IMG-20190916-WA00013.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)Just coming back from a great 7 day trip on the Isle of Wight. In stop go traffic a few mile from home when the bloke behind did the go but not the stop. Not a massive impact but it has damaged the rear panel, the number plate housing and the nearside light cluster housing. The rear square tube frame has a slight bend in it also.

Waiting to hear from my insurance company, Saga, whose "caravan expert" is not currently available.

Spoke to my car insurer (Direct Line) to see if I should get the tow bar fitting on the car checked out, they weren't interested unless I could tell them what the damage was.

Fortunately the van is still driveable and useable, just looks bad.

What happens next?
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Thanks Aaron, I live near Brighton so that's only a two hour drive away.

Can I claim the travelling expenses and time against other driver I wonder?

I had a similar event last year in my 320GT, but probably a bit worse. The corner was caved and the light cluster was destroyed. It was repaired under insurance by a good local coachwork who thought it fairly straightforward.

Thanks IainG for the positive contribution. I am still waiting to hear from my insurance company, I hope it works out as easy as you have found.

Think Dave (eribanaut) might be a good person to ask as he was written off with a shunt from behind and was insured by Saga

Hi Ray if you will be looking for quotes to give to the insurers, Boxall and Clinch at Littlehampton replaced an entire panel for me earlier this year. I am happy to recommend. You may be surprised as to how much this is likely to cost!

Thanks johnf,

Littlehampton is certainly the closest so far, with your recommendation too.

I have finally made contact with Saga and their preferred repairer was in Northampton. We discussed the cost of transporting the van there and back and they weren't too keen on paying for my time and expense.

The upshot is that Saga are sending an assessor to me who will compile a report with photos etc which can then be used by my preferred repairer to prepare a quotation.

Any other repairer recommendations please?

Thanks Colin,

The official dealers being? AL Poole? Jandi?

Automotive Leisure seem to be a very "marmite" company. Some folks love them and are happy with the service they receive to their perceived standard, others have an opposite view based on different perceptions. I am of the latter. I doubt that I would even get a quote in a reasonable time anyway, their business is buying and selling.

I would have thought it was the other driver's insurance company who should sort it out. Can't you just leave it to them to fix the repairs all at their expense?

Sadly it doesn't work like that, Pudelwagen.

It appears that with a caravan repair I have to do all the legwork. I even have to claim my excess from the other insurance company and any uninsured losses like travelling expenses.

Wish they'd hit the car instead of the van, it would have been done and dusted in a couple of weeks with little effort on my part.