Insurance write off queries?

Simmington

I am fully comp and last week crashed my van into the rear of another van. Damage only no injuries. My fault and insurance claim has been submitted for his repairs which will be 3/4 thousand at least.
I am going to take a big hit anyway on the cost of next years and future policy etc so should i claim for my own vehicle too? I submitted a claim and its been assessed and likely going to be written off CAT N. Van is worth maybe £3-4000 I can fix it myself for about £400 and cancel the claim but perhaps i should just claim and try and claw back as much as i can in the write off and buy it back as salvage.

Pros of claiming
1500 plus the van back as salvage

Negatives of claiming
CAT N write off needs new MOT and proof of repairs may be a slow process
May be harder or more expensive to reinsure.

Pros of not claiming.

Straight back on the road not written off. Simpler insuramce going forward. No MOT required just repairs myself.

Negatives of not claiming
Out of pocket initially but maybe cheaper in the long run?

Any advice welcome. Ive tried getting quotes for insuring a CAT N and keep being told... it shouldnt be a problem but its on a case by case basis etc. No idea if its going to be more expensive

facade

If it is written off as CAT N and you can buy back the salvage, you simply insure it (if your company will allow you to put it back on cover) and drive it, the same as you would if you don't claim.

Unless your insurer demands it, there is no need for a new MOT or any proof of repair.

400ixl

It will most likely make little any difference to future policy prices if you included your own vehicle in the claim from a claims perspective. Both scenario's would be a single at fault claim, the only difference being the value.

You will have to pay the excess anyway, so you may as well claim for your damage as well.

If you want to go down the buy back route the obvious things to check are 1) will they sell it to you 2) will they re-insure it

DullGreyGuy

400ixl said:

It will most likely make little any difference to future policy prices if you included your own vehicle in the claim from a claims perspective. Both scenario's would be a single at fault claim, the only difference being the value.

You will have to pay the excess anyway, so you may as well claim for your damage as well.

If you want to go down the buy back route the obvious things to check are 1) will they sell it to you 2) will they re-insure it

Its unlikely to make any difference given the TP is already claiming.

There is no excess to pay if you dont claim for your own damages

Avoid "reinsure it"... reinsurance is insurance bought by insurers to pass on some of their insurance risk... in this case it'll be the insurers confirming they will continue to insure it.