cat c write off - twice!! insurance knowledge needed

LACEY174

Ok my car was damaged about 3 months. minor damage to the right front wing, which meant the door wouldnt open, thus not driveable.

After speaking to the insurance company i took vehicle back and got paid some money for it as it was cat c.

The dent was removed via a magnet, and the front door was able to be opened, thus driveable. a check was mentioned by insurer, but they said they would send details to me about it and where to have it done.

This was never sent to me and the car had only just passed its mot.

Then a few days ago, someone drove in back of me. Cat C again, my insurers are offering me about £50 saying the other accident was never fixed. Now this is clearly untrue, as the front door wouldnt open if that was the case and it does perfectly.

So what can i do, i cant buy a new car with £50 and work is 30 mile round trip every day.

Hintza

You should have had the car VIC checked if they deemed it a Cat C write off. Not sure what the penalty is for not having it done but it could be a large fine and might even be endorsable.

The insurer has paid out as a total loss and because you never had the VIC check they won't pay out again I very much doubt you will win this one. Might be time to slink away without creating a fuss.

Hintza

In fact just for clarity:-

Your car was illegally on the road.

jacobsdaduk

Hintza wrote: »

The insurer has paid out as a total loss and because you never had the VIC check they won't pay out again I very much doubt you will win this one.

Isn't this the case that regardless of whether the work has been completed or not?

Hintza

jacobsdaduk wrote: »

Isn't this the case that regardless of whether the work has been completed or not?

The insurer would have to pay out again if the VIC check had been done but probably at a slightly reduced rate (Cat C/D cars being worth a bit less than non write offs).

But that raises another question was the OP actually insured? I'm surprised they have even offered £50.

vaio

Hintza wrote: »

In fact just for clarity:-

Your car was illegally on the road.

Real clarity……….a car can be legally used before it has a VIC as long as it has valid tax, MOT and insurance. The only things you can’t do without a VIC is get a new logbook and re-tax it when the old tax expires

OP……..

The fact that the car had been repaired but not undergone the VIC should make no difference to you getting paid out by the insurance company. You will of course get a reduced amount as repaired CAT C cars are worth less than none CAT C cars, 20% less seems to be what the FOS regard as fair.

Out of interest, are you claiming on your policy or on the policy of the car that drove into you?

dacouch

The £50 is no doubt after deduction of the policy excess so they have valued the car at more than £50...

LACEY174

Thank Vaio, thats what i was told by the insurance company. They said it would need to be VIC before MOT and tax which was 11 months after the accident. They also told me they would send me details on how to do it, but they never did.

In terms of the excess they have waived that as the car is so old

vaio

Cheers, it seems to me that as you had repaired it you could expect to get paid about 80% of what you got paid out last time

Are you claiming off your insurance or the TP?

Hintza

vaio wrote: »

Real clarity……….a car can be legally used before it has a VIC as long as it has valid tax, MOT and insurance. The only things you can’t do without a VIC is get a new logbook and re-tax it when the old tax expires

I stand corrected.

Also Vaio raises a good point, if the 3rd party is at fault then you should be persuing them directly.

LACEY174

Thanks guys!!!

Basically i rang mine let them know about the incident, then the TP contacted theres later that day.

So mine has kind of taken control, i'll be contacting the TP insurance to see what they can do!

Cheers guys, kinda feel a little better now!!!!!!!