It’s not always beneficial to claim for damage
If your car is damaged and you’re insured, it makes sense that you want to claim the cost of repairs from your insurance company. However, it can sometimes work out cheaper to pay for minor damage yourself, as your claim-free years and no-claims bonus will remain intact and your premium won’t go up. So what’s the cut-off point for claiming on your Third-Party Liability + Comprehensive cover insurance? We’ll give you a few examples.
You bump into a post
You bump into a post while parking. The dent needs to be repaired and the bumper needs respraying. You are of course liable for the damage and luckily you have Third-Party Liability + Comprehensive cover. The repairs cost €1,400. In many cases, it will be cheaper to pay for the repairs yourself.
But it’s not just about the money. There are a few more benefits if you use the ABN AMRO Claims Service, such as free replacement transport while the repair work is being carried out. This could be a good reason for claiming on your insurance.
You drive into a wall
You take a corner too fast and drive into a wall. There’s a lot of damage: the car needs several new parts and the repairs will take a long time. You are of course liable for the damage and covered by Third-Party Liability + Comprehensive cover insurance. The repairs will cost €5,000. In this case, it's probably more sensible to claim for the damage on your insurance.
A collision that you’re responsible for
You didn’t see a car with priority coming from the right until it was too late. The crash could have been a lot worse, but the other person’s car has €2,500 of damage and yours has €2,000. Luckily, you’ve got Third-Party Liability + Comprehensive cover. In this case, it’s probably more sensible to claim on the insurance.
Working it out for yourself
You can see for yourself how much of your no-claims bonus you’ll lose and how much remains if you make a claim in the car insurance terms and conditions (PDF, 803 KB) . For example, did you know that you don’t lose any no-claims bonus if you pay us back for a claim within 24 months of receiving compensation?
The following types of damage do not affect your claim-free years:
- Theft and break-ins
- Damage caused by fire, storm and natural disasters
- Windscreen damage
- Damage caused by transporting an injured person
- Damage that can be claimed back from someone else
- Personal injury or damage to property of a pedestrian or cyclist if you can prove it was not your fault.
Don’t hesitate to ask
Please feel free to ask ABN AMRO Verzekeringen about the implications for your no-claims bonus and premium before you make a claim. Call +31 (0)38 49 67 123 (usual call charges apply) between 9 am and 12 noon on Monday to Friday.