Car accident - write off process with insurer and DVLA

margaretx9

I was involved in an accident recently and due to the age of the car it has not been deemed economical to repair it by my insurer. It is driveable but has bodywork damage.

I have explained therefore to my insurer I wish to receive a settlement offer from them – and we have gone through details of the car, service history, mileage etc over the phone. I have suggested what I think the market valuation is – but they have said they will come back to me with an offer in 5 days. Not sure why it takes 5 days?

They want the salvage company to remove the car within the next 48 hours (fine) but also want me to call them so we can speak jointly to the DVLA to transfer ownership details and also complete the relevant sections of the V5 registration document.

Shouldn’t I actually get their settlement offer first and agree to this – before we speak to the DVLA re transferring ownership to them/the salvage firm? Are they trying to bounce me - and then force me to take whatever (low) settlement offer they make.

Any help/thoughts would be valuable.

Quentin

It's your car till they pay for it

So make that point to them now and suggest they either conclude the settlement within the 48 hours or stop the salvage company having a wasted journey to get the car

sheramber

https://www.gov.uk/scrapped-and-written-off-vehicles/insurance-writeoffs

margaretx9

Thanks - but I know the legal process re the dvla.

However it seems my insurer wishes me to hand my car over to a salvage company and join a joint phone call with the DVLA to transfer ownership BEFORE they have even made a settlement offer.

I gave them a suggested settlement figure - based on internet searches and valuation websites. Seems they need 5 days to do what I did in five minutes?

If I have already transferred legally ownership they could offer me next to nothing. Which is obviously what I am keen to avoid.

No settlement offer - no salvage no v5 document and no legal transfer? Not unreasonable?

tasticz

are you with admiral group?

margaretx9

tasticz wrote: »

are you with admiral group?

Yes - how did you guess?! Is this a general tactic? Take legal ownership first so you have no choice to accept their offer days later.

They seem terribly keen to get the car to the salvage people and for me to speak to the dvla ASAP. But the settlement offer takes nearly a week?!

They seem very friendly over the phone - but I can't help getting the feeling that they are seeking to con me. But maybe I am just overly suspicious - and I realise that they are keen to limit their Outlay.

sheramber

margaretx9 wrote: »

Thanks - but I know the legal process re the dvla.

However it seems my insurer wishes me to hand my car over to a salvage company and join a joint phone call with the DVLA to transfer ownership BEFORE they have even made a settlement offer.

I gave them a suggested settlement figure - based on internet searches and valuation websites. Seems they need 5 days to do what I did in five minutes?

If I have already transferred legally ownership they could offer me next to nothing. Which is obviously what I am keen to avoid.

No settlement offer - no salvage no v5 document and no legal transfer? Not unreasonable?

The refer them to the Government website

margaretx9

sheramber wrote: »

The refer them to the Government website

Fine – but a government website isn’t the law. Its advice.

The website just states they should tell you it is being written off and make you an offer.

It doesn’t state there that the car cannot be handed over to a salvage firm and the V5 transferred – before the settlement offer is made/agreed. They are separate processes even on that website. It merely references what you must do in terms of contacting the DVLA.

My issue is about protecting my legal rights – as once they have ownership/the V5 is transferred – I lose negotiation powers.

Do any other insurers go to the salvage/V5/DVLA step – before they have even made a settlement offer?

Tom99

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Tell them you will not allow the car to be collected nor the DVLA to be informed until you have agreed to a settlement offer.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]There is no need for a three way call, the insurer just tells you the name of the purchaser to use, so I don't know what that's about.[/FONT]