Own up to supermarket car scrapes
66% of drivers have had the experience of finding their car scratched or damaged in a public car park. In only 4% of cases did the guilty party leave a note or come forward to own up. In 96% of cases the motorist is left to pay for the damage themselves or make a claim against their own insurance. The findings are contained in an AA online poll of 800 motorists countrywide.
'Many people do not want to claim for a small dink on their own insurance because they worry about their no claims bonus, so in effect they are left with a healthy bill because the person that did the damage does not own up,' says Director of Policy Conor Faughnan. 'If they have simply 'done a runner' you can be left high and dry.'
Car parking is a hazardous driving activity and information from AA Insurance shows that hitting or being hit by another vehicle is by far the most common car park claim, followed by 'door to panel' collisions with walls, pillars, trolley shelters or barriers.
This can occur due to limited space between cars or reversing into tight spaces with poor visibility. There are also regular claims for damage from rogue shopping trolleys.
While motorists will feel rightly annoyed when their own car is damaged, not all are angels when they cause the scrape themselves. Only 47% of drivers said that they did in fact leave a note or contact details.
'It is not simply people being dishonest,' says Faughnan. 'There is a fear that the third party might take advantage of the situation, and there is also embarrassment.'
The AA advises anyone who does cause damage in a car park to own up rather than risk being caught later. Apart from it being the right thing to do, many modern car parks have CCTV, and witnesses can easily take a picture of your car or your reg. Honesty is the best policy.
