Accident - MOT expired - advice please!

Quentin

Yes if you need a car you can claim its cost off the (responsible) third party.

Next time you get involved with a third party and it's their fault consider using an accident management company/solicitor who will ensure you do get everything you are entitled to paid for by the third party.

sarriep

I have heard of people using those but have also heard negative stories about them advising claimants to claim for things - such as personal injury - that have not actually happened. Aren't these companies partly responsible for the general increase in insurance premiums? I know I read on one of these threads about someone who was being advised to claim for whiplash when she hadn't had whiplash - the implication being that she could get a good payout for nothing.
Aren't insurance companies themselves usually sufficient when making a claim?
Just a question!

Quentin

sarriep wrote: »

Aren't insurance companies themselves usually sufficient when making a claim?
Just a question!

You now know you need an expert of your own (especially if you aren't an expert!) - had you had a claim handler looking after you, then you would have got a hire car when you needed one (and your "victim" now would have one at your insurer's expense).

When someone causes you a problem and you are totally innocent, then you deserve to be as unaffected as possible, and the responsible party should pay up!

Insurers use claim handler firms (and make money out of them - they pass on red hot leads to them for a commission when one of their clients is involved in a non fault incident).

mikey72

sarriep wrote: »

I have heard of people using those but have also heard negative stories about them advising claimants to claim for things - such as personal injury - that have not actually happened. Aren't these companies partly responsible for the general increase in insurance premiums?

Everyone says underwriting makes no money anymore, and premiums have to go up to cover all the losses, and it's down to over inflated claims.
Good spin really
The insurers get commission on hire cars,
commission from claim management companies,
extra profit selling legal protection insurance, (back to the same claim management companies that would do it for free anyway).
They don't really care about how much they pay out in claims, as they can just up the premium, we'll pay as it's compulsory to have it, and we all believe it when they blame these evil claim management companies that they actually get paid by.
And the insurers sell them your name to start with.

sarriep

But there are dodgy ones out there - right?

mikey72

sarriep wrote: »

But there are dodgy ones out there - right?

The trick is finding the one that isn't.

sarriep

Aha. Thanks

sarriep

So now I know not having an MOT will affect the amount offered by the insurance company - but by very much? Also a friend advised us not to accept the first offer made - do insurance companies usually increase offers? The garage has told us about other things wrong with our car - work previously done by another garage - I presume all of this will also go against us with the offer we get? Apparently the exhaust is not fitted properly (we didn't know this) and isn't good ...
Oh, and will the insurance company now definitely check we have (or haven't..) got an MOT?

Thanks - the advice on here has been invaluable.

dacouch

Which Insurer is it ?

As the car is a write off, the Insurers will want to see the MOT.

A car without an MOT is often valued at the trade price, it's typically worth approximately 20% less than a car with an MOT

An exhaust not being fitted correctly would not necessarily reduce the amount you are paid out in the same way as if you were selling the car normally it would not necessarily affect the amount you receive for it

sarriep

Thanks. It's onequotedirect. The company that assessed the car seemed to be saying to my husband that the condition of the car was poor and mentioned the exhaust. We got the impression this would form part of the detailed report they will make to the insurance company.