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

Christopher7

bizw0z wrote: »

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.

Some insurers might ask for the vehicle to have an MOT test before they agree to insure but its not a legal requirement.

However if the insurer writes it off as Cat A, B or C, it will need a Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) before the tax expires or a new V5 is issued.

NurseMoneySaver1122

bizw0z wrote: »

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.

I thought CAT D was when it's uneconomical to put the car back on the road due to hire car costs etc, as opposed to CAT C which is unecomical to repair. CAT C is what I'm assuming mine would be, as they stated its due to the costs of repair.

Surely using second hand parts in my situation wouldnt really matter to my insurance company, as it is things like bumper, tailgate, rear light, so all cosmetic?

Does a CAT C write off need a new MOT? I didn't think the things they check on an MOT include any of the things I need repaired. So nothing MOT-wise would have changed with my car?

It's all sooooo confusing

NurseMoneySaver1122

Christopher7 wrote: »

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.

My car is an x reg renault clio grande with 90000 miles. I paid for a valuation with Glasses, as that's who Churchill apparently use and results were:
Retail = £1,550
Private = £1,034
Trade in = £430 (excellent condition), £375 (average), £296 (below average).

Also had a look on auto trader but really does vary.

The Churchill engineer valued my car at £1015. I'm going to call Churchill tomorrow to find out what value they place on salvage of my car, and hopefully the figures all together will help me understand it a bit better.

Would that valuation seem fair, based on the information above?

NurseMoneySaver1122

Just been reading some other posts and just wanted to check. How do I know Churchills engineer has placed my car in the right catagory? Some are saying they found out after that they should have been CAT D rather than C, due to it being minor cosmetic damage.

My damage is the rear panel, rear bumper, tailgate. What constitutes a CAT D? I thought it was when factors other than damage make it uneconomical to repair, e.g. replacement car costs?

Christopher7

NurseMoneySaver1122 wrote: »

Just been reading some other posts and just wanted to check. How do I know Churchills engineer has placed my car in the right catagory? Some are saying they found out after that they should have been CAT D rather than C, due to it being minor cosmetic damage.

My damage is the rear panel, rear bumper, tailgate. What constitutes a CAT D? I thought it was when factors other than damage make it uneconomical to repair, e.g. replacement car costs?

Category A = The vehicle is so badly damaged that it is recommended that the vehicles is crushed without any parts being taken off (usually burnt out cars)

Category B = It is recommended that the vehicle is crushed, however salvageable parts can be removed.

Category C = The cost of repair exceeds the pre accident value.

Category D = The cost of repair is less than the pre accident value, but the insurer decided that it was more economical to write it off. For example, the vehicle is worth £1050, the repair costs £800 but the salvage is worth £400. The insurer is £150 better off.

Christopher7

Have a look at this link for more detailed explanation

https://www.abi.org.uk/Information/Codes_and_Guidance.../40510.pdf

Sorry link doesn't work, type "ABI Code of Practice Salvage" into Google, should be first option.

NurseMoneySaver1122

Spoke to the Engineer today. I basically askes the questions I've asked on here; e.g. can I get estimates for 2nd hand parts. He REALLY did avoid giving a straight answer to this question. I counted that I had to ask 7 times, before he (sort of) answered it, by stating he might consider it if I get a quote. Is that really an answer?? All I want is a yes or no. Can't really understand why there would be a problem if I used a second hand tailgate, bumper and things like that...hardly poses a risk to the car?!?!

Anyway, he asked if I was happy with the valuation he'd provided on the car, which was £1015. I explained that I need to look into it before stating if I'm happy or not. He said I could buy it back as salvage at 9%...so that's at £91.35.

I've paid for a valuation on Glass's and also browsed autotrader which varies quite a bit between similar spec cars.

So I've still no idea if a) he's offer is fair, b) if I'm better off writing it off and buying back/not buying back as salvage, c) trying to get the repair costs lower so he doesn't write it off.

I'm doing my research but it's still not any clearer. I'm beginning to question my intelligence!!

NurseMoneySaver1122

Im soooo sorry for all the questions!!

Also, when I asked for quotes from the garages, a few asked if it is going through insurance. I answered no.

So will their quotes change when I tell them it is going through insurance?

I'm guessing that they get away with charging insurance companies more, and the quote will shoot up?

dacouch

Your Insurance is unlikely to pay for second hand parts. If you get a cheaper quote, they might allow you to buy the salvage and then pay you the balance of the write off value.

They then wash their hands of it, so if you have the repairs done and there are problems it not their problem.

If you pick a good repairer, there's a chance you will get your car repaired (Possibly with 2nd hand parts) and actually make a few quid.

Bear in mind a car that has been written off and repaired is worth less when you sell it

NurseMoneySaver1122

dacouch wrote: »

Your Insurance is unlikely to pay for second hand parts. If you get a cheaper quote, they might allow you to buy the salvage and then pay you the balance of the write off value.

They then wash their hands of it, so if you have the repairs done and there are problems it not their problem.

If you pick a good repairer, there's a chance you will get your car repaired (Possibly with 2nd hand parts) and actually make a few quid.

Bear in mind a car that has been written off and repaired is worth less when you sell it

That's why I'm trying to look into saving this from being written off, coz once written off its pretty much worthless as most don't want to touch a CAT C with a barge pole, even though in my case it's for the sake of a tailgate and bumper. No structural damage at all.