My neighbour damaged my parked car — can we settle privately without involving insurance?
What should you do?
- Get photographs and a written repair estimate before agreeing a figure.
- Keep a written record of what happened and any agreement reached.
- A repair can reveal hidden damage that was not obvious at first.
- If liability or the cost becomes disputed, an insurer may need to become involved.
What can make a difference?
The result can depend on your level of cover, exclusions, excess, information given when the policy was arranged or renewed, who was driving, and the precise circumstances. Two policies both described as “comprehensive” can still contain different terms.
Before settling privately, check the notification terms in your policy and avoid signing away rights before the full damage is known.
Even if you and your neighbour agree to pay for repairs privately, your policy may still require the incident to be reported. Check the notification condition before deciding not to involve the insurer.
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