How long to determine repair or write off on car?

willbad79 · 30 January 2014 at 2:44PM

Hi everyone,

I wonder if anyone has any experience of how long it can take a car insurer to decide whether to repair or write off a car? I had an accident on the 13th January which resulted in pretty extensive damage to the front.

The garage submitted the estimate to Axa (my insurer) this Monday Monday (27th January). I phoned today to confirm the progress and they advised it was with their total loss team for a decision (I know the garage quote was around £14,000, but it was still an 11.5 month old car so I wasn't sure which way it would go).

I asked how long it can take to make this decision, but they told me they can't say. I'm aware the flooding claims could delay things but I was wondering what anyone's else's experience was of time to decision after the garage quote has been submitted?

Thanks,

InsideInsurance · 30 January 2014 at 3:21PM

If you are the first owner of the vehicle then it may be more complex because of the age of the vehicle. Most insurers offer a new replacement vehicle for a car less than a year old and so it may take them longer to get a valuation to be able to make the decision as it may not be as simple as typing in the details to the online Glass guide.

Given the current weather there is probably a small backlog of cases and so really a week or so after your insurers RECEIVE the estimate. Did the garage send it electronically or paper? Are they an approved repairer or one fo your choice?

willbad79 · 30 January 2014 at 3:43PM

It was sent by email, and I confirmed with them it was received on Monday (The garage had been sending it to the wrong email address as initially Axa said that my selected garage was non approved, then once I started following up last week said it was actually an approved garage, but the estimate and images had to be sent to a different email address, which finally happened Monday!