Being involved in an accident or scrape and needing to repair damage to either your car or someone else’s can be an expensive task. Depending on the nature and extent of the damage, it may be worth claiming through your car’s insurance policy.

Check your excess

When making an insurance claim, the amount you have to pay (your ‘excess’) depends on your age, your driving experience, your car type and the insurance company itself. The amount of your excess will be noted on your insurance policy. It can be as low as a few hundred dollars or as high as a few thousand dollars. So, if the cost of repairs is less than the amount of your excess, it may be better to pay for the repairs yourself rather than involve the insurance company.

Call your insurer

If the accident is deemed to be your fault, it is then your obligation to repair the damage both to your own car and to the other party’s car. Call your insurance company before making any admissions and they will advise how you should proceed. Your insurer may recommend a preferred repairer or repairers and effectively guarantees the quality of the workmanship and repair. In this instance, the insurer will establish a quote for the work, and let you make the decision whether to pay the workshop directly or claim through your policy and pay only the excess. If you have the option of sourcing alternative quotes for the repair, you will be able to make a comparison and choose accordingly. Choosing an alternative repairer means you are responsible for the quality of the repair. Also check with your insurer whether your no-claims bonus discount will be affected by your claim.

Contact a local car body repairer to seek advice and compare prices.