Insuring my Cat C Write-Off

WLC

I am just about to accept the valuation to write my car off as a Cat C. I have already had it repaired (tailgate and lamp replacement) as it was minor cost, and I want to pay the salvage and keep the car on the road.

My insurance is due and I spoke to a new insurer who stated as long as I have an MOT, that's sufficient. (I have had it MOT'd since accident). However, I've read that some insurers require an engineers assessment.

I'm a little worried that this insurer is willing to insure me without problems, but then I will encounter problems in the future; whether that be the insurers not wanting to insure a cat c, or higher premiums, or insurers suddenly requesting an engineers report, after its already been on the road and insured since accident.

Does anyone have any experience with cat c's, to know whether I'm likely to encounter these problems?

colino

Nowadays Insurers have to ask or have clearly in their conditions what they will cover and need to know about the vehicle and driver. If they fail to ask something they later think is relevant in paying a claim, tough. They are the professionals.
Incidentally as cars drop in value and increase in age, a lot of people are driving them as 3rd, 4th or whatever RK and have never asked and don't know their car was at some point Cat C, D or X.

WLC

Thanks. I do understand that part, and my prospective insurer is aware it is a cat c already anyway.

However, my main concern is that I am just being lucky with this prospective insurer (e.g. fair premium, no engineers report required etc), but I will have problems with future insurers, like higher premiums and requesting engineers reports.

Can future insurers request engineers reports when I would have already been insured, since cat c status, without this requirement?

Is it a likely possibility that other insurers in the future will hike up my premium because of cat c status?

Are there lots of insurers who don't insure cat c's, or are they in a minority?

InsideInsurance

Insurance is ultimately a normal contract negotiation. They can ask for what they want before the sale and you can chose to accept it or not. Obviously if you dont disclose it beforehand then things can get a little more messy but as per the previous comment the legislation is increasingly pushing things towards it being the insurers responsibility to ask rather than the insured responsibility to tell.

To the best of my knowledge most insurers will insure a cat c vehicle without any significant problems. Obviously if the vehicle was a total loss again then its previous t/l will impact the settlement figure.

dodo69

I have driven a category C Renault Megane for several years without a problem. I have a friend who had an accident in his Ford Focus which was category C and when it was written off he got a very fair price for it from the insurance company. Cat C and Cat D if bought correctly and for long-term use can work out really cost effective.

vaio

There are a couple of low end insurers who decline cat C/D cars but they include it in their "general assumptions" rather than asking a specific question.

As always, read the paperwork rather than just ticking the box to say you have read it

I can see no logical reason why any insurer would decline to cover or charge an inflated premium (other than "knee jerk" or "because they can")

WLC

Thank you all for your replies, you've been really helpful.

One more question if that's ok. The engineer valued my car at £1010 and said he will deduct 9% if I wish to salvage the car.

Is that a fair salvage cost in relation to the value of my car? (I genuinely have no idea if its great, normal or terrible).

Ps. I realise some of you may say why fuss over a £1000 car, but its a great car and very economical. My plan is to save a little, and put them savings towards my write-off payment, for a slight upgrade. But in the meantime, still have a run around that's perfectly suitable. Best of both worlds then, and no rush to shop around.

vaio

As most scrap merchants will cheerfully hand over £100-150 for any car then £90 for a usable car seems a bargain.

If it is CAT C then you will need to take it for a VIC test before you can get a new logbook or tax reminder, so hang on to the old one if possible.

Other than the obvious roadworthyness requirement you can just carry on using it. Your MOT remains valid until its normal expiry date, same with the Tax

Hopefully you'll still be running around in it in 5 years time

WLC

Thanks Vaio. I thought it seemed fair but just wanted to check so that's great! Thanks for your replies you've been really helpful.

As for the VIC test, I was reading about that. I'm assuming though once they write it off, hanging on to my logbook won't be an option if they request it. But my tax isn't out until December so at least it gives me a few months to get it in for a VIC test.

I'm hoping driving around without possessing my logbook won't make me illegal though!?!? :-/

vaio

i'd be more concerned to make sure the £1k is a reasonable offer

Re V5, if they do ask I'd send them a copy, as for tax, I'm pretty sure that you can tax it at the post office without a VIC, I think you just won't be able to get a new V5 or the automatic tax reminders

WLC

vaio wrote: »

i'd be more concerned to make sure the £1k is a reasonable offer

Re V5, if they do ask I'd send them a copy, as for tax, I'm pretty sure that you can tax it at the post office without a VIC, I think you just won't be able to get a new V5 or the automatic tax reminders

Yeah I think the £1K is a fair offer. I was thinking of disputing it, but I think that's expecting them to pay more for my emotional attachment tbh. Otherwise, that's roughly what it's worth so I'm happy enough with that I think.

Re: V5C, unexpectedly they said I keep my V5C if I'm retaining the car. So I'm just waiting on receiving the cheque now, along with further instructions. So fingers crossed, it seems it should go pretty smoothly.

Thanks Vaio and others who answered. You have been a great help with my barrage of questions. Brilliant help