Keep the incident date and claim details and disclose the accident when future applications ask for it. Do not assume a single-vehicle incident can be left out because nobody else claimed.
Typical single-vehicle incidents
Drivers can hit a wall, gatepost, bollard, kerb, tree or road object without involving another vehicle. Weather-related skids and parking accidents can also fall into this category. If you claimed for the damage, the insurer will normally have a record of the event.
Why it may be treated as a fault claim
Where there is no other insurer from which to recover the cost, the claim can be recorded as fault for insurance purposes. That does not necessarily mean reckless driving; it describes the financial outcome of the claim.
What if you did not make a claim?
Some application questions ask about accidents or losses whether or not a claim was made. If you repaired the car privately, read the wording carefully. Do not answer a narrower 'claims' question as though it asked about every incident, but do not omit an accident where the question includes accidents.
Damage to other property
A collision with a wall, fence, barrier or street furniture may create liability even though no second vehicle was involved. If another person, business or public authority suffered damage, tell your insurer in accordance with the policy terms.
Future quotations
A single incident will not produce the same result with every insurer. The date, severity, claim cost, driving history and other risk factors all matter. Keep your answers consistent with the insurer’s record so there is no avoidable mismatch.
If the quotation seems unexpectedly difficult
Check whether the incident is recorded differently from how you remember it. Your previous insurer can often confirm claim status. If several providers decline to quote, consider the wider picture too: vehicle type, address, convictions, previous cancellations and other claims may also be contributing.
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