3rd party responsible for car accident

creditcardnewbie

Hello to you all,


I couldn't find a definitive answer to this one anywhere. Forgive me if there is one out there but I could not find it.


I was in an accident (not my fault) and the 3rd party insurer sent their assessor to view the damage. The assessor immediately wrote my car off.


I am still waiting for the claim to be fully settled but my question is - while I am waiting for the claim to be settled who is the legal owner of the vehicle? The reason I ask is because my own insurance company advised that it is now the property of the 3rd party but can this be? i.e. if the car was vandalised or set on fire while I am waiting for the claim to be settled is it that simple?


My own insurer cancelled my insurance on the vehicle and I also declared it off the road with the DVLA and it is currently sitting in my driveway.


Apologies for the long message but I thought I'd include as much detail as possible.


Many thanks for any advice you can offer,


creditcardnewbie

creditcardnewbie

Hello to you all,


I found this reply on another site from an anonymous contributor. The OP had asked could he/she keep the car even if the 3rd party had written it off. I just thought I'd share it here in case anyone else had a similar query to me:


The car becomes the property of the Insurance company immediately and must be in the same condition that it was at time of insuring and as seen by the assessor - in other words you cnnot take out the stereo etc etc. Most insurance companies wont* sell it to you and the car will go straight to a specialist auction house like Copart (previously universal Salvage) and will go up for sale in a Salvage Auction.

*Some will but you need to ask them before they pay out otherwise the car is collected and gone.