Bought a car last year, now found out it was a Cat D write off

jenuk1985

Hi,

We bought a 2003 Fiesta in November 2014 (last year) from a car dealer in Warrington for £1500. We didn't do any checks as we felt that it was unnecessary from a dealer (We now know this to have been a mistake and should have done checks), however we did ask if there was anything historical about the car that we should know about, they said there wasn't.

Fast forward to today, we've come to trade in this car as a part exchange and they've informed us that it was a Category D write off, and would only offer £150 for it. We've now run a check on it ourselves and this is true.

Do we have any recourse against the dealer in Warrington? Since we'd asked about it's history, and they didn't tell us this information, have they mislead us?

What course of action should/can we take? There seems to be conflicting reports from similar situations around the internet ranging from them being told to take them to court, to them not having any rights at all.

If we would have known that it was a write off, we'd have never bought the car. Over the Course of the last 12 months we've spent over £1000 on repairs for the car (yes - fully admit that it was a bad purchase, all things considered), are we able to claim any of that back as well as the price paid for the car, given we wouldn't have bought the car if we knew the full story?

Just a little bit confused on what our options (if any) are?

Thanks in advance to anyone that can advise.

Marktheshark

Does the vc5 say DECL D

motorguy

Marktheshark wrote: »

Does the vc5 say DECL D

Its unlikely it would.

Only Cat C is noted on the V5C.

jenuk1985

Marktheshark wrote: »

Does the vc5 say DECL D

I can't spot anything on there like that.

We never saw the original V5C, only the V5C/2

motorguy

jenuk1985 wrote: »

Hi,

We bought a 2003 Fiesta in November 2014 (last year) from a car dealer in Warrington for £1500. We didn't do any checks as we felt that it was unnecessary from a dealer (We now know this to have been a mistake and should have done checks), however we did ask if there was anything historical about the car that we should know about, they said there wasn't.

Fast forward to today, we've come to trade in this car as a part exchange and they've informed us that it was a Category D write off, and would only offer £150 for it. We've now run a check on it ourselves and this is true.

Do we have any recourse against the dealer in Warrington? Since we'd asked about it's history, and they didn't tell us this information, have they mislead us?

What course of action should/can we take? There seems to be conflicting reports from similar situations around the internet ranging from them being told to take them to court, to them not having any rights at all.

If we would have known that it was a write off, we'd have never bought the car. Over the Course of the last 12 months we've spent over £1000 on repairs for the car (yes - fully admit that it was a bad purchase, all things considered), are we able to claim any of that back as well as the price paid for the car, given we wouldn't have bought the car if we knew the full story?

Just a little bit confused on what our options (if any) are?

Thanks in advance to anyone that can advise.

Hard to say. I would think it would be an uphill struggle.

The dealer you are trying to buy off now is really taking the !!!! though. If it has a years MOT on it and is in good condition, a Cat D status wont impact the value much at that age.

I'd stick it on gumtree with a good write up and "please note this car has been subject to an insurance claim in (whatever the year) and is registered on VCAR as Cat D. It has been MOT'd several times since".

jenuk1985

This is what has come back on the check:

Insurance Claim Information

This vehicle has had an insurance claim.
Vehicle Categorised as D
Claim Description Accident Damaged - Cat D
Claim Number *****2802
Insurer unknown
Loss Date 21/12/2009

motorguy

jenuk1985 wrote: »

I can't spot anything on there like that.

We never saw the original V5C, only the V5C/2

It wont be on it. Hes wrong.

Marktheshark

jenuk1985 wrote: »

I can't spot anything on there like that.

We never saw the original V5C, only the V5C/2

That strengthens your claim then.
If they are still trading, estimate the loss of value and invoice the dealer.

If it had a DEC marker on the log book, he could have argued you were told.

kev25v6

A cat d could be something as simple as a broken wing mirror or a scratch on the wing. I've never had a problem with both cat C & D cars I've bought. Some cat D cars are just old and the insurance company find it easier to just pay it off than replace an expensive electric wing mirror or head light for example, along with the associated hire car while it's being repaired etc. Stick it on auto trader for 995 and someone will always snap your hand off, people don't tend to care as long as it runs ok for under a grand.

jenuk1985

Marktheshark wrote: »

That strengthens your claim then.
If they are still trading, estimate the loss of value and invoice the dealer.

Do you have any advice on how to work out the loss in value? Obviously the £150 offered as part exchange is below market value.

Marktheshark

Find the difference, thats the loss it has caused.