Car Write-Off Insurance Value

Oasis_Gardening

My girlfriend recently had a minor prang in her car and although the damage wasn't major, the insurance company have decided to write off the car as the cost of the repairs weren't justified against the value of the car (an old P Reg Corsa with about 110k miles on the clock).

The insurance company are offering £500 as the write off value which in my opinion is reasonable and actually a bit more than I would have expected.

However, I wasn't sure if it was worth challenging the insurance company (Swiftcover) for a higher value? i.e do they usually make an initial offer which is lower than they are actually prepared to pay out or is it typically the value of the payout is fixed, like it or lump it?

I would welcome peoples thoughts.

Thanks

p.s don't know if it makes a difference, but the car also had a full tank of petrol.

00ec25

of course there is an element of gaming/negotiation behind any valuation

if you can be bothered / feel strong enough about it, then you will need evidence to support a stronger value
get copies of similar car adverts (autotrader etc) but remember the insurance co's value will not be exactly the same as a private sale value shown in the mags

you are entitled to the contents of the vehicle - that includes the fuel - either go siphon it off yourself or argue your case for a payment for it - but the scrap company will have to treat the fuel as "contaminated" not as "clean"

Notmyrealname

Remember that if she is claiming off her own policy then she will have to put the amount of the claim in any application for future insurance which may bang the price up.

forgotmyname

Say you accept the £500 as long as you can keep the car. They may want £50 or £100 for it.

is it still roadworthy? New MOT maybe tie it up with string and run it until it dies in a heap.

Free motoring.

paddedjohn

forgotmyname wrote: »

Say you accept the £500 as long as you can keep the car. They may want £50 or £100 for it.

is it still roadworthy? New MOT maybe tie it up with string and run it until it dies in a heap.

Free motoring.

Why the need for a new mot? the current certificate (if there is one) will still be valid even if the car is written off.

IanSkinner

Find a past eBay auction or two for an old corsa that sold for more. Then find a parkers guide or online valuation for more, then challenge them. Have a target in mind and go for it. Never accept the first offer.

pendulum

It's not far off but you could probably push to £600, agreeing £500 + you get to keep the car sounds like a good idea also.

forgotmyname

The insurance MAY want proof the car is still roadworthy so a new MOT will be required for them to continue to insure it.


Had that a while back relative had a bump in an old fiesta, It was a good runner though, Only scraped the side, Repaint
was way more than the car was worth so they offered a settlement, he contacted me saying he didnt want to lose the car.
I said tell them you accept their offer if you can keep the car. They knocked £75 off the offer and let him keep it.

He was happy with that but they insisted on a new MOT and would only insure the car 3rd party not fully comp anymore.

He got several more years out of it.