Likely Insurance write off. What are my options?

Mishomeister

So today some one has reversed in to my car which has resulted in som dents and the mirror being damaged.

The other driver has fully admitted his fault and I have videod him doing it(admitting the fault).

As he was in the company van he wanted for it to go offivially through insurances (even though I probably would've preferred cash in hand payment but thats now irrelevant)

I have rang my insurance company and got through their credit hire company, who after doing their assessment which included me sending them the picture of the damage csaid they will be forwarding my claim to the insurance company I am with as my car is old and they believe the repairs are not economically feasible.

Now, of course I am feling this is looking it heading all the way to my car being written off.

I do have the following questions:

1. It has taken me a good few months to find thius car where I would be happy with the price, mileage, being automatic gearbox, being of acceptable eyar of make, being 7-seater. I have already invested in new brake discs and a couple of other things. If they tell me they want to write it off, can I simply refuse and cancel my claim? Although financial bits are important, I simply can not afford to be without a car until I find suitable replacement?

2. Will I have to pay any excesses with this claim?

3. If I refuse a write off, can I continue with this insurer or get another insurance elswhere.

4. I have see at this forum that some people been able to keeop the car by getting the write off money minus scrapage value. If thius was possible with the insurer, would I be able to insure my car after this, but without any repairs? As it stands now the car is fully usable, not dangerous. Those dents don't make any affect on anything. The mirror is only damaged a bit from the front. But it is plastic that is damaged. The actual glass mirror is fully functuanal.

5. My car was already a fixed write off when I have purchased it. Will it make any affect on the above?

Thanks a lot for your assistance

AdrianC

Mishomeister said:

I have rang my insurance company and got through their credit hire company, who after doing their assessment which included me sending them the picture of the damage csaid they will be forwarding my claim to the insurance company I am with as my car is old and they believe the repairs are not economically feasible.

Now, of course I am feling this is looking it heading all the way to my car being written off.

Yep, that's exactly what they just told you. "Write off" simply means they'll pay you the pre-collision value rather than repair it.

I do have the following questions:

1. It has taken me a good few months to find thius car where I would be happy with the price, mileage, being automatic gearbox, being of acceptable eyar of make, being 7-seater. I have already invested in new brake discs and a couple of other things. If they tell me they want to write it off, can I simply refuse and cancel my claim?

Yes, assuming they haven't already written it off.

2. Will I have to pay any excesses with this claim?

If the other driver's insurance accept liability, no.

3. If I refuse a write off, can I continue with this insurer or get another insurance elswhere.

It depends on your policy, but a write-off will often terminate the policy.

4. I have see at this forum that some people been able to keeop the car by getting the write off money minus scrapage value. If thius was possible with the insurer, would I be able to insure my car after this, but without any repairs?

So long as it's roadworthy, yes.

5. My car was already a fixed write off when I have purchased it. Will it make any affect on the above?

They'll pay out less, because it was worth less before the collision, due to that history. It won't affect the salvage value that you'd be asked to pay - which is roughly what it'd fetch in a salvage auction, probably being bought to break for parts.

dacouch

AdrianC said:

Mishomeister said:

I have rang my insurance company and got through their credit hire company, who after doing their assessment which included me sending them the picture of the damage csaid they will be forwarding my claim to the insurance company I am with as my car is old and they believe the repairs are not economically feasible.

Now, of course I am feling this is looking it heading all the way to my car being written off.

Yep, that's exactly what they just told you. "Write off" simply means they'll pay you the pre-collision value rather than repair it.

I do have the following questions:

1. It has taken me a good few months to find thius car where I would be happy with the price, mileage, being automatic gearbox, being of acceptable eyar of make, being 7-seater. I have already invested in new brake discs and a couple of other things. If they tell me they want to write it off, can I simply refuse and cancel my claim?

Yes, assuming they haven't already written it off.

2. Will I have to pay any excesses with this claim?

If the other driver's insurance accept liability, no.

3. If I refuse a write off, can I continue with this insurer or get another insurance elswhere.

It depends on your policy, but a write-off will often terminate the policy.

4. I have see at this forum that some people been able to keeop the car by getting the write off money minus scrapage value. If thius was possible with the insurer, would I be able to insure my car after this, but without any repairs?

So long as it's roadworthy, yes.

5. My car was already a fixed write off when I have purchased it. Will it make any affect on the above?

They'll pay out less, because it was worth less before the collision, due to that history. It won't affect the salvage value that you'd be asked to pay - which is roughly what it'd fetch in a salvage auction, probably being bought to break for parts. 
The OP says the claims company are forwarding the claim to the OP's own Insurers, if that's the case then they will deduct the excess from his settlement. They are likely to deduct any remaining premium instalments from the settlement as well
The Insurance should not terminate once the claim is settled provided the OP re insurers an acceptable car with the Insurer

 

Mishomeister

So when my insurance people ring me, can I just tekk them I am not interested in claiming on my insurance and will instead claim on the at the fault partie's insurance?

AdrianC

Mishomeister said:

So when my insurance people ring me, can I just tekk them I am not interested in claiming on my insurance and will instead claim on the at the fault partie's insurance?

That doesn't make much difference. Either will consider writing it off based on the exact same criteria.

Either you claim, and risk it being written off, or you don't claim.

Mortgage_Adviser

AdrianC said:

Mishomeister said:

So when my insurance people ring me, can I just tekk them I am not interested in claiming on my insurance and will instead claim on the at the fault partie's insurance?

That doesn't make much difference. Either will consider writing it off based on the exact same criteria.

Either you claim, and risk it being written off, or you don't claim.

How come it makes no difference? Surely there would be no excess to pay if I claim on third parties insurance? As well as having not as bad affect on my claims hisotry?

AdrianC

There's no excess to pay if the other party accept fault, whoever handles the claim.
You need to declare it, whoever handles the claim.

The only difference is that the other insurer simply won't handle your claim unless they accept it was 100% their insured's fault.

dacouch

AdrianC said:

There's no excess to pay if the other party accept fault, whoever handles the claim.
You need to declare it, whoever handles the claim.

The only difference is that the other insurer simply won't handle your claim unless they accept it was 100% their insured's fault.

To make it clear, if the OP claims from his own policy the Insurers will almost certainly deduct the excess from his claims payment as it is a deductable from his claim. The OP can attempt to recover his excess from the third party after he has paid it