Someone reversed into my Boxster :(

[DavidC]

Someone visiting one my my neighbours managed to reverse into my car the other night

I'd just got home from work, pull partly into my drive and then got out to move the bins that were still blocking me. While I was out of the car (we're the end of a cul de sac) another car that was turning around, reversed straight into my car. 

Luckily, it just hit the back bumper. Made a hell of a cracking sound, but the damage is pretty light. https://imgur.com/a/89w9yA2

The bumper has a new straight dent near the top. a scrape low down just behind the tyre and a spider-web crack in the paint under the light cluster.

I guess I've got to get this one fixed on insurance as that web-crack in the paint is only going to end up with paint flaking off at some point  

Do you reckon the bumper would be repaired (I'm thinking of that long straight dent and whether there's any splits or other damage on the inside of the plastic bumper) or replaced?

DC

 

[iborguk]

You need to get someone knowledgeable in front of it.
May partly depend on whether the clips on the bumper on are intact.

I’d get the job done properly at a place of your choice and not necessarily the insurers preferred outfit.

All the best sorting.

Edited January 21 by iborguk

[Nobbie]

Presumably the 3rd party has given you their insurance details and are likely to admit fault to their insurer?

Two choices, firstly claim off your own policy if you are happy with who they will get to do the work. If the 3rd party admit fault you probably won’t have to pay any excess as insurer will recover.

Second choice is to approach 3rd party insurer direct for a settlement. They will need estimates from your preferred repairer and may give you a cash sum in lieu of car hire while it’s repaired. Downside is you cannot complain to the Ombudsman if you are unhappy with the work done (unlikely if you choose the garage)

There’s always the outside chance they write it off if they suspect further damage behind the bumper such as the heat shields as bits like this can be suprisingly expensive from Porsche, but seems unlikely in your case.

Good luck.

[DavidC]

That's my fear, a write off for something like this. 

 

I have their details and they hit a stationary car while the driver was outside the car.... It's 100% their fault. They even had reversing sensors that they ignored. 

Edited January 21 by DavidC

[½cwt]

Had this on my 986 about 3 years ago now.  One mounting point at the top was slightly distorted but I was able to adjust it back with no damage to paint coverage  Took it to a local restoration body shop after I'd stripped it down, £278 all in.  Less than the excess for person who hit me, so they paid cash. The dent came out with some heat and a final fine detail with filler according to the body shop owner, who is very hands on!. 

I was quite generous as they were friends of my parents and I'd been planning to get a small crack in the top under the light (you can see it opened up in the pic) repaired anyway and a respray to get rid of road rash from the rear wheels.  Gave me a chance to tidy up a couple of other things too.

 

Edited January 21 by ½cwt

[½cwt]

4 minutes ago, DavidC said:

That's my fear, a write off for something like this. 

 

I have their details and they hit a stationary car while the driver was outside the car.... It's 100% their fault. They even had reversing sensors that they ignored. 

A new bumper in primer from Porsche is around £600-700 then add strip and painting costs.  Even if you don't DIY strip it there should be change from £400 for strip, prep,  paint and fit, although you are in the south.  It would still be worth the other party setting directly with you as even if they have NCD protection, their premiums will still rise due to a claim as it only protects the discount, not the claim risk.

[BrianJ]

Even if you claim off the other insurer your own insurer is likely to increase your premium because you obviously park in a dangerous place (!). Well known feature of how insurers work. Agree that getting guilty party to foot bill directly is likely to be lowest cost solution for everyone, unless either party has already notified their insurer in which case they will regard it as a claim even if you sort it privately. Good luck.

[DavidC]

There was no visible damage on their car, so I would be amazing if they've started a claim yet. I'll get in touch with them and see whats what. Also gonna call ePorsch tomorrow to see if they have a local body shop recommendation. 

[iborguk]

Having been through this myself , also ensure you understand from the body shop ,what other paint, if any, needs to be blended in with on the back of the car to ensure the best possible finish.

 

[brillomaster]

I'd be very wary of claiming. I think there's a very real chance it'll be written off if you claimed. Personally I'd try and source a secondhand bumper and have it painted to match.

[iborguk]

2 hours ago, Nobbie said:

 

Two choices, firstly claim off your own policy if you are happy with who they will get to do the work. 

Again you do not have to use your own insurers or any other insurers approved repairer.

You can select your own repairer, you’ll obviously need to provide estimates etc.

Edited January 21 by iborguk

[½cwt]

2 hours ago, iborguk said:

Having been through this myself , also ensure you understand from the body shop ,what other paint, if any, needs to be blended in with on the back of the car to ensure the best possible finish.

 

Had mine done as an individual piece in Artic Silver 92U, no blend would have been required it was a prefect match.  Same result when I had the front done.  Maybe I've been lucky twice, or found someone who really knows how to accurately mix paint, plus silver is not so prone to fading as some colours.

1 hour ago, iborguk said:

Again you do not have to use your own insurers or any other insurers approved repairer.

You can select your own repairer, you’ll obviously need to provide estimates etc.

But check for higher excesses if you don't use their nominated shop.

[iborguk]

Just now, ½cwt said:

Had mine done as an individual piece in Artic Silver 92U, no blend would have been required it was a prefect match.  Same result when I had the front done.  Maybe I've been lucky twice, or found someone who really knows how to accurately mix paint, plus silver is not so prone to fading as some colours.

But check for higher excesses if you don't use their nominated shop.

Had a bit of blending on mine , YMMV.

Personally not heard  of higher excesses applying but have heard of things like car hire not being applicable. Bottom line check the T&Cs.

 

 

[½cwt]

Just now, iborguk said:

Had a bit of blending on mine , YMMV.

Personally not heard  of higher excesses applying but have heard of things like car hire not being applicable. Bottom line check the T&Cs.

 

 

TBH for the damage vs work it really isn't worth either party claiming, just an amicable settlement.  Any decent body shop will sort the bumper without any need for a replacement based on the image showing the damage.  Might even be sorted by a mobile paint correction outfit without removing it from the car.

[iborguk]

4 minutes ago, ½cwt said:

TBH for the damage vs work it really isn't worth either party claiming, just an amicable settlement.  Any decent body shop will sort the bumper without any need for a replacement based on the image showing the damage.  Might even be sorted by a mobile paint correction outfit without removing it from the car.

I’ve had good results with smart repairs.

All down to the experienced hands on the day. 

Lots of options to repair resolution.

Edited January 21 by iborguk

[Rev Ken]

I had a car reverse into my front wing while parked in the Rugby Club car park. She drove off,  but came back a little later and accepted responsibility. I negotiated with her insurance who took my car to Glasgow, then somewhere else, while I had a hire car for about three weeks. It cost me nothing; a new wing was fitted and (black) paint was blended in very well. My insurance firm wasn't involved at all. I'm not even sure they ever knew!

[greenman986s]

And if they do know, quite likely through the shared claims database, and you didn't tell them.., you are probably breaching your contract and risking it being voided..

[myfirstboxster]

26 minutes ago, greenman986s said:

And if they do know, quite likely through the shared claims database, and you didn't tell them.., you are probably breaching your contract and risking it being voided..

Just spoke to my daughter who works in car insurance , tell your insurance company what's happened , no claim is being made , just for the record etc , it really could come back to haunt you if you need to make a claim in the future .

[plynchy]

Looking at the pic I'm not even sure you'll need a new bumper skin (or PU as they're known). There looks to be zero structural damage, worth getting the light unit removed to check mounting points for PU, but any decent bodyshop would sort that for £2-300 I would think.

Really not worth claiming, you'll be marked for life.

[DavidC]

It's hard to see in the pictures but the impact has put a crease in the bumper. 

 

I'll get a bodyshop to give me a quote. Hopefully it's something we can sort out without involving insurers. 

Edited January 21 by DavidC

[Paul P]

4 hours ago, ½cwt said:

Had mine done as an individual piece in Artic Silver 92U, no blend would have been required it was a prefect match.  Same result when I had the front done.  Maybe I've been lucky twice, or found someone who really knows how to accurately mix paint, plus silver is not so prone to fading as some colours.

But check for higher excesses if you don't use their nominated shop.

I think you chose the body shop well - this is what my insurance approved body shop called "done" on my audi bumper  - that and the fact they hadn't cut out the section for the (factory) tow ball mount - so the whole bumper had been forced onto the car around the bracket. There was a "robust" conversation with the body shop who didn't quite know how to deal with me rejecting the car and it took a few conversations with the insurance co to the ca fixed again ( another new bumper) at a different garage.

 

[½cwt]

Look for a specialist with good word of mouth reputation. Ideally a restoration or custom shop, not a volume insurance repairer. As you are in Surrey, contact Paul at Torque Boxsters, or another local indy, for a local recommendation.

Edited January 21 by ½cwt

[fizz]

Firstly sorry to see this happened to you mate. 

Secondly as with everyone else, id suggest getting quotes done locally yourself and hand the quote over to the offending party and see what they say. 

15 hours ago, myfirstboxster said:

Just spoke to my daughter who works in car insurance , tell your insurance company what's happened , no claim is being made , just for the record etc , it really could come back to haunt you if you need to make a claim in the future .

This is sadly and very annoyingly true. Just even alerting them then you had a bump but dont want to claim will increase the risk database for your postcode and area as it still gets noted. 

[Carmand]

When renewing my insurance last week each broker was asking if I’d had ANY accidents whether resulting in a claim or not so be careful.
From experience of a very minor rear bump in queuing traffic on my PU years ago the damage is not always immediately obvious and cracks etc can emerge in future where it’s been stressed soyou really have to get the bumper off to be sure.