Car accident repairs - insurer or not?

[siadwell]

On a recent holiday, I had an altercation with a stone wall that resulted in a deep scrape and dent on one door of my car.
A local garage has quoted about £650 to do the repair if done privately, or about £850 through the insurance (he says they'd insist on him respraying the adjacent panels to match).
The car is about 8 years old and not pampered, so I'm happy to accept a less than perfect repair.
So the question is, does it make any sense to have the job done privately? I have protected NCD and can't see that the insurers would increase the premiums enough to make £650 look like a good deal. The only thing would be to avoid the hassle of declaring a claim for the next 3-5 years.

 

[MrWill]

I had a door with a huge scrape on, on a 6 year old Astra.

Looked around for another car being broken, with the same paint code and similar age. Whipped the door off, put the new one on. Took 30 min and cost £60. Easy. If you are not sure about anything just spend a tenner on a Haynes manual. It's fool proof.

 

[Andy_R]

I had a door with a huge scrape on, on a 6 year old Astra.

Looked around for another car being broken, with the same paint code and similar age. Whipped the door off, put the new one on. Took 30 min and cost £60. Easy. If you are not sure about anything just spend a tenner on a Haynes manual. It's fool proof.

^^ wot 'e said

 

[raleighnut]

On a recent holiday, I had an altercation with a stone wall that resulted in a deep scrape and dent on one door of my car.
A local garage has quoted about £650 to do the repair if done privately, or about £850 through the insurance (he says they'd insist on him respraying the adjacent panels to match).
The car is about 8 years old and not pampered, so I'm happy to accept a less than perfect repair.
So the question is, does it make any sense to have the job done privately? I have protected NCD and can't see that the insurers would increase the premiums enough to make £650 look like a good deal. The only thing would be to avoid the hassle of declaring a claim for the next 3-5 years.

Its only a tin box who gives a fig.
Scrap it and do us all a favour.
ONE LESS CAR

 

[Profpointy]

On a recent holiday, I had an altercation with a stone wall that resulted in a deep scrape and dent on one door of my car.
A local garage has quoted about £650 to do the repair if done privately, or about £850 through the insurance (he says they'd insist on him respraying the adjacent panels to match).
The car is about 8 years old and not pampered, so I'm happy to accept a less than perfect repair.
So the question is, does it make any sense to have the job done privately? I have protected NCD and can't see that the insurers would increase the premiums enough to make £650 look like a good deal. The only thing would be to avoid the hassle of declaring a claim for the next 3-5 years.

I discovered that "protected no claims" did not in fact prevent my premium going up quite a bit - apparently I still got my 60% off, but the base figure went up rather more ! I guess your excess is a couple of hundred as well. Alternatively, put up with it, or swap for a similarly coloured door from the scrappy. Depends how smart the car is and how bothered you are

 

[cd365]

Try another garage, that seems high!

 

[welsh dragon]

I discovered that "protected no claims" did not in fact prevent my premium going up quite a bit - apparently I still got my 60% off, but the base figure went up rather more ! I guess your excess is a couple of hundred as well. Alternatively, put up with it, or swap for a similarly coloured door from the scrappy. Depends how smart the car is and how bothered you are

Protected NCD does what it says on the tin., protect your NCD. It does not and never has protected you against you're premium increasing. prices increase all the time and its nothing to do with that.

 

[fossyant]

Depending upon how bad it is, these mobile smart repair companies might be able to do it !

 

[Kiwiavenger]

Scrap yard for a new door for me.