Offer of cash - what would you do?

Block his number, no need to be in touch with him at all, he's trying to avoid his premiums going up, for whatever reason

Might be worth noting that, depending on category of write-off, you might buy back your car from the insurance company and have it repaired using write-off money.

I agree with JackyB there are nice people out there and it may be playing on his conscience. I would politely decline and leave it at that.

But I would refuse the money in your case, only go through your insurance.

Many years ago my fully insured daughter, on my fully insured car, bumped into someone. I preferred to and did pay cash for the repairs as I didn’t want it to appear on my 20 years plus insurance. The other car was old and I doubt whether they did the work involved but they signed a paper and have never thought about it until now 20 years +.

Hi there,
I'm so sorry to hear of this awful accident. I once got knocked over by a car through no fault of my own. I needed surgery. My head was all over the place. Do absolutely everything via insurance company plus solicitors.
Warmest wishes and rest up

If it was me, I would not accept cash from the person who crashed into me. Tell your insurance company about his offer.
Your insurance company will pay you the write-off value of your vehicle. Hopefully you’ll receive the full amount (they’ll take into account its pre-crash condition and service history

Whereas I accept you have to ensure that it all properly goes through the Insurance companies, perhaps this driver is really feeling very guilty and unhappy and feels that a gift to you can ease that for them.
If this offered grand is totally without 'prejudice' and in no way related to car replacement/repairs, and is just a gift to you, then why not accept it.

Thank you all for replying. Certainly has focussed my mind on the consequences of accepting.
The accident is being dealt with through our insurers, and I’ve already been offered a good price for my “total loss “ (car written off).

Being offered this ‘gift of cash’ from a stranger, has made me feel quite uneasy. The phrase ‘no such thing as a free lunch’ springs to mind.
He’s actually just text me again today, asking if I’ll accept. Guilt & worry I think

I’ve just politely declined his offer and said the insurers will sort it all out.

Just another Q It was completely his fault…. Do insurers push for a dangerous driving conviction( maybe after viewing the dash cam film?) . Police were not at the scene of the accident. A queue of traffic did see the accident - could a random person have reported dangerous driving?

I think he is genuinely being nice but is unaware that it could be seen as a dodgy move. Turn him down, but gently.

Go through your insurance, they should sort this for you.

Some years ago, someone drove into the side of DH's company car when I was driving it. It was a young woman driving and uite a smart car. It turned out that she too was driving her partner's car. I was a named and fully insured driver for my DH's car

That evening I got a phone call from her partner asking me to say on my claim form that he was driving, not his girlfriend because she was not insured to drive the car and how their car needed extensive repairs and they could not afford it.

I said a very emphatic 'NO'. I had every sympathy for their predicament, but I was not going to commit a crime myself to get them out of trouble.

As bluebelle has said

If you have notified Insurance Company, they have it on record, no more to be said, I have let someone that went into the back of me sort it out as I thought he was genuine, luckily he was, however I had never told my Insurance Company.

Thank hm ( he may well be genuine) but DO NOT accept his offer tell him it’s totally out of your hands and it’s already being dealt with by the insurers.
Good luck

Sounds too fishy - say "thanks but no thanks".

I’ve done it once (I mean not involving the insurance) a 70ish year old neighbour ran into my car breaking my light. I offered him the chance to sort it without involving our insurance companies. He was really grateful as he had cancer at the time & didn’t need the stress.
A year later he knocked on my door, said he was giving up driving due to ill health & would I like first offer of buying his car, a rather nice VW as I had been so kind.
Anyway I did buy it cheaper than market value. So win win all round 😊

No injuries now but if injuries in your back started up six months later, he would be off the hook since you already accepted a setttlement. You will take heed and say no, this is an insurance matter.

Stay well clear and negotiate with your insurance company only. It doesn't sound legal to me.

I had an accident with a parked car (another story!) and I fully intended to go through my insurance. The day after the accident her hubby called me saying they were happy not to involve insurance companies which was a red flag because I was the guilty party. It turned out her car wasn't insured as found on a website check. Who knew whether she also wasn't taxed and MOT'd but I went through insurance.

Unusual offer. Bit tempting though 🤣

I’d thank him, but say the insurance has dealt with the claim.
My SisinL recently had a bump in a carpark - minimal damage, so her sons paid for the damage to the other car, whilst she paid for a new bumper on hers. At 80, she knew her insurance premium would rocket and she was totally at fault.

Your other ‘at fault’ driver could make a donation to a charity if he’s feeling guilty.

I don’t think I’d cultivate any relationship with him.

As others have said, stay with insurance, don’t get involved personally

I agree turn it down immediately. I would also check how much it would cost to replace your car. You can get car prices on ebay or autotrader and if the insurance company offered less than that, then argue with them.

I did this after an accident when my car was written off. I argued that an identical replacement car would cost me £1,000 more than they were offering - and I got it. They expect you to argue and have to raise the price.

No - don’t negotiate with anyone. Leave your insurers to deal with it.