What happens if my car is a write off?

astonsmummy · 30 August 2007 at 8:45AM

Hi
I had a crash on tuesday, or should i say some nutter tried to run me off the road!
Everyone keeps telling me it's gonna be a write off as it will cost too much to fix, it's a 1997 peugeot 106.
So if it is written off, how do they work out how much they will give for it?
The accident isnt my fault so it's being dealt with that way, will they still take the excess off the payout?
Thnx for looking x

David_B_2 · 30 August 2007 at 9:32AM

astonsmummy wrote: »

Hi
I had a crash on tuesday, or should i say some nutter tried to run me off the road!
Everyone keeps telling me it's gonna be a write off as it will cost too much to fix, it's a 1997 peugeot 106.
So if it is written off, how do they work out how much they will give for it?
The accident isnt my fault so it's being dealt with that way, will they still take the excess off the payout?
Thnx for looking x

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your bump, I think I remember reading it the other day. Some nutter punching the window wasn't it?

Anyway from what I know (very little). I'd agree that a car dated 1997 is not only to be worth the insurance company repairing and it'll be much cheaper for THEM to write it off.

They normally base the value on the current market value but their market value is not what you'd expect if you wanted to buy this car privately (theirs is much cheaper).

And yes I believe the excess will be taken off this payout.

I'm sure there are some insurance people out there that will give you a confirmed answer.

Chin up and all the best.

EDIT

I recently sold a car and used the below link to get a idea of price. You could try this as a idea but I wouldn't get to excited just in case they are way off.

If nothing else it gives you a price to throw at them if your not happy with theirs.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/CARS/buying/value_your_car.jsp

darich · 30 August 2007 at 10:12AM

i believe when the car is written off, the insurance company buy the damaged car for the market value before it was damaged. That value is negotiable so you can haggle to get a realistic price.
Depending on the damage, i also believe it's possible to buy the car back and have it repaired. although in the case of a 1997 106 writing it off may mean simply the cost of replacing a couple of body panels and painting them. In that case, you can buy it back and it'll still be roadworthy but you've also got the money from the insurance company for the value of the car pre-damage.

Fortunately i've never had a car written off so that's my take on how it works - maybe someone could confirm or correct me?

littleoldme_2 · 30 August 2007 at 10:12AM

what i would say is dont except the first amount that they offer hold out for a better one. my dad did this a few times and got what it would cost him to go buy the same car out the garage. was quite a bit difference in the price.:)

James · 30 August 2007 at 10:19AM

Sorry to learn of your misfortune.

A few years ago I wrote a car off too. The write off become property of the Insurance Company and they made me what I considered a ridiculous offer.

The dealership where I had my car regularly serviced (over a number of years) gave me a letter saying my car was in A1 condition. I looked at glasses guide and suggested the insurance company make me a better offer. The Insurance company increased their offer which I accepted.

Good luck.

olgadapolga · 30 August 2007 at 10:57AM

If only all insurance companies were that flexible - when we wrote our car off last year, we were just sent a cheque - no communication AT ALL. We had to make a complaint through the FOS (which was upheld) to get anything near the car's value.

mattymoo · 30 August 2007 at 4:58PM

The market value should be what you would expect to pay for that car in a private sale. It is not showroom price and not trade in price either.

Glasses guide is the industry bible for these things but as others have mentioned there is some leeway.

astonsmummy · 30 August 2007 at 6:52PM

Thanks for all our replies.
I looked on that website and it said £595 private sale :eek: so i'm gonna get offered peanuts if it's a write off, and if it isnt a write off i have to find £300 for my excess.
They have been great so far, i got a hire car yesterday, so at least i'll be able to work till it's sorted.
Funny thing is my mum is going to but me a car when she gets some money back from my dad but that could be up to 6 months.
I'll just have to get hold of an old banger till then i guess, if i dont have a car i cant do my job

sooz · 30 August 2007 at 7:12PM

Whilst you'll have to pay the excess at first, if they decide the crash wasn't your fault, you will eventually get that money back, as they claim it off the other insurance policy of the person that crashed into you.

astonsmummy · 30 August 2007 at 7:49PM

oh i know thjat, it's just trying to find the £300 in the first place.

sooz · 30 August 2007 at 9:18PM

then tell your insurance company you will have to keep the courtesy car until you have your money back and can afford to purchase a new car...that should speed them up

What happens if my car is a write off?

Comments

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free