Insurance questions about a water-damaged Car

Fuji

Whilst driving along a country road at the weekend I drove through a large pool of water which caused my car to splutter and come to a halt. (it was going dark and I didn't see any reflection off the water until it was too late to stop)

I called the breakdown services they managed to get the engine to run but when the repairman checked the dipstick he said water had got into the oil and ruined the engine (the oil was a lot creamier than when it went in) - he also said that there was an existing problem with the head gasket because of how severe the mixing was. The car was transported home and my insurance company have arranged for a local garage to come out and see if the car can be repaired.

I'm presuming that it will be written off because the car is nearly 10 years old, has done over 100K miles and probably only worth about £1000. I have fully comp insurance with protected no-claims. How might it affect my premiums ? When I reported the claim I admitted that it was my fault.

The repairman said a replacement engine might be about £400 - is it worth exploring this or will the insurance company decide for me ? someone whose car was recently written off said they were able to buy it back from the insurance company and then arrnage for the repairs to be carried out themselves (they had to involve VOSA)

I was told that I will get a courtesy car if the car needs to be repaired after its been looked at, but this doesn't include from the point its taken into the garage. People I have spoken to have advised that I should insist on a courtesy car being delivered when my car is taken away - I've managed to get to work on public transport but its going to be a big problem to get back tomorrow when i expect the car to be collected.

When I asked if I could hire a car I was told that it might be covered but I needed to check with the Head office and was given another number to call - I've not been able to get through to them on the numerous times I've tried. Is it likely that I would be able to reclaim the cost of car hire for an accident I have admitted fault for ?

Any advice is really appreciated.

jackie_w

Hi There,

I think it your figures are right the car will probably be written off. With regards to buying back the car, explain to the insurance company you are interested in doing this, therefore ask for a figure for them to retain the salvage, and for you to retain the salvage, that way you will have both sets of figures and you will be able to ask around to see how much it will cost to get a new engine for the car, weigh up whish way is best for you.

With regards to a hired car, the simple answer is no you wont be able to claim it back because there is no third party to claim it back from.

Certainly ask for a courtesy car, majority of policies say a car will only be given if the car is repaired, therefore getting the courtesy car whilst its actually in the garage being repaired. The reason for this is because its the garage that give you the courtesy car NOT the insurance company.
Ins comps will negotiate with garages a benefit where they become approved repairers, and they supply courtesy cars to their customers. The other draw back with this is a courtesy car is subject to availability!

I dont know if you will get anywhere if you demand a courtesy car, it depends on your actual insurance policy. You would need to read your policy booklet.

Jackie

Astaroth

There are policies that cover a hire car but this is an optional add on - your policy should state what you do and dont have cover for - on the basis the department you spoke to didnt know if you had cover or not does confuse me however.

An insurance company makes the decision if a car is a total loss or not which is based on either safety or economics. As stated by Jackie - if your vehicle is a total loss and you have just a standard courtesy car entitlement then you would not be entitled to one as it is conditional on the repairs being carried out by an approved repairer (and obviously with a total loss no repairs are going to be done). If a car looks like it will be repairable most garages will give a car when yours go in but if it is borderline or worse then generally they wont as it can be a real pain getting the courtesy car back from people when it will leave them without transport.

courtjester

Hang on - how did the water get into the oil, it's a more or less sealed system isn't it...??

The AA man's diagnosis of a blown head gasket points to the actual cause of the water /oil mixing and that's nothing to do with driving through a large pool of water.

I suspect you may have problems making any claim for this on insurance as that would be regarded as wear and tear.

Fuji

As an update on this........

my car was taken to a local garage on 9 days ago. I have spoken to the garage its been taken to - they can only deal with bodywork repairs while my car need to have the engine examined.

The insurance company have dragged their feet (not calling me back, saying that the garage number was engaged etc etc) despite me calling nearly everyday to find out what's happening. They did send an assessor out on Tuesday but have not had his/her report back yet.

Speaking to them today, they have admitted that the car shouldn't have been taken to the bodywork garage, but rather it should have gone to a main dealership to check the engine damage. They said that I should have been advised this when I initially called to report the damage and that its something that is the responsibility of the policyholder to arrange (Instead its spent the last 10 days parked up up somewhere it shouldn't be)

I've raised a complaint with my insurance company today and have been told to expect a reply to that within 24 hours (although I won't hold me breath)

The local main dealership charge £30 to recover a car although since the original actions by the insurance company have led to the delay I now expect them to arrange for the car to be removed.

I feel that they are displaying a lot of incompetance. Friends have said I should report them to the Insurance ombudsman - What's the best approach to take to get them to take responsibility?

Thanks in advance