Hi guys, just been in a car accident and it turns out the other driver (who was at fault) has no insurance. I on the other hand only have 3rd party property damage. What happens in this situation?
Other party has no insurance
Toph Beifong on 18/07/2014 - 22:35
Comments
Don't all accidents have to be reported to the police anyway?
Ask your imsurer if they can make the demand on your behalf
Was in a similar situation 5 years ago
Keep in mind third party insurance usually pay you 3-5k in case uninsured driver hit you, given you pay excess (which will be refunded once they got the money from uninsured guy, i stand to be corrected here, never experienced this before). So dont be too worried.
Or you can go the old road, demand them to pay for repairs, or pay cash if you dont want to repair. Make sure you get quotes from a couple of smash repairers, some pays more attention to details than others.
I have received quotes of $800, $1800 and $2200 for one incident before. Turns out the last repairer was careful enough to check the spare wheel well which was damaged, the other two didnt.
^This.
OP, any update? What happened at the end?
Now at a smash repairer waiting for my insurance assessor to give the green light. However, he rang me up today and asked if I wanted to get my car repaired (he estimated it to cost ~$4600) or if I wanted my insurance company (SGIO) to pay me the market value of my car, $4700 (but they would deduct $300 off and pay me $4300, not sure what this is for) and see it as a total loss and allow me to keep my wrecked vehicle.
I would have thought that the assessor would make this decision, not me?
Help!?Its your call. Since you had only 3rd party property damage, I assume your car does not cost much (around 5000$ market price may be??).
If I were you, I'd have taken the $4300 from SGIO and kept the wrecked car (would try to sell parts later?). I'd buy another car by adding a bit sum to that amount :). I'd feel happy that after all they are paying me for damages done by an uninsured driver! And remember, a wrecked car is a wrecked car, no matter how much repair is done.
Edit: OP, is it that car? - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/127841
Hi bargainaus, thanks for your reply! Yeah I was looking at replacing my current (wrecked car) last year but ended up keeping it because nothing was wrong with it, just a little paint peeling off here and there. It's actually a 2001 Corolla which is worth somewhere around $4000 (redbook) so I think SGIO's offer is very reasonable.
The assessor has told me that he knows someone who is willing to buy the car for $300 so I would get $4600, but not sure if I would have to pay for it to be towed out.
Update:
Insurance let me keep the car. Smash repairer made me pay $300 to get it back (he was bitter that he couldn't get to fix the car and make a couple of thousand profit) Took it to another smash repairer who fixed the whole lot, and even changed the oil and filter for $1700. Now need to get the car through 2 lots of inspections to get it re-registered
I reckon you get two quotes for the damages and send them a letter of demand.
I'd be inclined to make a police report too