You take great care of your car. However, when driven regularly, a car will surely have quite a few battle scars, such as scratches and minor dents.
To keep your car in pristine condition, what should you do? Should you claim on your car insurance, or pay for the repairs out of pocket?
If the costs of repairing the damage to your car are excessively high, claim it from your vehicle insurer. If the repair costs are bearable, then pay for it out of pocket and have the vehicle fixed at a reputable shop specialising in car body repairs in Basingstoke.
However, there are downsides to claiming for assistance from your car insurance provider. You will lose the no-claim bonus, the wait time to get all the paperwork sorted is unbearably long, and the future premiums for your car’s insurance will go up.
The Financial Realities Of Car Insurance Claims
Planning to file a claim with your car insurance provider?
Read the following sections to ensure you have all the facts before making your decision.
The Cold Math: Excess vs. Actual Repair Cost
It is best to avoid making a claim if the damage to your car is minor and the repair costs are close to or less than the total excess. In simple terms, paying out of pocket prevents your car’s insurance premium from rising, which in turn helps you save money.
The Stinging Aftermath: Losing Your No Claims Bonus
The No Claims Bonus (NCB) of your car’s insurance is instrumental in keeping the policy’s premium low. You lose the NCB when you apply for a claim.
Additionally, a claim also alters your risk profile, which in turn increases the base premium of your car’s insurance policy.
The Paperwork Trap
The overall process and paper trail for insurance claims are both complex and lengthy. If you can afford it, you can avoid the overall hassle of car insurance claims.
The Smarter, Stress-Free Alternative
If you want to restore the OEM finish of your car and that too without breaking a sweat, then you can opt for professional car body repairs in Basingstoke offered by reputable shops near you.
The only catch is that the repair costs should not be exorbitant and the damage to your car should not be extensive. If the repair costs are too high, it doesn’t make sense to spend your hard-earned money and stretch your monthly budget unnecessarily thin.
If you are worried about your car, don’t be. Reputable shops that offer car body repairs in Basingstoke or anywhere else in the UK, for that matter, follow modern repair techniques such as PDR (Paintless Dent Removal) and SMART (Small to Medium Area Repair Technology).
In simple terms, if your car has minor panel and paint damage, bring it to a reputable shop that offers PDR and SMART-backed repair services. The car’s panels and paint finish will be restored to factory standards in no time, and at reasonable rates.
In this way, you can skip the lengthy paperwork and hiked premiums while keeping the no-claim bonus on your car’s insurance intact.
Taking Control of Your Car’s Finish
The moral of this story is simple to understand. If your car got scuffed by a trolley during your visit to the local supermarket or has a few minor dents and dings on its body panels, consult with a reputable body shop near you, such as Alexander Autos and get your beloved 4-wheeled friend fixed over there.
On the other hand, if the vehicle has sustained extensive damage and the repair costs are exorbitant, at the very least, then place a claim with the insurance provider for your car.
However, please note that it’s your car and your money at the end of the day. You can take whichever route suits your needs and budget.
Related Blog: https://alexanderautos-basingstoke.co.uk/why-car-owners-in-basingstoke-rely-on-local-body-repair-experts/
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