Low insurance valuation offered on car to be written off

[Deleted User]

sevenhills said:

It's an old car, being an automatic is a negative to it's value.
I valued my 2013 Zafira at £3,3000, what do you think it's worth?
Are you looking at £4k as private or retail sale?

Why is being an automatic a negative?

sevenhills

[Deleted User] said:

sevenhills said:

It's an old car, being an automatic is a negative to it's value.
I valued my 2013 Zafira at £3,3000, what do you think it's worth?
Are you looking at £4k as private or retail sale?

Why is being an automatic a negative?

Most cars are manuals, because that is what people want. So the number of people wanting to buy an automatic is lower.
More things to go wrong, I have had experience of all my employers automatic vans going faulty. Not just one van, all of them

.https://www.confused.com/car-insurance/guides/automatic-versus-manual-cars#:~:text=Manual cars tend to be,than the type of gearbox.

jimbo6977

Mildly_Miffed said:

ashleyk said:

It's insured for market value and that is really the key point. The price of used cars has risen substantially since covid. I happen to think the prices at present are insane, but that doesn't alter the facts. 

The car you link to is a lower spec model with high mileage and three years old. It's pretty banged up if you look through the pictures, including several dents to the boot in addition to damaged bumpers. The front one is barely attached, yet it is still on sale for more than the insurers are offering for ours. That car in the link would instantly be deemed a write off by any insurer. 

It's not just "insured for market value". It's insured for market value OR the declared value, whichever is lower. Read the policy.

How much was the declared value at policy inception?

Differences of a few years between a 15yo and a 19yo car, a low- or a high-spec version are not that major when it comes to pricing. It's a 15yo, unloved, high-tax, thirsty small car. Perhaps the first offer is a bit low - but your suggestion of £2500 low is an order of magnitude out.

not necessarily. depends on the policy. "declared" value could be totally irrelevant, indeed is likely to be irrelevant in the case of a mass-market policy where the person "declaring" a value is an average joe with no particular knowledge of car values. 

caprikid1

sevenhills said:

[Deleted User] said:

sevenhills said:

It's an old car, being an automatic is a negative to it's value.
I valued my 2013 Zafira at £3,3000, what do you think it's worth?
Are you looking at £4k as private or retail sale?

Why is being an automatic a negative?

Most cars are manuals, because that is what people want. So the number of people wanting to buy an automatic is lower.
More things to go wrong, I have had experience of all my employers automatic vans going faulty. Not just one van, all of them

.https://www.confused.com/car-insurance/guides/automatic-versus-manual-cars#:~:text=Manual cars tend to be,than the type of gearbox.

There is no blanket , an auto is worth more or less. There are so many factors on this.

Certain cars where Auto's are rarely purchased they can command a huge premium due to their rarity , other cars the price drop can be significant.

IE Auto Sports Cars - MX5 MK1 - Auto can be 30% less
Large Exec saloons (Non sport) Manuals can be rare and early in life not seen as attractive.

Also an auto car is often more expensive to buy so on small hatches early on in life can be quite a rare beast a command a premium.

[Deleted User]

sevenhills said:

[Deleted User] said:

sevenhills said:

It's an old car, being an automatic is a negative to it's value.
I valued my 2013 Zafira at £3,3000, what do you think it's worth?
Are you looking at £4k as private or retail sale?

Why is being an automatic a negative?

Most cars are manuals, because that is what people want. So the number of people wanting to buy an automatic is lower.
More things to go wrong, I have had experience of all my employers automatic vans going faulty. Not just one van, all of them

.https://www.confused.com/car-insurance/guides/automatic-versus-manual-cars#:~:text=Manual cars tend to be,than the type of gearbox.

Most cars are manual because they are cheaper. You pay extra for an automatic.

ontheroad1970

[Deleted User] said:

sevenhills said:

rigolith said:

sevenhills said:

It's an old car, being an automatic is a negative to it's value.
I valued my 2013 Zafira at £3,3000, what do you think it's worth?
Are you looking at £4k as private or retail sale?

Why is being an automatic a negative?

Most cars are manuals, because that is what people want. So the number of people wanting to buy an automatic is lower.
More things to go wrong, I have had experience of all my employers automatic vans going faulty. Not just one van, all of them

.https://www.confused.com/car-insurance/guides/automatic-versus-manual-cars#:~:text=Manual cars tend to be,than the type of gearbox.

Most cars are manual because they are cheaper. You pay extra for an automatic.

That doesn't necessarily make them more valuable.  It's not a done deal either way.  It will depend on all sorts.  A dry clutch Powershift will likely be less valuable than a wet clutch auto -especially one that has had its fluid changed on or before schedule.