Door Ding / Dent Responsibility 2023-2024

Greetings fellow humans! I’m sure this thread will touch upon many of us who have experienced this before.

I purchased a new Tesla Model Y a few months ago and as most people are aware, Teslas have an impressive camera monitoring system.

In the first month of owning the vehicle, I observed a sentry recording of a person opening their door next to my car and smashing a very nice dent into my passenger door with a small chunk of paint going missing. As I had the recording of the event actually happening, including the person's face/reaction, the vehicle and registration clearly on video, I called my insurance company, they instructed me to go to the police and ask for a police event/report number. I was told the police won’t be able to disclose the other person's information to me, however the insurance company can request it once it’s attached to the police report number.

I went to my local police station with all the evidence. A few days later I was given an event number, however, they informed me because it was an “accident”, they would not disclose any information to my insurer.

After back and forth with my insurance company. They asked me to pay my “excess” insurance in order to repair the damage. I did not proceed for obvious reasons.

Since then, I have had 5 additional events on sentry camera, where a person opens their door and damages my vehicle.
In every single event, the person steps out, observes the damage they have made to my vehicle, tries to rub the damage off with their finger and simply walks away.

My other vehicle does not have a camera but I have also noticed new door dings appearing every few weeks when I'm washing it. It was even side-swiped once at the rear, which cost a bomb to fix.

The point of this topic is I'd like to hear what others have done in this situation. Surely the system can’t be that broken where others can damage your property and there are no repercussions, particularly when you have video evidence.
I personally am so careful when opening my door next to other vehicles. I often put my hand on the outside of the door to prevent any damage.

It is frustrating, to say the least. I understand sh*t happens but not a single individual has taken responsibility.

Has anyone else been in this situation? I’d love to hear if anyone else has managed to get some sort of result.

Comments

  • +25

    I had a similar situation where I saw someone damage my car (not with a camera) and drive off. Since I was with Suncorp insurance at the time the only thing they require is the rego number of the responsible party for your excess to be waived it is then their job to attempt to recover their loss. Anyway I called them up, gave the rego and my car was soon booked in for repair with no expense on my part.

    I'm curious how you're getting so many door dings though are they particularly tight spaces? I practise what I like to call 'defensive parking' and aiming to have a pillar or some sort of barrier on at least one side of my car, even better if you have no cars immediately next to you, not always possible but may help.

    • +21

      I also practise defensive parking myself. Always have. I have no problem parking at the rear of a parking lot to avoid any damage.

      For example I want for a drive to Canberra a few weeks ago to check out this flower festival.
      Very busy and tight car park. A family with a huge Nissan patrol parked next to me while I was gone.
      That car was so large, they could barely open the doors even though we were both parked in the middle of our spots.
      Their door came flying open, hit my door. Pressed their door against my car while they squeezed out of the car.
      They looked at the damage to my car. Licked the finger, tried to rub it off. Frustrating.

      My point is. If you have someone on video damaging your property, surely they are responsible for it. Regardless if it was intentional or not.
      That’s why they call it an accident.

        • +25

          Great mentality 👍 so because it's hard for others to be responsible, everyone should just have shit things they don't have to care for to cater for the lowest common denominator because they won't even get a slap on the wrist

          • @bobs burgers: I bought a new car for 50k, and will be going back to a car under 10k because of this. It sucks but it is what it is.

        • +4

          Why the downvote ? I have 15 Year old Kia, and not worried about dents anymore. In fact, someone keyed the side of the car. I patched it and barely can see it.

          Stop buying "Precious" cars. Cars are made to take us from A to B in a more or less comfortable way.

          • @cameldownunder: They all Tesla lovers.

          • +1

            @cameldownunder: Rule 1 of Fight Club

          • +2

            @cameldownunder: Agreed. Of course it’s nice to have shiny things, and and in a perfect world, yes people would be held accountable. But we are not in a perfect world, so when you have “significantly above average” possessions, you are likely to end up with “significantly above average annoyance” when things like this happen. To be honest, this sentry feature sounds like it is doing more harm than good, psychologically. It’s much harder to hate someone when you don’t know who they are.

            • @eggboi: Agree shiny things are nice ( a.k.a at the time a 3080RTX or a new Mobile ) but not when you have to leave them exposed to all the envious people in this crazy world. Our house looks below average in our road, but by doing so it attracts less envy.
              I

              • @cameldownunder: Assuming people who ding cars are “envious” is also not a great outlook. When i see people being inconsiderate of others, or behaving selfishly, it really annoys me, but i have to try to remember that it’s usually due to a lack of awareness, and not malice.

      • +8

        Absolute dogs. Those kids are learning from the best.

    • +4

      even better if you have no cars immediately next to you,

      Sometimes it's better to park next to cars, than no cars at the time of parking, especially if it could get busy later. Reason is you at least have a choice who your neighbours are (I prefer to park next to nice new cars) . Of course it depends on circumstances, and those cars aren't guaranteed to leave after you, it's all about likelihood.

      • +2

        I prefer to park next to nice new cars

        Too risky for me - need a good condition older car to provide better evidence of long-term care. New cars might be a work car, loaner, or not yet visibly damaged by their careless owner who swaps vehicles every 2 years

    • +8

      You must be friends with the just get a $2000 car guy?
      Must be nice to not give a shit about anything

    • +5

      Found a possible door dinger.

    • +1

      Just commented the same "Go from place to place" and noticed you got down voted. Didn't suspect Ozbarainers were so precious about their rides.

      • But are you a door dinger? I like my stuff to look nice on top of being functional and I think alot of people are the same. When it comes to selling you can't get as good a price for a dinged up car as you would for an undamaged car.

  • +7

    i try to park next to vans as much as i can.

    • -1

      why vans

      • +1

        doors slide

      • sliding doors, and usually only a driver

  • +3

    Name the insurance.

    • +5

      NRMA

      • +5

        Consider switching, in my circumstance I was never asked to go to the police for a hit and run.

        • Who are you with?

          That’s a great question to ask next year when I renew my insurance.
          Door ding policy if I have video evidence.

          • +1

            @InLaymansTerms: Insurers are required to give you a pro-rata refund if you end your current policy at any point. You don't have to wait until the end of your policy year!

        • Its standard for them to request a police report. Takes no time to submit online. The main reason is it just adds an extra hurdle and makes dodgy folks think twice before committing insurance fraud. Reduces claims for the insurer, and can be used as evidence for various purposes later if needed.

      • +15

        National Rifle and Machinegun Association?

        • Yeah, and I like both types of music, Country AND Western… yeehaw!!

      • This checks out

      • NRMA screwed me around like that also.
        I'm with Australia Post Insurance now, which really is QBE and they are miles better.
        I had another door ding incident and I just had to give them the rego and they did the rego search themselves to identify the other party and waived the excess.
        I did still submit a non-injury traffic crash report with the police but QBE didn't need that to waive my excess.

    • +24

      Accident or not they should own up to the damage they caused. Are you expectations the same when someone 'accidentally' rear ends you?

        • +14

          Principle is the same, if you damage someone else's property you're responsible and should do the right thing. Otherwise with your perspective is it only minor door dings that don't count? What circumference does the dent have to be before a minor becomes a proper?

            • +5

              @GG57: I wasn't talking about OP's damage, rather about the flaw in your principle, or lack thereof.

    • +8

      I can certainly understand your point of view.
      For me personally, I love cars.
      It’s just something I enjoy. I’ll happily spend a Sunday a detailing the cars and keeping them in top condition.

      Some people don’t care and that’s totally cool.
      Personally, when I’m spending a large amount on a new car, I do my best to keep it in top shape.
      So it’s frustrating when I see the damage. Just because they don’t care shouldn’t mean there isn’t a responsibility.

      Not being smart, but with that logic. What if someone puts a small ding on your front gate in your home and drives off. It’s an accident. Wear and tear.

        • +9

          I get that and I understand that some people don’t care. There are others that do.
          Surely you have to agree that damage to others property is damage, right?

            • +3

              @GG57: Maybe we see things differently here.
              I say absolutely.
              If an individual performs an action that directly results in my property being “modified” where there is an opportunity for it to be avoided. That’s damage in my opinion.

              Please keep in mind. I’m a car enthusiast.

              Stone chips are different in my opinion.

              • -6

                @InLaymansTerms: Perhaps you can share a photo or more detailed explanation of the door ding 'damage'.

                • +1

                  @GG57: Not being rude but this is a pretty universal experience. The damage is obvious. The light/reflections on the door clearly show the is a depression.
                  One has a small chunk of metal exposed.
                  Others have chunks of clear coat missing.
                  You can see it, feel it.

            • +8

              @GG57: You're comparing a stone chip, which is just a bit of faultless, bad luck, to an act of human carelessness. You might not think it's a big deal, but the OP does, and your car hire company definitely does. Good luck arguing to Hertz that they should chill out, because that ding isn't really 'damage.'

              You don't care about cars, that's cool. But unless you've ascended entirely from earthly desires, I'm sure there's something you do care about, whether it's your house, computer, TV, or bowling trophy. If someone scratched it, shrugged, and just pissed off without making it right, you're cool with this?

          • +7

            @InLaymansTerms: This is the part of the problem, appliance users tend to deliberately not notice what they do.
            Some are unco-ordinated or distracted
            Others care-free, have no self respect/integrity, etc.

            And car-park spaces are too small, even for a normal family car.
            There are many reasons they make dents and run. After all, they see it as in their best interests- and are usually right.

            This as another good reason:
            1. Not to use car parks
            2. Not to buy a new car (both good ol' damage magnet mentality, and the fact that they are designed with no protection to this kind of attack)
            3. To carefully add rubber strips all round your price and joy, especially in the vulnerable spots, like cars used to have before the colour coding craze overtook the market their marketers.

            • Avoid car parks.
            • Put rubbers on your car where the manufacturer failed to. There are many choices these days so as not to make it look wrong.

              Protection, like reliability is King, and is a good reason not to buy the cheap, design fault and plastic-ridden cars that are sold as modern vehicles today.

            • @resisting the urge: I guess this is why I posted the topic. So many different opinions and attitudes towards it.
              Which is fair enough.

              As I stated earlier, in the sentry videos I often observe the individual exit their vehicle to inspect the damage. Then try to clean it with their finger.

              They are aware and clearly understand they have caused damage.

              • @InLaymansTerms: Hey @GG57 genuinely interested in your thoughts here.

                If you damaged a pristine new car from opening your car door, would you care? What would you do?

                How would you react if you got a letter (based on video evidence) from OP's insurer to pay up for the damage you caused?

                • +1

                  @Joda: You didn't tag me in this comment, so I didn't see it earlier.
                  You have twisted the question from what would I do as the so-called 'victim', to what would I do as the 'perpetrator'. So:
                  - I am usually careful about these things, and try to remove the risk of potentially damaging others / property. That includes having an awareness about how close I am to another vehicle, if there appears to be a strong wind, if there is someone (pedestrian, cyclist, vehicle) approaching the door, etc.
                  - If, even after being careful, I accidentally dinged a car door (because it would be accidental and not intentional), I would assess the level of 'damage'. I can't undo the 'damage'. If it appears to be something that should be repaired, I leave my name/contact details. If it is minimal, I probably can't do much apart from feeling regretful about it.
                  - If I was contacted by an insurance company, I would adhere to the processes and either comply or reject, depending on my recollection of the incident. I assume that the claim for compensation is of a reasonable value, so I would probably submit via my own insurer if I accepted responsibility.
                  OP can do that if they want, and go through the whole process of getting an insurance assessment of the damage, booking in for repairs, delivering the vehicle to the repairer, finding alternate transport (if a replacement vehicle is not covered), picking up the repaired vehicle, etc. All of that takes time and effort, so it would be up to OP to determine if their own time and effort is worth it to get a door ding attended to.
                  Or, you know, get on with more important things in life.

                  • +1

                    @GG57: Thanks for taking the time to reply - that seems like a great outlook and provides context to your earlier comments which I understand better now.

      • Yep it’s all about perceptions, rationalisation, priorities and moral standards between different people. We all get our back up about different things.

        Your house gate example is very interesting; if anything, the same damage to a movable object (car) should more reasonably be considered wear and tear, whereas a fixed object (gate) was in that exact spot the whole time. But social norms dictate the opposite is true.

    • +9

      Remind me to kick you in the shins, it ain't assault.

      • -5

        It might not be in your opinion, but it would be in my opinion (and most likely in a court of law).

        • +11

          But is it, if you’re not permanently disabled.

          If someone kicked me in the shins, I would treat it as a minor annoyance and move on with my life.

          I’d much rather a kick to the shins then a dent left in my car door

      • Touching my door is a salt.

    • If you purchased a new vehicle, and a day later someone opens their door onto it causing a noticeable dent and chip to the paint, you would be ok with that?

      • -2

        It wouldn't likely change how the vehicle operates, so I'd probably just keep driving it.

        • A/B driving, true. However, I think working hard for something, only to have someone else damage it (reducing the quality/value) irrespective of the item, is a pretty low act on that persons behalf. People should treat things with the respect they would their own, and if that person doesn't respect their own things, put more effort into that of others, since you were not the person who worked hard for it.
          Being a decent human being, or one with common sense, seems to be a rarity these days… (not targeted at you GG57)

          • @Mr Random: There is a difference between minor 'damage' that was caused accidentally and that caused intentionally or more major in dimension.
            Sure, some people can be careless, but it is how we react that is just as important. Letting a door ding impact on your day-to-day life seems over the top to me.
            How would OP react to a more significant car collision? To what extent would they let that eat away at their apparently otherwise successful life, or just get it repaired and move on?

            • +1

              @GG57: As you've pointed out above though, the admin and hassle involved in the owner getting the vehicle fixed is pretty similar in either case - claiming, assessing, delivering, loan car etc. I'd therefore suggest each is pretty much as bad as the other.

              The main difference would be with a level of damage which immediately renders the car unusable, as you lose the flexibility on timing of the repair

    • not sure if srs, someone spends 50 - 100k on a car they will care
      Imagine you door ding a lambo or a rolls, you really think thats ok?

      Please grow up and take responsibility

      Its very easy not to ding someones door, such as holding your hand between the end of the door or just being mindful when opening your door.

      • I'm not sure what you are alluding to that I'm not taking responsibility for? That someone else accidentally door-dinged my car?

    • it is worth it when the at-fault party pays for it lol

  • +1

    Get one of those door cushions. doordefender.com is a brand name, but look for knock offs on aliexpress.

    Cheaper than paying insurance excess.

    • +5

      To me things like that are as ugly as the 'car bra' type stuff.
      I got my car because I like how it looks (and drives ofc), I don't wanna make my car uglier just so the person who potentially may own it after me has a nicer condition car.

      • if dings don't bother you of course its a waste of money.

        but its like putting up a sunshade, they take all of 10 seconds to add or remove, and you only do it when you're parked in a situation that requires it. 2% of the time your car looks uglier, and 98% of the time, no cushions and no dings

  • +21

    I just park my ranger in the middle of two parks so this doesn't happen

    • +2

      Better to park across 4 spaces, just to be sure.

    • +3

      Needs to be across 3 EV charging stations

  • +1

    When I was a wee boy I loved playing with stones.

    Smashing them on the ground

    One hit a girl with a Merc.

    She was not happy.

    But did not beat me or ask for money

    • +12

      When I was a wee boy

      That's a weird job to have.

  • +14

    I generally park at the far flung edges of carparks to avoid anyone parking next to me. As worked well so far. Plus it helps me get my steps up

      • +13

        Marriage stops you from walking does it?

        • +1

          Well, it can do?
          It depends on the type of bedroom activities I suppose 😂

        • Parking further away means less chance for impulse purchases which need to be carried back. True form.

        • +1

          Maybe his wife keeps his balls firmly shut in her purse.

  • "After back and forth with my insurance company. They asked me to pay my “excess” insurance in order to repair the damage.
    I did not proceed for obvious reasons."

    Why not? You're not at fault so your excess will be refunded.

    My wife drives a new car and it annoys me when the other cars parks poorly because they will brush up against the car or ding it when opening my door.

    I drive an older car with thick sheet metal. You park poorly very close to or across my parking spot, I'll park normally so you and your kids would have to squeeze in to get in your car, or enter from the other door. Benefits of driving an older car.

    I'm not replacing the older car until I can start negotiating with new car prices, which I don't think will be too long now.

    • +1

      They agreed I was not at fault however as they were unable and obtain the other drivers information from the police report. They clearly stated I must pay excess and it would affect my NCB.

      My other car is black and often I see long scratches on the side of the car from what I assume is people walking past the car whilst unintentionally rubbing their handbags along the side. I’ve been sitting inside the car while it’s happened.

      • +7

        That's ridiculous. If you can clearly identify the car and the ding, the police should be able to identify the other car. Ask the insurance company to try harder with the police.

        • +1

          Unless rego of the car was in the evidence presented the insurance company would simply avoid it. You need to put that in the claim, or the police report somehow. Can the CCTV of the car park be checked to confirm it? Likely woould 'require' a request from the police…

          • +2

            @resisting the urge: "I had the recording of the event actually happening, including the person's face/reaction, the vehicle and registration clearly on video"

            • @JimB: That.

            • +2

              @JimB: Ah, missed that. You're dead right, insurance should cover it without keeping the excess paid.

              Not sure I'd want a cheap paint job on a small dent in a new car's duco every time I park it though… the sides of the car would end up looking like a country road in no time

              • +6

                @resisting the urge: At the time. I had just purchased the vehicle brand new. Spent a lot of money and I was very happy.

                Entering the vehicle with a sentry notification, watching the video. Exiting to observe the damage of a door ding with a chunk of paint missing (exposed metal).

                It sucks. It’s not the end of the world, I get it.
                I’m sure others can empathise with me.

                When you have all the evidence, pay insurance and no one will do anything. Im trying to understand if this is the way the system works or if others have been successful.

                • @InLaymansTerms: I would empathise, but tbf being so complicit in recording us all like this absolves you of sympathy from me.

                  Screw Tyrell Corp, SkyNet, etc. running auto surveillance, they record our actions and intents in public (and inside your car), only to archive them and share them with all the other Gods of cloud data without our considered consent.

                  All I really wonder is what would happen if you covered up all the cams and disconnected the microphones.

                  • @resisting the urge: I guess that’s one way to look at it.
                    Not seeking any sympathy, only advice and others experiences.
                    I like the fact I have video evidence from all angles in the event of anything happening.

                    • +1

                      @InLaymansTerms: Maybe a legal company is downloading your footage now, and will send you a message soon offering to take the matter up (at a cost). How great that would seem at this point!

                      And/or then sell it to the insurance company, so they will know how likely you are to make frivolous claims against future policies.

                      Or well as one to the Other Party, who they can probably work over with guilt, or even offer to sue you on their behalf, claiming they found evidence to show you doing something that they could use.

                      Or some other malicious actor collects your in-car audio and evidence of traffic violations. I couldn't sleep with all the possibilities presented…

                      • +1

                        @resisting the urge: If that’s the case I would do my best to opt-out where possible.

                        All I am trying to understand here, is if anyone had success in a claim for a door ding. That’s a different thread.

                        • +2

                          @InLaymansTerms: Indeed. But unfortunately any 'option' presented is a just preference recorded. An attribute in a table somewhere, nothing more.

                    • @InLaymansTerms: Not meaning to be a smartass, but in your circumstance, even with the video evidence it seems the authorities and insurance company just don't care that someone has done the dirty on you. Still good in a more serious crash though.

                    • @InLaymansTerms: Pouring over the videos seems like it would make anyone more resentful than if your car wasn’t such a nark in the first place. Sure it sucks, but it’s 10x worse when you see the incident taking place on video.

                • +1

                  @InLaymansTerms: You can't complain about your insurance not doing anything, when it was your choice not to claim (not paying the excess, which is required to initiate the claim).

                  • @md333: Perhaps I was not clear.
                    My insurance company specifically and clearly stated that as a result of the police refusing to attach the other driver's details to the report, I would be responsible for the excess.
                    Unless they can obtain the other driver's information, it falls on me to pay.

                    If it was a matter of simply paying the excess to get things started, I would have paid it.

                    • +3

                      @InLaymansTerms: Advise your insurer you will be putting in a complaint to AFCA.

      • Check out suncorp insurance.

        • +9

          Now knowing others have not had this issue with Suncorp. NRMA has lost my business. I hope others find this and make an informed decision when purchasing insurance.

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