So, at the weekend I went out to take some photos of the wife’s old car so I could put it up for sale. Discovered that sometime in the last week some berk has (I assume) reversed into it and damaged the front end. Damage is dents, cracked bumper, paint has broken on dent to bonnet – there’s no way they didn’t know they’d hit it! It’s a Fiat Barchetta and I’ve heard that replacement panels are pricey due to their rarity. We need rid of the car so what’s my best option here?

A: Report to police/insurance and get them to fix? Car is fully comp but is on a policy with 2 other cars and I’d be concerned about future rises in premiums. Past experience tells me NCB is useless here.

B: Fix privately and sell once repaired

C: Sell as is – with cosmetic damage but perfectly roadworthy and driveable.

I’m going to lose out here because some scumbag couldn’t do the decent thing and leave a note, but which option will see me losing out the least?

How come it’s taken a week to notice?

Are you sure someone drove into it or did something else happen that you’ve not heard about?

Live in a flat, car’s parked round the corner, wife was away for a week and the car wasn’t being driven. It’s barely been driven since she got her new car, which is why it’s definitely a parking shunt.

Cheapest and easiest would be if you were lucky enough to find replacement panels in the same colour and do it yourself. Insurance claim whatever your excess is + premium up sure they shouldnt as not at fault but they will always try then potential for cat d write off depending on value and cost of repairs at their over priced default body shop. Failing that sell as is if the damage isnt to bad you shouldnt loose out to much as they are quite a sought after motor.

Live in a flat, car’s parked round the corner, wife was away for a week and the car wasn’t being driven. It’s barely been driven since she got her new car, which is why it’s definitely a parking shunt.

That’s answered that.

Any CCTV?

Sell as is – with cosmetic damage but perfectly roadworthy and driveable

^^ this

Buyer sees it for what it is – a parking shunt rather than something more serious.

Unfortunately no CCTV. First action was to examine the bumpers of every car in the street (and the next one over) for traces of red paint. Alas, nothing.

There’s a friendly specialist in town – I’ll probably ask him for a quote to repair the damage. He might make me an offer to take it off my hands – would be cheaper for him to fix and then he can sell at a decent profit.

Love these, where are you based?

Edinburgh, I thought everyone on STW was?

Ah bugga. Your wife is a woman of good taste though 8)

No. STW is based where everyone lives next to slag heaps, mineheads and chews on the fog of chimney soot.

Are you cruising again?

@parkesie – fault as far as insurance goes is if your insurer pays anything out.

In this case they will so would definitely be an ‘at fault’ incident with the subsequent horrible premiums.

Cheers

Danny B

A couple of years ago my car got stolen, it was worth barely anything (as in, the excess was pretty much the full value) so I was never going to make a claim. Stupidly I called the insurance company to tell them it had been stolen, and although I made it very clear I was NOT going to make a claim, they recorded it as such and my premiums went up. Now on new policies I have to list it as a claim, claim amount £0. Still means higher premiums.

Somebody we know who works in car insurance told us (off the record) NEVER to tell your insurer about small bumps, for which you don’t claim. It goes down on your record and you become classified as an “accident magnet” and will pay higher premiums.

Depends on the damage but it sounds pretty slight. I’d sell as is. I doubt you’d make the money back on any repair and recent signs of a repair might even put some people off.