Write off or salvage

Spearly

Hi my 9 year old vehicle was recently involved in a non fault collision and the insurers want to classify it as a category D write off. I am unsure if just to accept the cheque (after negotiating price) or if to go down the salvage route.

If I were to repair based on the insurer's estimate I would need to put about £650 of my own money to fund the repair. Is there any way I can argue that the car has been wrongly assessed as a category D and the car could be repaired within the 60% price threshold that they use to see if beyond economic repair? Or am I now stuck with cat D status and resulting devaluing of my vehicle if I go down the repair route? I think that it would only make economic sense I I could get it repaired for less but only if insurance will remove the category D status if that makes sense.

My concerns are:
1). Car devaluation by about 30% after repair due to write off status;
2). Will I be able to reinsure when time comes and will I be able to get comprehensive insurance;

I would really appreciate any advice and apologies if my question might seem stupid to some but I am a newbie at all this. Many thanks.

BeenThroughItAll

Spearly wrote: »

Hi my 9 year old vehicle was recently involved in a non fault collision and the insurers want to classify it as a category D write off. I am unsure if just to accept the cheque (after negotiating price) or if to go down the salvage route.

If I were to repair based on the insurer's estimate I would need to put about £650 of my own money to fund the repair. Is there any way I can argue that the car has been wrongly assessed as a category D and the car could be repaired within the 60% price threshold that they use to see if beyond economic repair? Or am I now stuck with cat D status and resulting devaluing of my vehicle if I go down the repair route? I think that it would only make economic sense I I could get it repaired for less but only if insurance will remove the category D status if that makes sense.

My concerns are:
1). Car devaluation by about 30% after repair due to write off status;
2). Will I be able to reinsure when time comes and will I be able to get comprehensive insurance;

I would really appreciate any advice and apologies if my question might seem stupid to some but I am a newbie at all this. Many thanks.

Maybe instead of expecting everyone to play some kind of guessing game, give some details of the car, accident, and damage?


Otherwise you won't get much in the way of helpful replies.


1) Yep, your car will be worth a bit less, but you'll have a few quid left over from the settlement to compensate.
2) Yes, and yes.

Spearly

Golf estimated value 6500, damage valued at £4800. It was a rear end shunt. Car is legal to drive. I understand that repair price is high due to need for panel replacements and paint matching. Side panels look fine from outside but apparently will have ripples so need replacing.

angrycrow

With £4800 of damage i would not want it back. Take the offer and let it go. You could well find more damage once repairs start.

motorguy

angrycrow wrote: »

With £4800 of damage i would not want it back. Take the offer and let it go. You could well find more damage once repairs start.

+1

With a heavy rear end shunt that has rippled the rear quarter panels (and no doubt the boot floor) i'd be letting it go..

System

"Looks OK apart from a bit of a dent on the back and a slight crease in the rear wheel arch" which on further inspection usually turns out to be a bent floor, bent rear subframe and twisted body once put on an alignment jig.

AdrianC

The reason they're writing it off is because with apparent damage of £4,800 on a car that's worth £6,500, there is a very high risk of the bill escalating. Hire car, parts delays, hidden damage. So the car is written off, putting a lid on the expenditure.

No, you can't get the Cat D tag removed - because the car HAS been written off. The insurer have chosen to pay as a total loss, rather than repair, even though the repair estimate was below the value. That's what Cat D says...

For something as prosaic as a middle-aged Golf, with damage that significant, just go with it.