Car written off

Bennifred

Hi all

Ten days ago I was in a road traffic accident caused (and admitted) by the other party. No injuries to anyone, which is the main thing, and my insurers were excellent and got a hire car to me within a couple of hours.

However the repairer has just let me know that my car will cost about £2000 to repair, and as the car is only worth about £1400 retail they are going to tell my insurers it is beyond economic repair. I'm upset about this because I would have thought that as the innocent party I should have the right to be put back in the position I was in before the accident.

I'm not really in a position to traipse around looking for a replacement car as a) I have MS and have limited energy and mobility; and b) I work, so limited time too! I just want my own car back! I have searched online, and I can find only six cars for sale in the whole country of the type, age and mileage which would replace mine.

I am probably missing something, but I don't see how just giving me a cheque is putting me back in the position I was in before the accident, as I would then incur additional costs (on top of the value of the car - fuel, etc) trying to replace it.

My insurance company hasn't rung me yet - when they do, would I be wasting my time insisting that I want my car repaired? They will after all be claiming the cost back from the other party's insurer. I have legal cover with the policy if that is of any consequence.

I'm hoping someone may be able to cast some light on what is likely to happen - please?

Quentin

If the car is uneconomic to repair you can't insist on it being repaired.

From the figures you quote a write off looks certain.

Start looking for a replacement as the hire car will go within a short time of you receiving the settlement cheque.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

dont take an assessors word its worth 1200 retail. the third party hit you its not your fault, search pistonheads auto tradet for the same year car as your around same mileage and tax and mot, if its more than 1200 quid then id be asking the going rate not what sum assessor say says its worth.

he hit you his insurers pay the going rate for inconvieniencing you! talk to your insurers when you get a good idea of how much you car is worth before being damaged and insist on a figure around the same area as them!!

sassy_one

I would start looking for a new car as from your first post OP, it does sound as though your current car will be written off.

If you really wanted to keep your current car on the road, you could see if your insurer will allow you to keep the car and take some payment and pay that towards the repairs, however this will leave you out of pocket and the car worth less, that is also depending on what cat your car is written off under.

Bennifred

Hi all,

Thanks for your replies - I'll get onto looking, I guess it's better to be prepared.......:(

I'll let you know the outcome.

(Still seems unfair, though:mad:)

Hintza

You will need to push hard to get a decent settlement figure.

One of the deciding factors that will influence the decision will be what other thingsare likely to go wrong ie they repair and then you come back a few months later lookng for more. So writing it off saves them any potential future hassle/cost.

What you could do is price up the repair at your own bodyshop using secondhand panels etc and buy bck the salvage. Might even end upwith a few quid in your pocket. You will need to buy the salvage back a part of the deal.

Lum

Posts like this are a classic example of why there are so many fake whiplash claims.

I bet the £1400 value they're quoting isn't even enough to buy a replacement, let alone the transport costs.

johnson293

Its all well and good advising the OP to get the car back from the insurance to have repaired themselves, but would the car not still be categorised as a write-off from that point anyway?

Its just making the car more difficult to move/sell on in future, regardless of how good the repair is, if it is still listed as having been written off in its past. That stigma always affects future price and peoples opinion towards the car.

As much hassle as it may seem, the best option is probably to let this car be written off, and look for another one.

But as mentioned above, the hire car will be taken back as soon as settlement has been paid out.

Same thing happened to me last year, when I was rear ended in a car I'd only owned for one week.

Paid £2995 for it - Insurance settled at £2800. I also got a hire car, which I kept for just over a week while my car was checked, written off and settlement agreed.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

eventhough some on here think here we go not enough in compo so lets hit the insurer hard for cash.

people search here for advice and options opinions of others. if that opinion is hey you were hit ask for more money than that wich they are entitled to do as it wasnt their fault they were hit. or buy back salvage repair or not repair weigh it in etc then atleast the OP goes away with that knowladge he can do so.

ive started to see allot of oh after compo in post replies etc etc even though its about money its also about advice and option im seeing more OPINIONS than advice in these forums lately.

MX5huggy

johnson293 wrote: »

Its all well and good advising the OP to get the car back from the insurance to have repaired themselves, but would the car not still be categorised as a write-off from that point anyway?

Yes, but it seems clear the OP likes this car and it's not exactly worth a whole load the loss of value only becomes a reality if they wan to sell in future, and it sounds to me as if they will drive it till it dies.

OP what car is it?

Bennifred

It' is (was!) a Toyota Avensis 2.0 GLS saloon.

I think the "buy back and repair" option is not viable - I've just had a phone call from the "valuing engineer" (?) who says it would cost £2296 to repair and values it at £1200 top whack. He reckoned that it would cost at least half of the official repair cost (so £1148) to get done myself, on top of the buy-back cost. Wouldn't budge on the £1200.

You are absolutely right - I bought the car ten years ago (it was 2 years old then), no problems at all with it and would have kept it till it died. Ah well - maybe I should just look on this as an opportunity, and see if I can persuade husband that it's worth upgrading.......

Thanks for all the input, much appreciated.