Any advice for my son

stars_bright

My 21 year old son only bought his Fiat Punto in July, he slipped on some ice and went into a hedge, also hitting a parked car, we expect his car will be an insurance write off as it is worth about £3,000 but it is damaged down both sides, bonnet, front & rear bumpers also Obviously it is his fault, no arguement over that and he has got fully comp insurance. The problem for him is that his excess is £650 so if the insurance write his car off he will only get about £2,300. Then, if he were to buy another car he would have to pay out for another years insurance, since his insurance did have 5 months left to run but would finish when his car was written off. His insurance was £1,200 last time and with this accident it would go uo to about £1,500 (have looked on GoCompare) so that leaves him very little to buy another car with. He is working away from home so although he earns reasonable money a lot goes on his house rental etc. Is there any way we can try to get the insurance company not to write his car off ? if not any ideas to help him get back on the road?

tamarto

frosty wrote: »

Hi,why would his insurance end?I thought it would be valid on any car until the renewal date.When my son wrote his car off the insurance company tried to pay as little as possible for his car,so even if your son paid £3000 the insurance company will come up with a lower value,you dont have to accept their offer,I would start looking around at similar cars and try to find a value the insurance company will accept.I think it would depend on the damage to the car and if it was road worthy,but no harm in asking the insurance company if you can buy back the car.Good luck,I dont think I have been of much help.

If it was valid until renewal, what would there be to stop someone totalling a rusty fiesta then buying a porshe?

nomoneytoday

frosty wrote: »

Hi,why would his insurance end?

Because the contract is completed - You insured against an event. Event happened. Insurer pays, end of contract.

However, some insurers will allow you to put the replacement car on the policy for an admin fee.

stars_bright

It is a bit odd, because it they repaired his car the insurance would continue until the normal policy ends, but I understand that if it is a write off then the policy ends. I will tell him to ask the insurance company whether they would continue it on a different car thoug

iamana1ias

tamarto wrote: »

If it was valid until renewal, what would there be to stop someone totalling a rusty fiesta then buying a porshe?

It doesn't stay the same price for the rest of the policy, !!!!!! :rolleyes:

It's the same as what happens if you change your car mid policy

motorguy

tamarto wrote: »

If it was valid until renewal, what would there be to stop someone totalling a rusty fiesta then buying a porshe?

Because, just like if you change your car midway through your insurance term, they re-evaluate your insurance and quote you for the new car (pro rata'd for the remainder of the term)

Amanda65

My DD wrote her car off two weeks ago and we are currently negotiating a settlement figure with her insurers. They ahve advised that if we buy a similar car (engine size, value etc.) they will change the current policy - which runs until July - over to the new car and they will re-assess her premium next year at renewal.

tamarto

iamana1ias wrote: »

It doesn't stay the same price for the rest of the policy, !!!!!! :rolleyes:

It's the same as what happens if you change your car mid policy

School holidays is it.:rolleyes:

tamarto

pgilc1 wrote: »

Because, just like if you change your car midway through your insurance term, they re-evaluate your insurance and quote you for the new car (pro rata'd for the remainder of the term)

'Tisn't the same policy then is it, if we are being all pedantic

Paranoid

Hard to give a definitive reply without more detail regarding damage

Does the insurance let you find your own repairer? Or do you have to use the insurance company 'approved' repairer? Cost of repairs can vary enormously. If they want to write your car off it is likely because their 'loss adjuster' estimates that the cost of repairs exceeds the market value of the car. The market value is going to be less than the car cost, perhaps a lot less. If you can demonstrate that you can effect repairs for less than this sum you may be able to negotiate. Numerous sites offer used parts, like bonnets and bumpers. You may decide to live with some damage so long as the car is safe.

I would have expected you to be able to get a refund for the remaining period of insurance if the car is written off.

Negotiate on the offer for writing-off. Remember insurance companies do not want to pay more than they can get away with!

stars_bright

Thanks for the reples, the car has been taken to a garage by the insurance company, I don't think it would be safe to drive it so we can't take it elsewhere but I have advised my son if they say they want to write it off to ask for a breakdown of the costs and not to agree to a write off until he has asked some other garages for a quote. In the meantime we are looking at the prices of similar cars on Auto Trader.