collisions

[dondor]

In a collision between two motorists where damage is slight.What is meant by the term."Knock for Knock".

[furrycheeky]

Basically its like a 50/50. If insurances are involved, your insurance will fix your car and the other drivers fixes his. Both losing no-claims.

[andy hughes]

Or alternaitvely, both dirvers agree to pay for their own damage repairs, and neither involves their insurance company, so neither loose their no claims bonus.

[JudgeJ]

Most insurance companies have “knock for knock” agreements between them to avoid arguing over liability for accidents. Where the agreement is invoked each Company will pay for repairs to its own customer’s vehicle (provided they have a comprehensive policy which covers them for accidental damage). The downside, as furrycheeky says, is that both will have their No Claims Bonus (NCB) effected.

If you feel you were not to blame for the accident you can claim damages from the Third Party directly. You still have an obligation (under the terms of your policy) to report the matter to your insurers, but you must make it clear to them that you are not making a claim. They may still pay to reimburse the Third Party’s insurers (because of the knock for knock agreement) but that is a matter for them.

Insurance companies often go to great lengths to explain that the discount they offer is a “No Claims” discount, not a “No Blame” discount. They do this in response to policyholders who have to claim under their own policies when they were clearly not at fault (e.g. in the event of being damaged whilst parked, with the Third Party making off and leaving no details).

This principle holds good both ways, and if you make it clear that you are not claiming under your policy they cannot disallow your NCB.