Some friends of ours were in an accident with another driver. Other driver's fault. He admitted it at the time. The driver gave his name, address and license number but they didn't get his rego.

He's now refusing to give it and it means that they have to pay the excess with their insurer... though they should recover it later.

It doesn't seem to make much sense to me, but in the meantime, they're driving past his house to try to see the car.

Any ideas on how to find out the rego? Or what on earth is going on?

They should talk to the police I would think, my brother had a problem once with a driver after an accident and the police were happy to pay the problem driver a visit to sort it out.

Hi ginger pom,

Hate to admit it, but I've worked in insurance for almost 15 years...

Given that your friend has obtained the hardest part - the contact details (too many people hit n run these days ), they will get their excess back, providing their insurer decides that they are not at fault. Most likely they have satisfied the requirements of the policy, in so far that they can identify who was at fault and provide contact details. I hope the other guy is insured... there is a thing called the Uninsured Motorist Extension on most Australian policies - basically limits how much can be paid when hit by an uninsured driver - crazy I know cos back home (uk) you can't drive uninsured, but here is a different story. If they do the drive by thing, they will most likely spot the rego at some point. Even then, some insurers will still ask for the excess upfront and then return it later when they have done their investigations. Some claims become a he said / she said type affair, where the two insurers agree to disagree and then each pay their own repairs. Both drivers then pay their excess' which basically sucks.

PM me if you need any further advice.

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FiremanSam said...

. Some claims become a he said / she said type affair, where the two insurers agree to disagree and then each pay their own repairs. Both drivers then pay their excess' which basically sucks.

That's what happened to me after some scatter head went through a red light and t-boned me, no witness or evidence and got shafted, they would have been charged with a driving offence if they admitted it so they lied instead.

It's easy to be wise after the fact but ... you don't exchange details.

What you do is exchange licences. You can write down the details but even better is to take a photo with your phone and take photos of the vehicles.

I doubt if the cops would give you anybody's details now. They would be in breach of privacy laws.

"you don't exchange details.

What you do is exchange licences. "

You can if you want to... but wouldn't recommend it. The only requirement you have at law is to exchange contact names and contact details. You do not have to show or present your licence to the third party. Only VicPol can request you present your drivers licence. There are too many schmackos out there who will find where you live.... happened to me after a small stack...