Hi All,
I had a minor accident where I was at fault. My excess is $1700 so trying to do a cash settlement. The car I hit is Holden and he is asking for $1200.
The owner refused to get a second quote and I don't think he has to anyway.
Thank you
How Much to Fix Damage Done to Holden in Minor Accident
Comments
it's cheaper than your excess, also no premium raise next 5 years.
If that's damage to both sides, the amount he's asking for isn't unreasonable. It should be about right $ to fix.
Have you negotiated? He's asking for $1200, so offer him $1000 and he might counter with $1100.
Curious though - how did damage occur on both sides?
it looks like the first picture is a zoomed in version of the second, if you look closely, you can see the badges to your left
The first picture, the fence is reflected off the car's paint (so the fence is behind the camera).
In the second picture, the fence is in the background of the picture (ie, in front of the camera).
Also, the pictures can't be of the same side (because of the front light positioning) unless one picture is a "mirror image" format.
Correct both are for same damage. One is the zoomed version
Looked like that to me too initially, but I think enzio is correct.
It's only one side that's damaged.
1 panel shouldn't cost $1200…maybe $500 to $1000 depending if it's a bumper repairman or a panel beater or I reckon?
Does the quote specify what work will be done?
But $1200 is less than $1700 also…
Not really, I got someone cut me off and did similar damage to my left front fender, drove the car to get an insurance assessment and surprisingly it is an $3500 job.
Insurance quotes are inflated, everyone knows that. $3,500 seems super high!
I had a wheel arch dent (one dent much deeper than the ones in the OP's photos) fixed by a "dent guy" for $250. But this was 10 years ago now…so prices have probably increased since.
True but that's how much the other guy's insurance would go after OP for.
You are looking in the wrong way. If you scratched your own car then $250 is not a problem, but that is how much it gonna take if people are claiming you through insurance.
@daiwai: Eh? Am I misunderstanding the below? My interpretation ia the OP is trying to avoid going through insurance and feels the other party is shaking him down or something…
My excess is $1700 so trying to do a cash settlement. The car I hit is Holden and he is asking for $1200.
Looks like there are some scrapes on the wheels - is that part of it ?
Yes the wheel was scratched
Pay $1200 end of.
He can go to his insurance if you make it a hassle and it will be $3500.
And then your excess is $1700.He can request any amount from you. You can refuse. You can escalate it to court if the demand of the other party or their representative is unreasonable.
As long as your repairs and the other person's request is $1,700 or less, just pay up.
My excess is $1700 so trying to do a cash settlement. The car I hit is Holden and he is asking for $1200.
$1200 is less than $1700. So go with that. Plus you get to keep your no claim status etc.
Make sure you have something in writing and signed by them to say all accident damage between both parties is fully settled and no further compensation can be claimed and pay them by a traceable method. ie bank transfer, not cash.
As for if $1200 is fair, the panel will need to be repaired and painted etc. $1200 is 'ball park', give or take.
Make sure you have something in writing and signed by them to say all accident damage between both parties is fully settled and no further compensation can be claimed and pay them by a traceable method. ie bank transfer, not cash.
+1.
$1200 on a Holden. Is it a writeoff??
And I would pony up the $1200. It sounds about right for what a panel beater would charge. Metallic paint and dents. Would need to be sanded, repaired (or most probably just replace the whole panel) and then colour matched to the whole panel to the rest of the car.
My local panel beater once said to me, when I asked him "why so expensive", they said "Mate, I’m not even going to start my baking oven for anything less than $1000." Pretty expensive machine to start up.
What will most likely happen is that the other driver will take your money and not get the car repaired. Because, honestly, who cares about a small ding like that unless you can extract money out of someone else for it.
It's less than your excess and noone here is going to be able to give a more accurate quote off of two photos. You can try haggling it down a bit - cry poor and say you have no money and you're only able to scrounge up $1,000 in cash and see if it works. But even if it's $1,200 I'd pay it. Get it in writing that you don't admit fault, that you've paid, that the $1,000 or $1,200 sorts it completely, and get the other person's details and signature on that piece of paper. Oh - check his rego papers to make sure you're paying the actual owner of the car.
TBH I'd accept it, seeing as it's lower than your excess.
Just make sure to have something signed (from them and yourself) that the matters been settled for x amount (dont quote me on the exact wording) - that way you won't get reamed againHi everyone thank you so much for all your help and suggestions. The damage is only for one side.
I was driving and this lady who has parked her car opened her car door suddenly and smashed into my passenger side.
She was trapped and I reversed my car to let her out and hit his car which was behind me (parked). All this happened so quickly. I should have been more careful when I reversed. But it was my fault and I will pay whatever it will cost to repair his car.
The lady was found responsible for damages to my car expect the damages which was caused by myself reversing my car.
her car opened her car door suddenly and smashed into my passenger side
Maybe it is worth going through your insurance if you want your car fixed too.
The damage for my car was minimal. Paid $300 to fix it. The front damage will be covered by her insurance. The smash repair guy said it will be over $3000
I had damage similar to this on my car fender, but without the wheel damage. $1200 was almost spot on the price quoted by the panel beater. For my car, the front bumper had to be removed to get access to this panel. OP - take the offer!
Just an update guys. Signed the papers and settled it for $900. Thanks everyone
Thanks for the update and good to hear it's all resolved, and less than first expected.
Still kind of pissed off though. That lady was on her phone when she opened the door and doubt she even looked behind before opening the door. Now it’s cost me $900.
Seriously get off the phone when you are in the car. I could have hit her and seriously injured her.
Yep, I feel your pain. I wrote off my car because I rear ended a ute with a metal tray at a traffic light. Low speed, no injuries, no airbags, baby didn't even wake up, but the metal tray ripped through my front right like a knife through butter.
I did so because a van was parked in a no stopping zone and I was annoyed/distracted they were blocking me from turning left.
Still my fault, but if the van wasn't parked illegally in a no stopping zone, there wouldn't have been any accident.
Expensive lesson for me not to get distracted/annoyed whilst driving.
Not sure how much it would cost but if that how much he is asking, then you either pay him that much or go through your insurance. I highly doubt that it's $1200.