Ask an expert
Dear advisor,
Our car was sent by my wife for a small paint job and a loan car was provided for her. Unfortunately, while parked outside our home (we had no garage space for it), there was hail and some damage occurred to it. (The weather forecast did not predict hail). We had to pay the $500 excess in order to get our own car back. AMI reimbursed us $200. However, shouldn’t the car respray company also pay part of this excess, since they own the loan vehicle, and will get a car worth more when the new paint is done? Would we be able to negotiate this point with them, since they want my wife to fill in and sign their insurance claim form?
Unfortunately, the excess is payable if the car was damaged while in your wife's possession, regardless of how the damage occurred. In the event of damage that was caused by a natural event (act of God), there is no-one to recover the excess from, so your wife must pay.
I guess, if it's any consolation, had your wife's own car been parked in the same place during the hail storm, it would have most likely suffered similar damage, so you are no worse off.
Dear advisor,
Thanks again for your valuable advice.
Best regards,
Leo