Stolen Car Recovered but do I have to have it back?

mdowner

My car was stolen but has now been recovered. The problem is the VIN numbers have been changed and the mileage has been clocked as it now only shows 18,000 where as before it was 39,000. The insurance firm is telling me they can sort this out (I can't see how as I didn't think digital Odometers could be tampered with) and that I have to take the car back and wont write it off. Is this correct or can I insist they write it off?

Surely you can't just reset it to the correct mileage and in regards to the VIN number it's not just a case of slapping it back on. I thought it was imprinted??

The reason I want to refuse the car back is beacuse who's to say they haven't done anything else to the vehicle.

I've also been informed that even if the car is repaired, I'm going to have problems when I try to sell it. This is due to it being listed as Stolen/Recovered/Repaired. The local dealer has told me this will drop the value of my car by around £5000-£7000!

dacouch

It is very simple to reset the mileage to the correct amount, they simply plug a laptop in and reset it. Its called "Mileage Correction" and is widely available from adverts in Auto trader and the like (Most people use it to illegally clock vehicles.

The fact it is stolen recovered generally affects the value by circa 10% to 20%.

Your Insurers will want to deal with the claim in the way that is the cheapest to them, they do not have to write the car off.

You can ask them for a contribution towards the drop in value although this is difficult to prove unless you were about to sell the car, so if they do pay an amount towards this expect only a small percentage.

glider3560

If the car has a different VIN number, how can they be sure it is actually your car?

dacouch

If it has gone to the proper forensics they can find the correct vin even if it is ground out as it still leaves traces. Although I do agree with Glider that it would be important to ensure you are certain it is the same car

scrounger_2

Is the chassis number and the VIN the same thing? Just a question from someone that doesnt know these things?

RobertoMoir

mdowner wrote: »

My car was stolen but has now been recovered. The problem is the VIN numbers have been changed and the mileage has been clocked as it now only shows 18,000 where as before it was 39,000. The insurance firm is telling me they can sort this out (I can't see how as I didn't think digital Odometers could be tampered with)

If it couldn't be "tampered with" then it couldn't have been clocked to 18,000 in the first place could it?

Pssst

How do the insurance co intend to get the VIN and chassis numbers restamped so that they are as they were when the car was new?

dacouch

Pssst wrote: »

How do the insurance co intend to get the VIN and chassis numbers restamped so that they are as they were when the car was new?

There was a thread on this on the motoring forum recently and the answer was most main dealers can provide and restamp them subject to acceptable proof the vehicle is the what you claim it is

dacouch

Did you have a tracker fitted by any chance?

mdowner

Yes the vehicle did have a Tracker. Another way of telling it was mine was via checking the Sat Nav and phone book.

I'm not keen on having it back as they might have tampered with other parts of the car. Plus why should I lose money when I try to sell it?? I feel the insurance company should pay out and keep the car themselves or give it back to me but give me the difference of what I lose on the value.