Car 'written off' - best way to get fairest ins payout??

SevenOfNine

Briefly, our car (end 2007 Mazda 6, 2ltr - bought from brand new) whacked up the rear by an inattentive driver who, thankfully, was insured and admitted blame (not a lot of choice really).

Didn't look too badly damaged and her insurer is paying for a hire care for us at the moment.

Engineer from repairers has just called to say damage is "worse than it looks, repairs would be 4 1/2 thousand & rising", and car isn't worth repairing!!!:(

Haven't discussed the actual monetary value of our car yet as still quite shocked. Obviously their offer is likely to be less than the repair bill (otherwise I assume they'd opt for repair).

Clearly they'll try to give us as little as possible, & will make their offer as quickly as possible because the hire car arrangement will cease 7 days after they've made it - even if we do not accept it. Leaving us stuffed with no car.

What is the best way to ensure we get as fair a deal as we're likely to get. Frankly, we'd prefer them to just cough up whatever it takes to get our car back on the road. This wasn't even our fault but we're to be inconvenienced totally by the whole episode, let alone out of pocket.

We do have some legal cover with our policy, so the solicitor will handle the 'bartering', but anyone been in this position and had to fight for a fairer deal from an insurer.

Any advice, anyone? Doesn't seem like we can insist they repair it.

bengalknights

Give them some autotrader ads and request equivalent value to settle

spacey2012

gather evidence of 3 same model cars similar in mileage and condition for sale now.
Use this as a starting point.

dacouch

bengalknights wrote: »

Give them some autotrader ads and request equivalent value to settle

This does not always work as the Insurers can argue the advertised prices are the prices the seller is prepared to start negotiating from.

Sevenofnine this link from the Ombudsman tells you everything you need to know and will give you extra ammunition if you read it carefully.

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/technical_notes/motor-valuation.html

olias

On the other hand it sometimes does!

I had a car written off, they offered £5800. I provided half a dozen current Autotrader ads showing them listed at an average of £6700. They immediately upped their offer to £6700.

Couple of quid for an autotrader magazine and 1 letter to my insurers - £900 better off!

Olias

rum1

Never accept first offer anyway they will normally up the offer

dacouch

olias wrote: »

On the other hand it sometimes does!

I had a car written off, they offered £5800. I provided half a dozen current Autotrader ads showing them listed at an average of £6700. They immediately upped their offer to £6700.

Couple of quid for an autotrader magazine and 1 letter to my insurers - £900 better off!

Olias

I agree it often does hence the wording of my previous post, however it's best to point out that the Insurers can and sometimes do state the prices are the expected negotiation start price otherwise the OP could hold out for a price they might not get.

The link I provided confirms this and how the Ombudsman would expect an Insurer to value a car

SevenOfNine

dacouch, of course - checking out the ombudsman site, special thanks for that idea and link. Not even on our radar before you suggested it.

Need all the idea's/ammo we can muster & you've all be very helpful. We're SURE they'll try to shaft us. Feel a bit better tonight, now we've got used to the shock and are a bit better prepared.

Relentless01

As everyone has said find examples of similar cars to your old car. Refuse the first offer as the expect people just to take it.

If you are looking at cars for a dealership to replace you written off car. Ask the dealership to put a retail valuation in writing that you can use.

Dukesy

We found examples of similar cars to ours, as the insurers had no idea what it was worth as it's not that common, and sent them off - we found both worse examples and better examples for sale and basically took an average and told them that's what we wanted. A bit of bartering, and they settled just below what we told them we wanted. It is possible to get a good price out of insurers for a write off, but you have to be determined and just make a general pain out of yourself. Now I have the fun of getting the third party to accept liability....

Muscle750

And then your Mazda will be collected by the salvage company and then shipped to Poland where it will be repaired and then shipped back and put back on the road as many are
Don't accept the first offer stand your ground get a figure that you would be happy with if you shout loud enough you will be ok