Motor Insurance Claim

[DancingDoris]

Hi All,
Yesterday I had a small bump in my partners car, and to cut a very long story short, I have been told by my insurers that I need to claim on my partners policy as I am a named driver on that, and that I can't claim on my own policy (for my own vehicle which is currently having some work done) that covers me to drive any other vehicle 3rd party. We do not wish to initiate a claim, I only want to make the insurance company aware that there has been an incident.
I don't think the other person involved will approach their ins.co as they were very keen to get this sorted out outside the insurance companies and we were met with a tirade of abuse when we said no. We said no as they are alleging that more significant damage that happened prior to our little scrape was caused by me! My question is, am I within my rights to choose which policy to claim from if they do start a claim?

Sorry if this sounds like a ramble but I am very tired after we mysteriously had takeaways and taxis turning up at all hours last night (wonder where they got our address from?)

Thanks

DD

[R1Geezer]

You policy which covers you to drive other cars will be for third party only. So are you intending not to claim for your own damage? Assuming it was your fault there is no reason why the other party should get their insurers involved. I assume you have now told your insurer that you are a named driver on your hubands insurance if you haven't then don't then simply claim off the third party only section of your own insurance, though you will not get your own damage fixed this way. If you have told them then both companies will want to get you to claim off the other, let them sort it bewteen them.

[ABerrant]

The DOC (Driving Other Cars) clause on your policy should include the caveat that it only applies where another policy is not in place that covers the claim - in effect your Named Driver status voids your own DOC coverage for your partner's car.

[R1Geezer]

Good point there above from aberrant it probably says as much in your policy conditions. So you'll have to claim off the old mans policy where you are a named driver.

[DancingDoris]

Thanks for the info.... We've informed both insurance companies now. According to one, we don't get a choice, but the other said it's down to the driver of the other vehicle to choose (if they do infact claim).

[woozer]

Hi - the person you hit does not have to use their insurance company. Even if it was their fault they could decide to deal with the matter themselves and as long as they paid up as required then that is fine. They should of course tell their insurer about the incident as that is a condition of all insurance policies and if they then wished to use their insurer for the incident at a later date there could be problems if they had inadvertently done something to prejudice their case. So not a desirable option but an option nevertheless.
You cannot dictate to the Third Party.
If you are worried about them making an inflated claim then tell your insurance company and explain why you think this. But, at the end of the day you or your insurer need to prove what you are saying and to do this you need evidence e.g. photos of the incident, an independant witness, or an independant engineers report on the Third Party vehicle. I am afraid that the costs of arguing your case are often higher than the cost of simply settling up - and if this is the case your insurer will probably just settle with the Third Party.
If your insurers make a payment and cannot recover it from the Third Party then you will lose part of your No CLaims Bonus regardless of how much they actually pay out. Sorry, I know it is infuriating but that is the way the system works - just take a step back and let your insurer (the insurer of the car you were driving)get on with it.