Total Loss settlement. I need help

Buttwhy?

I need some help and opinions of anyone who has had to deal with a similar situation.
Last week in the heavy snow I had a minor accident in the car involving me and a fence, it was low speed and no injuries or anyone else involved. I've not had any claims for 12 years and got a farmer friend to recover the car from the field so I could drive it home.
I filed a claim with Swift Cover within the hour, the car was taken to their preferred garage 2 days later and a hire car was delivered to me the same day as the accident. So far all great.:j
Well 9 days after collecting the car the car has now been classed as a total loss which amazed me since it was what I considered a minor accident and the settlement of £4500 is low, in fact I cannt buy a similar car for that, and even if I could I want my car since I've looked after it from new.
The damage to the fence was £150 (I know the farmer). The damage to the mondeo estate was a new front bumper, new wing mirror, 1 fog light, passanger wheel arch panel and scratches down to the metal on all panels down passengers side and rear bumper as well as a new front grill.
The damage is almost identical to my previous accident 12yrs ago which cost £1800 to repair throug the insurance.
Questions
1) Do I have to accept the total loss or are there other options?
2) Can I get my car back and send it to another garage of my choice for repair?
3) At what cost of repair does the car become a toal loss? i.e is it any repair over £4500?
4) If I accept the total loss can I buy my car back?
5) What can I do about the low valuation?
6) Does the damage seem reasonable to warrant a total loss?
7) I know they will deduct the years policy cost and excess but are there other charges they can deduct off the final settlement?
8) What happens to my 11months road tax. Can I take it back and claim a refund.

While I appreciate insurance is a difficult subject and case by case can vary enormously I would appreciate peoples opinions and experinces.
Thanks all

thefishdude

1, no you can negotiate
2, not sure
3, its to do with the cost of repair compaired to the cost of the vechile itself to replace. £4500 repair on a rolls royce is cheap £4500 repair on a second hand mondeo is not cheap for example.
4, some insurance comapnies will do this you can buy it back, repair it yourself and then put it in for a special test to get it back on the road the fact its rightoff on its record will lower its retail value in future though.
5, gather evididence of how much it would cost to get a like for like replacement and negotiate with your insurer.
6 you havent said what car you got but it does seem reasonable to me for what you said. the insurere will use maindealers wich charge laods.
7 soemtimes they charge and admin fee for restarting the policy when you get a new car.
8you keep it the disc and claim the tax back.

keith1950

Hi, on your insurance did you pay extra to be covered for a hire car or extra for a courtesy car ?

As you got the car before the repairs commenced I think it must be definately a hire car. Check your insurance to make sure you are entitled to one because usually the other party is chased for these charges ( uninsured losses ).

If it is a courtesy car provided by the garage then there is no problem, although it will now have to be returned as yours has been declared a total loss.

I say this because a similar situation to yours happened to my son and 12 months later the hire company started chasing him for 35 days hire charges (£1800 ), because there was no other party to recover them from.

Just because they gave you a hire car doesn't mean that it is free unless your policy actually states it is.

I would never except a hire car because of the possible implications ( see all the posts about Drive Assist ).

You should definately try negotiating with them and it is often possible to buy back the salvage, but make sure you can return it to an acceptable condition with the money you receive.

It might then have to be taken to the nearest VOSA for an inspection.

mikey72

A lot of garages now retain the salvage for write offs, so it's worth taking the car away for another quoe if you disagree. In some cases the car has been written off and sold on before the customer has a chance to see it again though.

Buttwhy?

Thanks guys. The courteous car (I know spelt wrong) is a guarnatee under the policy and yes it will be returned as soon as they ask for it, but it appears the write off has been shipped somewhere south with my belongings in it. As far as I'm concerned until I sign it over to the insurance company and accept the settlement then the salvage is still my property, with my things still in it too!

mikey72

hmmm, you may be a victim of the scam above.

Insco

The Financial Ombudsman Service guidiance below may be of assistance to you when considering the value offered for the vehcile


http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/technical_notes/motor-valuation.html

Buttwhy?

Insco wrote: »

The Financial Ombudsman Service guidiance below may be of assistance to you when considering the value offered for the vehcile


http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/technical_notes/motor-valuation.html

Thanks I'll have a read now as I'm having some serious bother with the loss adjuster.

mikey72

High cost of repair, very low offer, vehicle gone missing?

Put in a written complaint, hold out for a serious offer, and ask for compensation for all personal items and your time.
Refr it to the FOS if they don't pay.

SteveFromAccounts

thefishdude wrote: »

1, no you can negotiate
2, not sure
3, its to do with the cost of repair compaired to the cost of the vechile itself to replace. £4500 repair on a rolls royce is cheap £4500 repair on a second hand mondeo is not cheap for example.
4, some insurance comapnies will do this you can buy it back, repair it yourself and then put it in for a special test to get it back on the road the fact its rightoff on its record will lower its retail value in future though.
5, gather evididence of how much it would cost to get a like for like replacement and negotiate with your insurer.
6 you havent said what car you got but it does seem reasonable to me for what you said. the insurere will use maindealers wich charge laods.
7 soemtimes they charge and admin fee for restarting the policy when you get a new car.
8you keep it the disc and claim the tax back.

Agree with the above except:

3. To add to this answer... If your car is worth £4,500 and the repair cost is estimated at £3,000 and the salvage value of the vehicle in its current state £2,000 then that would typically be a total loss. You are entitled to indemnity in respect of the value of the vehicle, and insurers will retain the salvage value. (i.e. you should still get the £4,500 if that is what your vehicle is worth.)

5. Gather evidence from as many places as you can - look on Autotrader, Parkers, Glass's Guide, etc. Insurers will typically say "we use X only" but you are entitled to indemnity which essentially means that they have to give you the appropriate value so that you are no better or worse off than before the loss. Arm yourself with as much information as possible basically.

6. See what I have said in point 3 above

Mostly using fishdudes reply as the basis of mine, if you will, and adding my thoughts essentially I agree with those points overall.

Good luck!