Car written off. can i buy back from insurer?

evosy1978

Hi,

As the title says really.

I'm yet to ask them. I will on Monday,

It's not officially written off but they have told me if i leave it with their garage it will be written off and they have told me how much ill get. Ive got the choice to go get it myself and have it inspected independently or cancel the claim altogether or have it written off with them.

I heard I could buy it back, which seemed backwards after they will have just give me the payout?

Can anyone confirm?
TIA

forgotmyname

Depends on the claim type and your insurer, If your claiming from a 3rd party your more likely to be able to get a payout and still keep the car. but you need to negotiate with them.

If you cancel the claim and repair the car yourself then you still need to declare the incident so you need to check to see if its worth just going through with it.

evosy1978

forgotmyname wrote: »

Depends on the claim type and your insurer, If your claiming from a 3rd party your more likely to be able to get a payout and still keep the car. but you need to negotiate with them.

If you cancel the claim and repair the car yourself then you still need to declare the incident so you need to check to see if its worth just going through with it.

The accident was my fault. Would this make it more difficult to buy back the car?

Aretnap

It means you'll be dealing solely with your own insurer, so whether they allow you to buy the car back is up to them. It varies, but most insurers will sell it back to you for its salvage value, provided it's not a category A or B write off (which basically means the damage is so bad that it can't be put back on the road safely at any price).

Whether it's worth doing depends on the damage, but if the damage is not too severe and you don't mind going to a backstreet garage, using second hand parts, doing some of the repairs yourself and/or living with a few dents then you may find that you can repair it for less than the settlement cheque. Or you might not. Get an idea of how much it will cost before you decide.

spiro

Also if it's been subject to a total loss claim (write off) you will need to declare this on future insurance applications but I have no idea how this effects the insurance. I also think it shows up when an HPI check is done.

Aretnap

You only have to declare the fact that it's been written off to insurers if they ask. Most don't ask (though a few do) and it isn't usually difficult to insure a previously written off car.

The fact that it's been previously written off will affect its market value, but that's only really an issue if you plan to sell it in the reasonably near future. If you intend to drive it until it's on it's last legs, then trade it in for £200 the write off marker will make practically no difference.

System

If you do go down the repair route you will also have to take it to a vosa station to confirm its identity.

angrycrow

CHRISSYG wrote: »

If you do go down the repair route you will also have to take it to a vosa station to confirm its identity.

You do not have to do this on a category D write off only cat C.

Best thing to do is to negotiate a cash in leui payment which would be based on repair cost less vat up to a maximum of the cars value less salvage. This is at the insurers discretion but would result in no salvage catagory being applied to the vehicle.

evosy1978

Wow I've bought it back off them for 200 and got my payout plus the repairs are next to nothing. The car has never even left the recovery yard... Can you believe it. ...