Non fault car write off, but want 2nd opinion on repairs

NurseMoneySaver1122

I recently posted regarding a vehicle hitting my dad (a named driver on my policy) in the rear whilst he was driving my car. The other Driver has admitted liability, I've kept my NCD etc. My car is currenty at the garage which Churchill appointed (I've since been told that this may not have been the best idea either).


The engineer called today and told me the cost of repairing my car is higher than the cars value. I immediately asked if I am able to collect my car and take it to get a second opinion. The engineer got quite defensive and asked why I want to do this. I explained that I had a garage look at it prior to his team collecting it and it was significantly lower. Therefore, I wanted to get another opinion. He reluctantly said yes I can do this but added he does not believe I will find a lower quote. I have also confirmed with my insurance company that this is ok to do, so I'm collecting my car tomorrow.

I've read the repair estimate he emailed me, and he's quoted over £2000, one-third of which is for parts. Preety much everything listed on the estimate is simple repair that my partner can do, e.g, replacing the make and modal badge, number plate etc.

I guess my question is do I have the option of saying I only want some of the things fixed from the estimate (obviously within legal standards), therefore bringing the repair cost down to under the cars value?

Or can I buy the parts and fit them myself, and then use a garage to repair the couple other things? Seems ludicrous to pay two-thirds of the total cost on labour which is easily repairable.

The whole situation sucks, not liable yet I suffer. So any advice would be great. Thanks

emmell

Have they written the car off? If they have, you can ask the Insurance to pay you out and include your car as salvage, then repair it yourself and put it back on the road.

We did this recently (although the car was not a write off), the Garage quoted £2,000 to repair the front end of a Ford Focus with new parts....no structural or suspension damage, just panels and lights.......Cost to us to get it repaired using second hand parts £450.

ML.

NurseMoneySaver1122

emmell wrote: »

Have they written the car off? If they have, you can ask the Insurance to pay you out and include your car as salvage, then repair it yourself and put it back on the road.

We did this recently (although the car was not a write off), the Garage quoted £2,000 to repair the front end of a Ford Focus with new parts....no structural or suspension damage, just panels and lights.......Cost to us to get it repaired using second hand parts £450.

ML.

No he's not written it off yet. He's said yes to me getting a second opinion, so my insurance have told me to get back to them when I get the second opinion.

Not sure which is best...soooo confused. Get them to pay me out like you say, then buy it as salvage to repair myself. Or potentially get lower quotes proving lower than the cars value so they don't write it off.

Im assuming the first option has a huge effect on the future sale price of the vehicle?

paddedjohn

How much is your car worth? If for example its worth £2000 and they pay you £1800 and you keep your car, you spend £800 getting it back on the road and still have the car and £1000, which will more than cover the drop in value due to it being a write off.

dacouch

emmell wrote: »

Have they written the car off? If they have, you can ask the Insurance to pay you out and include your car as salvage, then repair it yourself and put it back on the road.

We did this recently (although the car was not a write off), the Garage quoted £2,000 to repair the front end of a Ford Focus with new parts....no structural or suspension damage, just panels and lights.......Cost to us to get it repaired using second hand parts £450.

ML.

You can ask, there's no guarantee they will depending on which category write off

Christopher7

Hi OP
Firstly it is your car, you can do what you like with it. However, the suggestion of asking the insurer to pay the market value and you retain the salvage and fix it yourself is a clever one although be mindful that they will deduct the value of the salvage from the settlement and your insurance excess (but ask its a non fault accident and the other driver has accepted liability you will be able to recover the excess from his / her insurer.

The only notes of caution if you did this are;

1) the insurer will mark your vehicle down as being a total loss on their Motor insurance and Anti Fraud Register (MIAFTR) this may alert would be purchasers of your vehicle that it has been a previous insurance total loss. Some estimates say that previous total losses are worth as much as 25% less than the market value as a result of the stigma of being a previous total loss.

2) also be confident that you can repair it for less than the settlement minus the salvage value. People are often surprised at the cost of body repairs after an accident, often wrongly perceiving it too be much less.

To make a more informed decision ask the insurer for a breakdown of the estimated repair cost, pre accident value and the value they place on the salvage of your vehicle.

You may find that the cost of the repair is less than the market value but the insurer wants to write it off because the price of scrap cars is so high. However it is your right to demand that the insurer repairs up to the full market value.

NurseMoneySaver1122

Christopher7 wrote: »

Hi OP
Firstly it is your car, you can do what you like with it. However, the suggestion of asking the insurer to pay the market value and you retain the salvage and fix it yourself is a clever one although be mindful that they will deduct the value of the salvage from the settlement and your insurance excess (but ask its a non fault accident and the other driver has accepted liability you will be able to recover the excess from his / her insurer.

The only notes of caution if you did this are;

1) the insurer will mark your vehicle down as being a total loss on their Motor insurance and Anti Fraud Register (MIAFTR) this may alert would be purchasers of your vehicle that it has been a previous insurance total loss. Some estimates say that previous total losses are worth as much as 25% less than the market value as a result of the stigma of being a previous total loss.

2) also be confident that you can repair it for less than the settlement minus the salvage value. People are often surprised at the cost of body repairs after an accident, often wrongly perceiving it too be much less.

To make a more informed decision ask the insurer for a breakdown of the estimated repair cost, pre accident value and the value they place on the salvage of your vehicle.

You may find that the cost of the repair is less than the market value but the insurer wants to write it off because the price of scrap cars is so high. However it is your right to demand that the insurer repairs up to the full market value.

Thanks for your advise!! When my car first went into the garage, my insurance company said they were waiving my excess payable to the garage, as the other party admitted liability; so hopefully this will still apply in the case of a write off.

Regarding your point 1), this is what I have also read elsewhere and is the bit that concerns me. I don't want to end up with a car I can't shift, as much as I do love it, I don't want it forever. so I really have to think about this, just soooo hard when I'm so clueless.

Regarding your point 2), I have been doin this today. Went to get a few estimates from a a few local garages. 2 garages both quoted £1000 less than Churchills engineer and that was for brand new parts, although it doesn't include everything Churchills engineer included, e.g. Renault badge, Clio badge.

Churchills engineer did give me a value for my car when he informed me about his findings, but I've read in a few places you should never accept their first offer. Is this true? And is this also the case for the cost to buy the car back off them?

NurseMoneySaver1122

Also does anyone know if i can provide Churchill with a estimate which is for second hand parts.

My thinking is the quote will be significantly cheaper, thereby bringing the cost of repair below the value of my car

Christopher7

NurseMoneySaver1122 wrote: »

Thanks for your advise!! When my car first went into the garage, my insurance company said they were waiving my excess payable to the garage, as the other party admitted liability; so hopefully this will still apply in the case of a write off.

Regarding your point 1), this is what I have also read elsewhere and is the bit that concerns me. I don't want to end up with a car I can't shift, as much as I do love it, I don't want it forever. so I really have to think about this, just soooo hard when I'm so clueless.

Regarding your point 2), I have been doin this today. Went to get a few estimates from a a few local garages. 2 garages both quoted £1000 less than Churchills engineer and that was for brand new parts, although it doesn't include everything Churchills engineer included, e.g. Renault badge, Clio badge.

Churchills engineer did give me a value for my car when he informed me about his findings, but I've read in a few places you should never accept their first offer. Is this true? And is this also the case for the cost to buy the car back off them?

In theory Churchill should offer you a fair market value in the first instance but in practice the less they pay you the more profit they make!

Churchill will value using motor industry guides, usually Glass's but sometimes CAP. They may then look at internet sites such as Auto Trader to see how much similar cars are selling for in your local area. My advice would be to do this as well and get a good idea of how much you need in order to replace your car, you will then be in a much stronger position to negotiate.

Christopher7

NurseMoneySaver1122 wrote: »

Also does anyone know if i can provide Churchill with a estimate which is for second hand parts.

My thinking is the quote will be significantly cheaper, thereby bringing the cost of repair below the value of my car

I am sure Churchill will be interested to hear about an estimate that saves them money. BTW insurers may refer to second hand parts as 'Green Parts'. Not many customers will want second hand parts fitted but if they use the term 'green parts' then customers might not know what these are.

bizw0z

I dont think churchill would be to interested in you putting your car back together with second hand parts. If thats the route you want to go, get it written off and buy it back as a CAT D insurance write off. Its then down to you to how you go about getting it repaired.

I think the car will need a new MOT following the repairs to make it legal to drive again, a friend of mine does CAT D repairs for a living so when he phones me back i'll know for sure.

If it were me, id do it this way then use some of the payout to repair it. Insurance companies seem to write off cars all too readily these days.