Selling a car after a crash

[Jodun]

A month ago a bus drove into the rear of my car, nobody was hurt but as you can imagine the damage was substantial. The insurers/garage took a week to decide if they would repair my car or write it off, they have decided to repair it. I'm due to get it back sometime next week. My question is will the repair be public knowledge and will it affect the re-sale value of my car? Should we just accept the car back or should we try and get some money from the insurance too? It's a 2004 A4 with 90,000 miles and the repairs are apparently costing around £6k :eek:.

[Silk]

It's a 2004 A4 with 90,000 miles and the repairs are apparently costing around £6k :eek:.
I would have thought they would have written it off ?????
Theres plenty of 04's for less than that !
What sort of value did you think it was worth at the time ?
It's a bit risky for them to repair it at that sort of money if the car's not perfect when it comes back :eek:

[Jodun]

That's exactly what we thought. We're in the North of Scotland and prices do seem to be a bit higher here but we still wouldn't have though the car would be worth more than £8k at a push. We pointed this out to them before the repairs started (last week) but they went ahead anyway. The reckon the car is worth £9.5k!

[terryya]

The reckon the car is worth £9.5k!

In that case it would be awful if it got 'stolen' when you get it back ;)



Disclaimer: Before the PC brigade get on my back for encouraging illegal activity, can I say that it was a joke.

[Dave101t]

a smashed up audi? no one in the world is going to buy that.

[anewman]

a smashed up audi? no one in the world is going to buy that.
At a price they will unfortunately, much less than £9.5k unfortunately.

[Bowdyjan18]

At that sort of cost for repair it may be classed as a cat c write off.

[pgilc1]

At that sort of cost for repair it may be classed as a cat c write off.

That would be if it was classed as 'beyond economical repair' - thats not the case as they are repairing it.

[chrisw]

If it's not been written off it won't show up on HPI checks, etc. If it's repaired properly to a good standard, no-one will know and no-one will need to know.
However, if you are selling it and somebody asks whether it's ever been in an accident, you will have to say 'yes, but it was properly repaired.' In my experience, if you trade it in they usually only ask whether it's ever been written off and you can truthfully answer no.

[roswell]

I will guess its been decided it was definately the other parties fault then, I had a crash last december the repair bill was £2300 the car value was £2300 but as the other party paid my excess it was repaired because in the insurance companys mind it was not 100% total loss purely because they could claim the excess fronm the other party, I only found this out after having problem when the car was returned ... would I have paid £2300 for my car .. nope not a chance in hell whan i found that out i was surprised it was repaired at all. And in all honestly I would never have a repaired car back again I have had endless problems suspention wise with things wearing out premeturely which I put down to the crash in my mind.

[artbaron]

That's some repair bill for no write-off! There's no 2004 A4 that's worth £9.5K on 90K miles to my knowledge. My mate has his 2001 Scooby written off (<90k miles, good condition) when someone nicked the front bumper.

[Jodun]

And in all honestly I would never have a repaired car back again I have had endless problems suspention wise with things wearing out premeturely which I put down to the crash in my mind.

So many people have said that to us, even someone we know who works at the garage said 'I can't believe we're fixing it, your car will never be the same again.' Great.

[Hintza]

[QUOTE=chrisw;22183749]If it's not been written off it won't show up on HPI checks, etc. QUOTE]

Chrisw I'm not sure if you are 100% correct (see my story)

Well my OH ran into the back of someone a few years ago in her Golf the damage wasn't huge (bonnet and front panel) and was duly repaired. I then exchanged a year or so later for a Volvo and about a month later the guy was doing his nut because it had been in a crash.

I still to this don't know how he found out, but it was obviously on some database and the car was nowhere near a writeoff.

Can someone shed any light on this?

I might add I'm very worried about our lease car which has had a new quarter replaced that the lease company will find out and hit me with a big bill even though I had a discussion with the assesor and explained my concerns he said no one would ever know. I'm not convinced.

[Bowdyjan18]

That would be if it was classed as 'beyond economical repair' - thats not the case as they are repairing it.


But it is beyond economical repair going off the ops figures,

[sane01]

Hi there

As I have just had a car accident and it is still fresh in my mind, the insurance company also could not decide if they would fix my car or not, they actually gave me the choice as it was so close. I was told that they would fix it up to 62% of its value but I am not sure if each insurance company is different. They also said it would be classed as accident damaged, I think on the HPI but not sure.

I decided to write it off as there was just too much damage.

I am sorry I cannot remember everything they said but I hope it helps, it is horrible when dealing with insurance and cars etc I hope everything works out for you and you never know the car may be fine for years to come you should just see how it goes.

[Chippy Minton]

I am sorry I cannot remember everything they said but I hope it helps, it is horrible when dealing with insurance and cars etc I hope everything works out for you and you never know the car may be fine for years to come you should just see how it goes.

She forgot she was injured too, until she saw the cashlash adverts.:rotfl:

[sane01]

You are such a sad case Chippy don't you have a life.

[Bowdyjan18]

You are such a sad case Chippy don't you have a life.

I don't ;)

[Chippy Minton]

I don't ;)


Wanna go for a pint then?:rotfl:

[ohreally]

I was told that they would fix it up to 62% of its value but I am not sure if each insurance company is different.

Repairs exceeding two thirds of the cars value appears to be a common cut-off point in reaching the decision on whether to repair or not.

[Jodun]

One or two people have said to me that potential buyers will be able to find out that the car has sustained substantial damage but not been written off, and that could knock £1500 off the value of the car. Is that right?

[Bowdyjan18]

Wanna go for a pint then?:rotfl:


lmao sounds like a good idea :D

One or two people have said to me that potential buyers will be able to find out that the car has sustained substantial damage but not been written off, and that could knock £1500 off the value of the car. Is that right?

yes it is :(

[artbaron]

One or two people have said to me that potential buyers will be able to find out that the car has sustained substantial damage but not been written off, and that could knock £1500 off the value of the car. Is that right?

More than that, I would imagine. I checked out a couple of Clio V6's recently that had received very light damage (panel only) and the owners were offering to discount from £11/12K to £8K

[jonathon]

One or two people have said to me that potential buyers will be able to find out that the car has sustained substantial damage but not been written off, and that could knock £1500 off the value of the car. Is that right?



no its not

[Bowdyjan18]

no its not


Explain........ ?

[anewman]

I guess if the car is inspected by a professional worth their salt prior to purchase they may notice the repairs.

Thing is for every person who wants to check everything, there'll be someone who can't be bothered checking anything and will just sign the V5.

I guess it would be nice to be a genuine seller and to describe the car fully and honestly though. So it may be a case of don't mention the repairs and you'll sell for more.

[roswell]

So many people have said that to us, even someone we know who works at the garage said 'I can't believe we're fixing it, your car will never be the same again.' Great.

They will be correct, Mine got "repaired" what it turn out was the bent panels were replaced and a new exhaust, my rear tyres pre accident were 5mil tread all over with in 1000 miles of getting the car back id worn the inside edges out, replaced tyres got tracking done they identified play in the steering colum, in the end it went on a big lazer rig got it all aligned in total it was all out something stupid liek 25 degree`s (car had been crabbing since the crash) this got the car "Straight". Took it for its mot 2 weeks later snaped a rear spring and loose front anti roll bar link, replaced springs replaced tie rods iv now dont about 5000 miles in it since the accident and my front shocks are knocking and im expecting bottom ball joints as well.

its all well sticking some metal on it and painting it but the impact has a lot of force and in my eyes these parts have worn out due to that force because as i replace something it seems a path of least resistance to the next part and 2 weeks later something else brakes.

[Jodun]

Have you had to pay for all those extra repairs yourself roswell?

[LinasPilibaitisisbatman]

Tbh theres a bit of panic mongering here.

If the repair is good then it shouldnt be an issue. As for devaluing, It depends on individuals. Some people won't be phased otheers will. its hard to put a value on the isssue of price. That aside a 90k 5 year old audi is always going to struggle to attract buyers at the upper price scales anyway.

[roswell]

Have you had to pay for all those extra repairs yourself roswell?


yes, the underwriters refused to fund more repairs to my vechile because thier prefered body shop who did the panal and paint work advised they dont check geometry pre return and any items that have failed could be wear and tear.

[Silk]

I think the point to bear in mind when putting a value on a car is to bear in mind what happens when a car is put up for sale.
If there are two cars for sale side by side, both identical same condition same mileage same colour and extra's etc etc etc. If the only difference between them is one has suffered severe damage and been repaired which one is the buyer going to purchase ?
The only way to entice a buyer to purchase the accident repaired car is to offer a reduction in price ;)
IMO the repaired car is going to have a lower market value than before the accident