Who Is Responsible for Car Towing and Storage Costs in an Accident

Viospeed on 23/04/2024 - 18:38

Yesterday my car was rear ended which is yet to be assessed. It's 99.99% likely to be written off. The driver at fault is with RACV and I have their insurance claim number.

I called RACV today and painfully spent 1.5 hours on the phone with them and I told them my car was undriveable and it was towed to a towing depot along with a $20 per day storage cost.

RACV is now telling me I need to pay to have it towed to my own house so they can get it assessed. I told them I don't have room for it as I've now got a hire car and no where to put my damaged car.

Has anyone been in this situation and who is resposible for towing and storage costs?

Automotive

Comments

  • boomramada on 23/04/2024 - 18:46
    +4

    You pay it and claim it back if possible from the insurance.

  • SBOB on 23/04/2024 - 18:46
    +6

    The driver at fault is with RACV and I have their insurance claim number

    Why don't you call your own insurer and get them to deal with it?

    Wait, wait…don't tell me…we can probably guess why :)

    • Viospeed on 23/04/2024 - 18:47
      -3

      Let me know what your guess is.

      • SBOB on 23/04/2024 - 18:48
        +2

        Dunno, but if it's not because you don't have your own comprehensive insurance…
        Then #endthread

        Call your insurance company, which you'd clearly have comprehensive insurance with, and let them deal with it, that's why you pay for comprehensive insurance.

        If you don't, you pay and try/hope to claim it back through their insurer when they are found at fault and the claim is settled.

        • Viospeed on 23/04/2024 - 18:49

          I have 3rd party, it's a 19 year old car.

          • SBOB on 23/04/2024 - 18:52
            +11

            @Viospeed: Then
            you pay and try/hope to claim it back through their insurer when they are found at fault and the claim is settled

          • Ramrunner on 24/04/2024 - 10:41
            +1

            @Viospeed: And there it is….

    • CheapandUsed on 23/04/2024 - 20:57
      +1

      Once you do this you have to answer yes to the question around any claims in the last 3 years (they now word it regardless of fault).

      This way, because OP is not at fault, they can maybe get the car repaired or written off and still have reasonable insurance costs for the next 3 years

      • recycledrevenge on 26/04/2024 - 08:23
        +1

        I had a not at fault claim back in March and claimed on my own insurance. I primarily did this as it was a 5 car pile up and I didn't want to have to do the legwork in pursuing the other drivers and trying to determine fault. My car was a write off in the end and the excess was waived.

        When taking out new insurance for my new car, I found that some insurers asked how many claims total I've had (1), and then how many claims resulted in an excess payable (0). Some ask specifically how many claims I have paid an excess on and don't care about total number of claims, and some ask if you've made any claims and then ask what type of claim.

        In all cases, I found no difference in the premium when I also ran an identical quote saying I had no claims in the last 3 years.

  • Sye on 23/04/2024 - 18:51
    +10

    We need to know the make of car as this is a Toyota only forum.

    • Muzeeb on 23/04/2024 - 19:05
      +2

      And the type of tyres used on the front and rear?

    • kerfuffle on 23/04/2024 - 19:27
      +2

      Pretty sure it's a 2005 Mazda 3

      • Muzeeb on 23/04/2024 - 19:39

        Well I hope it's an auto with extremely low kms because the insurance won't pay out $6.5k for that.

    • JIMB0 on 23/04/2024 - 21:05
      +1

      And the contents of the glove box.

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 23/04/2024 - 21:36
        +2

        Don't forget centre console lip balm.

        • Muzeeb on 23/04/2024 - 21:40

          Also, don't forget to advise that you will probably continue to see prostitutes after the wedding.

  • onceupon8 on 23/04/2024 - 19:03
    +1

    If you don't have your own comprehensive insurance, you might be able to get away with it for an old car, but you need to be willing to sacrifice. If you aren't willing to park your hire car on the street (or you don't have street parking), you shouldn't only have 3rd party insurance.

    • Viospeed on 23/04/2024 - 19:06

      I don't care about the car, it's most likely a write off but RACV is telling me I have to pay to get it towed?

      • Muzeeb on 23/04/2024 - 19:10

        What is the approximate value of your car?
        What is RACV's excuse why the assessor can't attend the holding yard?

        • Viospeed on 23/04/2024 - 19:12

          About $6.5k when it wasn't hit. My guess is that the insurer can't get someone to assess it a timely manner and they don't want to pay for the $20 per day storage fees.

          • Muzeeb on 23/04/2024 - 19:18

            @Viospeed: Ok, it does seem unfair.

            Who is paying for the rental car?

            • kerfuffle on 23/04/2024 - 19:26
              +2

              @Muzeeb: Pretty sure OP on Reddit said Right2Drive

              • SBOB on 23/04/2024 - 19:48
                +3

                @kerfuffle:

                said Right2Drive

                Pretty sure the $20/day storage is nothing compared to the $100's a day in rental costs these guys will charge the other drivers insurance

                • reactor-au on 24/04/2024 - 08:39

                  @SBOB: Those scanners have to be one of the reasons insurance costs are through the roof. There should be limits to what insurers will pay for that.

              • Viospeed on 23/04/2024 - 19:51

                @kerfuffle: I didnt create a reddit thread..

  • kerfuffle on 23/04/2024 - 19:26
    +1

    Would post the obligatory Reddit post, but OP seems to have deleted it

  • Browsers on 23/04/2024 - 19:37
    +1

    The at fault driver is responsible for the towing and storage costs. RACV have assumed this liability in full through their insurance agreement with the at fault party. Their PDS says this.

    • Viospeed on 23/04/2024 - 19:46

      Do you by any chance have a link to the PDS?

      • jv on 23/04/2024 - 20:03

        link to the PDS?

        It's irrelevant.

        It doesn't apply to you…

        • Browsers on 23/04/2024 - 20:48
          -1

          Incorrect. It is very relevant, since RACV has indemnified the at fault driver. The OP's claim against the driver then becomes that driver's claim against their own insurance policy, which is at much greater chance of successful recovery than a claim against an uninsured driver who may not have the funds or inclination to pay up. RACV has the funds and a code of practice to stick to.
          Current PDS here: https://www.racv.com.au/content/dam/racv-assets/documents/in…

          Also, OP, check your own PDS. While you are not covered for damage to your vehicle if you are at fault, some Third party policies provide cover for damage to your vehicle where another party was at fault. They simply recover this from the other insurer. Worth checking and then getting your insurer to act for you against the other party.

  • jv on 23/04/2024 - 19:53

    Just go through your insurance company.

    That's what you pay them for.

    • Viospeed on 23/04/2024 - 19:59

      As mentioned i only have 3rd party

      • jv on 23/04/2024 - 20:02
        +2

        I must be blind then as I cannot see it in the description.

        i only have 3rd party

        Lesson learnt…

  • AustriaBargain on 23/04/2024 - 22:54
    +4

    Consider getting better insurance. Half the forum threads in here could have been avoided if they just had better insurance.

    • Viospeed on 23/04/2024 - 23:07

      I just checked and my premium would cost $1162 per year for a 19 year old Mazda. I've added 2 not at fault incidents in the past 5 years.

      No many people would pay that exhorbitant premium.

      • AustriaBargain on 23/04/2024 - 23:50

        For comprehensive insurance? That's pretty cheap these days isn't it?

      • Ramrunner on 24/04/2024 - 10:45
        +1

        Wow that is expensive

        I'm insuring my son's 2014 Fiesta with him listed as main 17 year old driver.

        The car's agreed value is $5338.

        Excess $650

        But premium is only $787.30 per year.

        Must get better deals here in WA?

      • Jake D on 24/04/2024 - 13:07

        No many people would pay that exhorbitant premium

        You're right, most would shop around and get a bargain. My 20 year old Prado is under $800 a year, $500 more than 3rd party, which has easily paid for itself in the claims we've made.

        One car vs pole it saved us $2000, one car vs garage door another $3000. We're ahead for like 8 more years.

  • cashless on 23/04/2024 - 23:28

    99.99% written off?
    Still a chance it might be repairable then

    • Viospeed on 24/04/2024 - 08:19

      It's repairable but uneconomical viable.

      • skillet on 24/04/2024 - 14:57

        Sold off as front cut, lightly used only driven to train station. Odometer missing.

  • payless69 on 24/04/2024 - 08:24

    Be happy you live in Victoria.

    Queensland comrades now require tow truck companion workers to pay up front for a full 4k per year licence so towing fees have doubled.

    Many virtual new cars now get damaged by single operators trying to save costs. Car owners left to pay!

  • JimmyF on 24/04/2024 - 09:41
    -1

    The driver at fault is with RACV and I have their insurance claim number.

    LOL let me guess…. You don't have insurance?

    RACV is now telling me I need to pay to have it towed to my own house so they can get it assessed. I told them I don't have room for it as I've now got a hire car and no where to put my damaged car.

    RACV are telling you they are not paying for your storage costs at the towing company or the towing. So get it moved ASAP.

  • 2esc on 24/04/2024 - 12:10
    +1

    Even our 23 year old car is comprehensive its only a couple hundred more than 3rd party. Yes years ago it was a bigger cap and certainly worth going 3rd party to some people.

    Personally from the day i got my licence all our cars have been comprehensive money wise its probably been foolish in 33 years of driving ive never had a accident.

    Though woman backed into my parked car once but their insurer paid for it.

  • dkwon10 on 24/04/2024 - 14:53

    Just pay the towing and storage fee and get comprehensive insurance next time

  • kiitos on 26/04/2024 - 15:56

    With mention of "try" and"hope" above, is there a decent chance that the insurer won't pay out for the storage and towing? What reason would they say for not doing it?

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