Distraught "Total Loss" Vehicle

Scrapit

debtdebt wrote: »

Well the cost of the excess and total cost of the policy being netted off the total loss value is normal. That is nobody's fault.

You chose the level if excess. If you can't afford to pay the excess, don't choose a high one.

You need to provide more information for people to advise.

Make, model, year and mileage of vehicle. Price paid, price financed. When it was bought and when it was written off.

It doesnt sound like the excess is the problem, its the outstanding finance whilst not having gap insurance.

debtdebt

Scrapit wrote: »

It doesnt sound like the excess is the problem, its the outstanding finance whilst not having gap insurance.

Yep I understand that. The OP also seems to bemoan the fact that the salesperson didn't explain the concept of GAP insurance to them. I'm sure they did as it would have been in their interest to sell GAP insurance due to the commission on it. Also, if you turn down GAP insurance, don't you have to sign a document stating that you've had it explained to you and you still don't want it?

Anyway, the OP is stuck in a position that has been caused all by themselves / their partner and is now trying to blame others.

icicles

My fathers 2 year old immaculate car was deemed a write off due to a lorry with no brakes, not in gear was driven down a steep hill & smashed into him engine side on. It was taken to a salvage company, before he could sign or accept anything. We tried to find it to see if we could get it repaired ourselves but it had totally disappeared. We tried to get more write off money which didn't even buy a banger. Within a few weeks DVLA wrote to say someone had applied to Tax his car, I said it was a write off & they said it happens all the time!
A friend bought his damaged car from the insurers, paid for repairs himself, had to have an enhanced MOT so he could tax & insure it. It ran for several years without issues. Good Luck & fight on.

HokageJiraiya

missile wrote: »

What is the car and how old?
Find out it's market value.

Fiat 500. 16 Plate. 17K mileage.

m0bov wrote: »

Challenge their offer with some evidence.

Not sure how to do this? Or where to get the information from.

OP, your partner is going to have to take the hit, but if its a borderline write off you may be able to argue for it to be repaired. Post up a photo.[/QUOTE]

I have tried to upload photos/ also a link to the photos and it won't let me as I am a new user on this forum.

HokageJiraiya

Thats what I am being advised. That the insurance company are taking the easy way out by getting the vehicle scrapped to this third party company than getting it repaired.

I have been informed by AA and private that the engine sounds fine and that the vehicle looks like body only damage.

AdrianC

HokageJiraiya wrote: »

Thats what I am being advised. That the insurance company are taking the easy way out by getting the vehicle scrapped to this third party company than getting it repaired.

No, they're taking the cheap way out.

It is cheaper for them to pay the value than it is for them to repair it. Where it's looking close, they err on the side of caution - there may be hidden damage they haven't spotted yet.

Remember, it's the entire cost of the claim - so if paying out means no hire car, but repairs mean a hire car for a month, then that's part of the calculation.

What do you expect them to do? Your finance is simply not part of the claim - they pay the value of the vehicle immediately before the incident.

born_again

HokageJiraiya wrote: »

Thats what I am being advised. That the insurance company are taking the easy way out by getting the vehicle scrapped to this third party company than getting it repaired.

Don't get this where Ins co write off cars and then repair them to sell on. They may sell the car at auction to recover some of the costs to them, depending on the level of damage.

HokageJiraiya wrote: »

I have been informed by AA and private that the engine sounds fine and that the vehicle looks like body only damage.

Engine maybe OK. But are you aware of how much bodywork costs to repair....:rotfl: Take a front bumper, some cars are looking at several hundred upwards to replace. Nevermind the other damage behind them.:eek:

AdrianC

born_again wrote: »

Thats what I am being advised. That the insurance company are taking the easy way out by getting the vehicle scrapped to this third party company than getting it repaired.

Don't get this where Ins co write off cars and then repair them to sell on. They may sell the car at auction to recover some of the costs to them, depending on the level of damage.

I think they mean "rather than getting it repaired", instead of "then getting it repaired".

OP - insurer writes car off.
Car goes to Copart or similar salvage auction - and, yes, the receipts of that sale are part of the "repair or write off" decision.
Buyer from salvage auction repairs or breaks.

Here's some CatS 500s up for auction at the moment...
https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/26114940
https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/27890950
https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/27277950
https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/27439680

And here's some CatB breaker-onlies...
https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/24034667
https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/57008319
https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/46133579