Insurance for Cat C write off

CobaltBlue_2

Cobalt Blue has now left this website.

Aretnap

CobaltBlue wrote: »

My girlfriend got a quote of £430 for fully comp.
On checking (£16 with RAC) turned out to be a Cat C write off.
Insurer not able to discuss until tomorrow morning...

I'm thinking it will be a no go - but why would an insurer be reluctant to ensure a Cat C driver as Third Party only?
I can understand why they wouldn't be keen to cover as Fully Comp.

P.S. anyone recommend a cheaper HPI type checker than RAC?

Thanks

She doesn't have to tell them that it's been written off unless they ask, or they write the fact that it hasn't into their assumptions (read them carefully). In most cases it isn't a major problem. A small number of insurers (eSure spring to mind) won't insure a previously written off car, but the majority don't ask or particularly care. The main difference it makes is that if it gets written off again the payout may be reduced to reflect the fact that the market value of a cat C is lower than the market value of an equivalent car which has never been written off. The Financial Ombudsman says that the reduction should not normally be more than 20% - see here http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/technical_notes/motor-valuation.html#14

Marktheshark

The issue is, the shell could be significantly weaker like all metal is when it has been subjected to stress, passengers in the car can be at much greater risk of serious injury in a collision that a car that had not been subjected to a previous impact.
Therefore they have to calculate that risk, even third party they have to pay injuries to any passengers.
Some people are more than happy to be part of the crumple zone to save a few quid.

Should they pay the same insurance as those who are slightly more cautious and don't drive previously accident damaged cars.

Aretnap

CobaltBlue wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.
My girlfriend said the insurers hadn't asked her about the car being written off in the past.
But I'm sure I've always been asked this.

I've never been asked - certainly not in the last few years, and it's not a standard question on price comparison sites.

I know insurers will happily take your premium and only check things out thoroughly, once you try to claim...

Doesn't matter though - under the Consumer Insurance Act 2012 they can only refuse to pay oIt if they asked the question and she didn't answer truthfully. She is under no obligation whatsoever to volunteer information that they haven't asked about. As she's already got the quote she presumably knows whether they asked about it's cat C status. If they did and still gave her a quote then they're happy to insure it for the price stated, if they didn't then there's no need to tell them. There really is no need to phone them, unless one of the assumptions on their online quote system was that it's never been written off.

Whether or not you want to buy a car which you know has been in an accident is another question of course, and quite separate from insurance. But to keep things in perspective it's worth remembering that (a) had it suffered major structural damage which cannot be repaired safely it should have been classed as cat A or B and scrapped rather than returned to the roads and (b) the lack of a write off marker is no guarantee that it's never suffered serious accident damage either - a new car can have serious damage which costs thousands to repair, not be written off, and there'll be no marker or record of the repairs anywhere. So there's always an element of the unknown when buying a used car. All you can really do is ask the seller about its history and decide how much you trust him, and how much of a position he's in to know himself.

forgotmyname

If you do not know the extent of the damage or how to check then you need to pay someone to check it or walk away and buy something else.

mrmot

Marktheshark wrote: »

The issue is, the shell could be significantly weaker like all metal is when it has been subjected to stress, passengers in the car can be at much greater risk of serious injury in a collision that a car that had not been subjected to a previous impact.
.

That really doesn't work, to write off an old car without much value only requires cosmetic damage, a dented door and paint scratches would be enough and it would have no effect on the cars structure. A more valuable car with structural damage would be deemed fit for repair because it's worth more.

Marktheshark

At cat C, floor pan and Front and Rear structural damage are possible, all of which will weaken the shell in the next impact, without a structural pre- write off report, you do not know what you are buying.
All cat C Means is it is still repairable.