Stolen, smashed car, recompense, help?

maglo50_2

My little old metro was stolen last Saturday night, by apparently a repeat offender. He then smashed my car into someone elses car. He ran off but was caught by the police.

I rang the garage today and they told me I had to pay £105 release/recovery fee and £30 if I want it scrapped as it has considerable damage. It is only on Third party insurance as it is so old and the excess was £150, more than I would have recieved I guess.

My problem is this. As it is Third Party insurance they won't cover the release fee (which I didn't realise or know about) or pay out for the car (which I did know about). As I cannot afford to fix the car, I am now out of pocket by £135 as I have to scrap the car and I am left with no car, so have to find many hundreds of pounds to buy another.

Can anyone tell me if I can claim money or compensation from somewhere to cover this cost. If I could afford it I'd sue the little **** who stole it, as he has caused more damage than I think he will ever realise or probably be punished for.

Someone please help!

Also, following my problems, please all be aware of the pitfalls of third party only cover. I would recommend third party fire and theft to be the minimum level for anyone from now on.

brazilianwax

maglo50 wrote:

Also, following my problems, please all be aware of the pitfalls of third party only cover. I would recommend third party fire and theft to be the minimum level for anyone from now on.

I'm sorry - no advice about anything you can do.

I would have thought it was obvious though that third party only cover would only cover the third party (ie nothing at all to do with your car).

Pagan98

maglo50 wrote:

I rang the garage today and they told me I had to pay £105 release/recovery fee and £30 if I want it scrapped as it has considerable damage.

Just a thought, but what happens if you don't pay the release fee and tell the garage that they can keep the car. It would seem to me that you have no contract with the garage as it was not you who instructed them to recover the car. Are you legally obliged to cover the cost of recovering the wreckage as the registered keeper or face prosecution for abandonment?

Also, there is an scheme that covers losses for accidents caused by uninsured drivers (MIB) - I don't know if it applies in your circumstance but it might be worth investigating.

mattymoo

You still need to notify your insurer as they will need to deal with the claim for the other persons car that the little git crashed into. Your insurance covers the thief believe it or not, as Road Traffic Act insurer. This is a legal obligation imposed by the Road Traffic Act and is not something insurance companies have invented to scam you.

In addition to being out of pocket you are also looking at the loss of NCD.

You can ask the magistrates courts to help you claim compensation from the thief but these awards rarely cover the full loss.

Astaroth

You can claim from the thief the losses you have sustained (but not compensation) which would include the value of the vehicle, loss of use of the vehicle or alternative transport costs etc.... the reality however is that most thieves have little or no money.

Your insurers will not have to pay for the damages to the other vehicle if the thief can be identified... the other party would have to claim directly from the thief as well. If the thief had remained unknown or the police will not release their details (which they may not if they are a minor) then your insurers would have to pay for the other vehicles damage.