My inner scottsman / a-hole was thinking of a way to get out of it but it will be a good lesson for my son when he has to pay me back for the costs...

A true Scot would have shown the wee bastard the door, 'you're old enough to drive, away with you and find yourself a place to live, I'm nea supporting you anymore'

[rotten42]

Originally Posted by Corral

Be sure to get the estimate on the other vehicle before you assume damage is minimal from a $$ perspective. Minimal damage on a newer vehicle can easily run $2K or more. And I mean just scratches and small dents.

Yes...and don't let one of those quotes be from Concour's Autobody. Their prices are insanely high. I had a little fender bender last year. Not much damage. I asked the lady to get a quote. She came back with one from Conours for $2300. I said no to that and requested two quotes from other establishments. Both of them came in under $900.

[Nufy]

The other vehicle owner is being reasonable so far.

She is getting 3 quotes and then we will decide how to go forward.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by rotten42

Yes...and don't let one of those quotes be from Concour's Autobody. Their prices are insanely high. I had a little fender bender last year. Not much damage. I asked the lady to get a quote. She came back with one from Conours for $2300. I said no to that and requested two quotes from other establishments. Both of them came in under $900.

If someone who hit me tried that, I'd file a claim through their insurance instantly.

If you hit someone else, you don't get to dictate where they get their vehicle repaired.

[mrkajz44]

I actually did have that happen to me. Got hit in the parking lot and the guy left a note, so I figured I would be nice to him and stay outside insurance, which he requested. I got a few quotes and picked the shop I liked the most, even though it was a few hundred more at that shop that the cheapest price. The guy refused to pay for the shop I wanted to go to, and said he'd only pay the lowest price. My next call was to the insurance company and then it was smooth sailing.

Cool story bro summary: if you get hit, always just go through insurance to avoid the headache of dealing with the person who hit you

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Nufy

The other vehicle owner is being reasonable so far.

She is getting 3 quotes and then we will decide how to go forward.

That's good.

To be safe you should have her sign this:


http://assets.ibc.ca/Documents/Legal...3.GST_2013.pdf

[rotten42]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

If someone who hit me tried that, I'd file a claim through their insurance instantly.

If you hit someone else, you don't get to dictate where they get their vehicle repaired.

Well lucky for me she was a reasonable person and not someone so easily offended.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by rotten42

Well lucky for me she was a reasonable person and not someone so easily offended.

very lucky.

Life Pro Tip - If you are going to get into an accident, make sure you hit someone who doesn't care about their vehicle.

[Nufy]

Quotes are starting to come in...

Lets see how this goes.

[Kswiss]

wrong thread

[flamesfan1297]

Originally Posted by Corral

Be sure to get the estimate on the other vehicle before you assume damage is minimal from a $$ perspective. Minimal damage on a newer vehicle can easily run $2K or more. And I mean just scratches and small dents.

Seconding this.

My dad backed into a pole a while ago with his 2014 GMC and on the surface it looked like just a scratch and small dent. He went to put the tailgate down a while later and it wouldn't move, turns out the rear bumper and rear quarter panel were all out of line.

Turned out to be 3500$ worth of damage.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by rotten42

Yes...and don't let one of those quotes be from Concour's Autobody. Their prices are insanely high. I had a little fender bender last year. Not much damage. I asked the lady to get a quote. She came back with one from Conours for $2300. I said no to that and requested two quotes from other establishments. Both of them came in under $900.

Yah if you ran into me i would be going where i want for repairs. If you asked for 2 more quotes I’d call my insurance and you can deal with them. I’m not going to apple autobody so you can save a few bucks.

Edit: i see someone said this already but the point stands. You inconvenienced me. I’m going to the Best place i want to get my car fixed or you can deal with insurance. Not saying Best is most expensive. But it’s certainly won’t be cheapest. And i most certainly won’t be getting 3 quotes.

[Chingyul]

Someone backed into me last year (I was parked and sitting in the car when it happened).
Kept it outside insurance. Went and got 3 quotes around the same part of town (Edmonton trail area). Ended up getting the best feeling from the cheapest one, and got no kickback from the other party (~900, 1500, 1900). With my work schedule, it dragged on longer than i liked.

If the other party was being a dick, or causing trouble, I'd fall back onto insurance. Make sure you have documentation.

[WhiteTiger]

I think how flexible I'm willing to be would depend on which vehicle they did the damage to or how much someone cares about their vehicle.

My beater vehicle? Sure, I don't mind shopping around a bit for a good price.

My Mustang? No, sorry, that's going to "my guy".