Right Off vs Repair?

LynnF

Hi

I posted on here a couple of weeks about my car that someone smashed into. It was in the middle of the night and we've not been able to find out who caused the damage. Anyway, I've now had to put in a claim against my own insurance and I've had a call to say that the mechanic looking at it can fix the damage.

I'm surprised as the damage was quite extensive to the back and one of the side panels. The car (Honda Civic) is also 10 years old and has 80k on the clock. The man asked if I was happy for him to go ahead with the repairs. I said that I would have assumed it would be a right-off due to the damage and he asked me if I'd rather go down that route. I wasn't sure which way to go so I said I would contact him again over the next 2 days.

I'm not sure whether to go with the repairs or should I go down the right off route. Anyone got any advice either way?

Thanks

LynnF

Tilt

Up to you really if your paying for the repair yourself. However, if you put a claim in to your insurers then their loss adjuster will decide whether it is economical to repair or not. I would suggest that it isn't.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

its up to you OP, the car is 10yrs old but if they want to repair it, let them after all your paying the excess regardless.

if its a good reliable vehicle then why not have a repair, it better than being offered 1200 minus your excess. i'd would let them repair have it back and then part ex it when you have the cash.

colino

Very surprised about this. Do you have budget insurance that doesn't provide a hire car when your car is off road? The cost of that alone normally pushes the insurance to the quickest, cheapest fix. (Write off and recoup some cash from the salvage).
If they are going to repair, and it sounds like a tricky, labourious quarter panel replacement, don't sign a satisfaction note until you've looked at the repaired car from every possible angle in sunlight and can be sure the panel gaps are true and the paint match is top notch. Check in the boot too and look for disturbed sound deadening/anti-drumming pads. Quite often a shunt at the back distorts the boot floor (and in some cases the roof line) that isn't noticed until it is too late.

LynnF

Thanks Colino - that seems good advice and definitely won't accept until I've taken a good look first. I have thought that if I do accept the repairs then there could well be internal damage that may need to be addressed so will enquire about that too.

I would have assumed that the mechanic would have contacted Tesco first and advised them about the fact it could be repaired. Surely Tesco would make the first decision as to whether to repair or write off?