Car write off - what happens next?

pusched

Hi,

I wonder if anyone can give me some advice.

Last Sunday I had a motorbike run into my car. By the time I got out of the car, the bike was gone. It broke the driver's mirror and there is a massive dent on the driver's door and just underneath it.

A bus was at the scene but drove off also. One person stayed at the scene - I took his number but he is just here in holidays, I didn't realised I needed his address also and I have sent him a text but yet to get a reply. The police won't do anything as I don't have a license plate, the council will only speak to the police about CCTV and the bus companies are not that helpful but I am still trying.

Anyway on Monday the insurance company booked for my car to be collected tomorrow and a courtesy car brought to me. I am due to go on a road trip on Sunday so having a car is a must.

On Tuesday, the insurance company called me to say that someone was coming to view the car the next day. This morning I get a call from the person that went to inspect it and he told me that the car is likely to be a write-off and therefore I will not be getting the courtesy car.

My car is drivable and I can repair the mirror on time for the trip but i am trying to figure out what will happen next.

I understand that they will make me an offer for the car. It is a 98 polo which only has 65K on the clock and up until Sunday, was in pretty nice condition - I purchased it in May for £850 with a new MOT.

The car can still be used and I understand that I can offer to buy the car from the insurance company. Is this correct? If so, how would my insurance stay? Would I still have insurance on the car or would I need to buy new insurance?

If I just take their payment and do not wish to purchase the car, will I be able to get a refund on my insurance? I paid 12 in advance and only had the car for just over 3 months.

I am desperately trying to find the bus driver that was at the scene but luck is just not on my side and I am not sure I will be able to prove that it was not my fault.

Thanks in advance.

Quentin

You won't get any refund on your insurance (assuming this is going to be a fault claim)


(You need to be able to identify the third party to be able to get them to pay)


So do the sums before pursuing your claim - take into account your excess as well as no refund, plus loss of 2 years NCD and none awarded for this year.


Also read up in your policy what happens after a write off payout as some policies do end after such a claim.


You can ask to buy back the salvage though they may not play ball.

pusched

Oh no - this just went from bad to worse!

If I fix my mirror, drive the car as is and don't pursuit claim - I would still have my NCB and keep my insurance, right?

If I am unlucky enough to be involved in another accident and it was not my fault and that could be proved, would this accident be taken into account?

pusched

I mean the current damage to the car.

Quentin

pusched wrote: »

Oh no - this just went from bad to worse!

If I fix my mirror, drive the car as is and don't pursuit claim - I would still have my NCB and keep my insurance, right?

If I am unlucky enough to be involved in another accident and it was not my fault and that could be proved, would this accident be taken into account?

You may be able to withdraw the claim.


(Though your car may already be marked as a write off)


The problem may be your insurer will have already incurred costs over you which mean the claim remains as a fault claim - unless you reimburse them any costs you have incurred.


Assuming they don't mark it down as a fault claim then you can keep your NCD etc.


Though you will still have to disclose this incident to any new insurers you approach for cover over the next 3/5 years depending on how long a history they ask for

pusched

Except I can't prove anything - and the insurance would be cancelled and I can't afford to pay for it again.

3 months I've had the car. Can't believe my luck.

Quentin

pusched wrote: »

Except I can't prove anything - and the insurance would be cancelled and I can't afford to pay for it again
.

Why do you need to "prove anything"?


And why would your insurance be cancelled??

pusched

I need to prove it was not my fault so I don't lose my NCD and also ideally the insurance will claim it off the other driver. Although this is unlikely as he did drive off so may not have insurance anyway.

If they write off the car, my policy will end and therefore even if I keep the car, I will need a new policy which I can't afford.

I've spoken to the person who has come out to see the car and he said he will see what he can do.

GwylimT

If the car is a write off it is likely that your insurance will be temporarily cancelled until you either buy another vehicle, or buy your car back. I had a car written off, six weeks later I bought another vehicle and had my insurance reinstated, there was a fee but it was very small.

You should be able to find out how your insurance deals with this situations by either calling or looking on their website.

Quentin

pusched wrote: »

I need to prove it was not my fault so I don't lose my NCD and also ideally the insurance will claim it off the other driver. Although this is unlikely as he did drive off so may not have insurance anyway.

If they write off the car, my policy will end and therefore even if I keep the car, I will need a new policy which I can't afford.

I've spoken to the person who has come out to see the car and he said he will see what he can do.

A fault accident does not refer to "blame"

It refers to whether or not your insurer had to pay.

If you cannot trace the third party then although you are blameless it will end up a fault claim.

pusched

Thanks for the comments. I will wait for the call and see what he says - for someone that works for an insurance company, I must say he has been very helpful.