What to do after an accident if your car is a write -off...

andreibat

I recently had an accident and although it was not my fault (never is, I hear you saying...) the insurance company decided that my car is a write-off. This is particularly inconvenient as I love my little Toyota, which is a good little runner, economical and generally clean in and out. The car is very much drivable (just rhs headlight held by sellotape and a book size dent next to it).

They told me to send them all the documents, sent me a chque of £550 for it and basically said that I will not be insured anymore on it (3rd party only untill they take it away).

What are my options? Can I keep it? Can I ask for a refund for the remaining time (I was insured fully comp)?

amanda40

You can ask the insurance company for a price for you to keep it - cannot remember the phrase they use. I did that with mine as I was only offered £300, and it was worth more than that to me. They offered to give me £200 roughy I think but the repairs were still going to be too high so in the end just left it written off. It is worth asking and it is somehting tthey do. Don't think they will refund any contributions as you have now made a claim. though

BargainHunterCat

andreibat wrote:

I recently had an accident and although it was not my fault (never is, I hear you saying...) the insurance company decided that my car is a write-off. This is particularly inconvenient as I love my little Toyota , that is a good little runner, economical and generally clean in and out.

They told me to send all the document, send me a chque and basically said that I will not be insured naymore on it (3rd party only untill they take it away).

What are my options? Can I keep it? Can I ask for a refund for the remaining time (I was insured fully comp)?

Right...firstly your insurance company will have made the decision to write your car off based on the damage not based on whether it was your fault or not! if it is an older car, it has probably been classed an economic write off i.e. the cost of repairs is more than 80% of the book price of the
car and therefore doesn't warrant repairing by a main dealer.

First, ask your insurers what category of write off it is...as long as there's nothing structurally wrong with the car you have options.

Write offs come under 4 categories, ABC & D. If it's a category C or D it is repairable, it just may cost more than they are prepared to spend, and under your policy it will be their decision.

Option 1: Ask if they will consider cheaper quotes if you can obtain them from a local garage either using second hand or non-genuine parts to bring the cost of repairs down.

Option 2: Ask to retain the salvage of your car: i.e. buy back what they consider to be "scrap" even though your car may be still be running!
This means, they will pay you the write off value, less the excess and less the salvage value of the car which is what they would get from selling the "scrap" to a salvage company. Then the car is yours to repair as you see fit.

There is no reason why you can't continue with fully comp insurance unless it's the company's policy to only offer Third Party Only on a previously written off car. if they will offer Comp, it's up to you depending on whether it's worthwhile. Look at the book value of your car - it may not warrant fully comp anymore.

My car is 10 years old and worth approx £250. There is no way I'd waste my money on fully comp...the excess would probably equal the value of the car!

I hope this helps

BargainHunterCat

Oops with regards the remaining insurance time, you'll need to ask them.

Astaroth

As bargainhuntercat says (there is more than the 4 catagories mentioned but...) there are 2 types of right off, economical which can be legally returned to the road or safety which much go to someone with a breakers licence.

Generally insurers will allow you to retain the salvage but will deducts its worth from the settlement cheque (often 10%). Before going down this route it is worth asking them what requirements they will have to reinsure it... some insurers will only insurer it TPO going forward, some require you to have a new MOT done on it after the repairs to show it is road legal before they will reinsure etc.

If you decide not to retain the salvage then you normally have a couple of options on the insurance, either you can put a new vehicle onto the existing policy to replace the scrapped vehicle and let the rest of the policy run its course or alternatively cancel the policy and receive a refund. Until the insurance company is comfortable that it is a non-fault claim though they will not be willing to release the refund.

andreibat

Should I send them the car documents or have this bit of negotiation beforehand?

redux

It sounds like a bit of bashing the wing plus a secondhand headlight or mounting for it might have it fixed for about £100.

If you want to buy the salvage, then don't send them the documents. Talk to their claims department about this, but they may try and tell you you should have already had the conversation with the assessor.

They seem to have moved a bit fast. Have you actually cashed the cheque, which they might view as a full and final supplement, and is the car at your place or a salvage yard; if the latter they might have it taken away pretty quick. A family member asked about salvage about this, but it was already 100 miles away, and the insurers disclaimed responsibility for the personal property still inside.

WeirdoMagnet

I had the same problem with my old, much loved F Reg Toyota Corolla a few years back.

I had to fight tooth and nail to keep it. There was no way I was casually going to send the documents to them! To cut a long story short, my Dad had a chap that did any bodywork for him. He quoted £700 to the insurance company for the work. (Other quotes had been over £2k!). They agreed that I could have the work done by him, and sent me the cheque for £700. He did the work, and I kept the car.