Feeling left out of pocket after crash

Jmoo

A car drove into me at the start of the week, and the driver has accepted liability. Although I felt it was mostly the body paint that needed sorting on my car it's clearly dented the back door and took a small chunk out of the body surrounding it.

Originally it was booked with Churchill's garage, but now they've cancelled it and say I'll need to speak with an engineer in a fortnight's time. They say this usually means it's uneconomical to fix. 

The figure they've so far suggested for a replacement is unlikely to even get me a suitable like for like replacement. It is obviously lower than what I paid for this car (it was my first so fairly low end costs) but it seems the costs have increased since I got it a few years ago. It has done 80k miles so it's understandable but looking at the market I'm struggling to see a worthy replacement. 

Is this something I'll have to accept? I fear I'm going to be without a car for some time if I can't find something similar that I trust to buy second hand. I feel the person responsible for the accident has had it easier! 

daveyjp

Find a local insurance approved bodyshop and get a quote for the work.

If this is reasonable put it the third party insurance  company and they will probably agree to pay it.

Tony5896

You can reject their offer, be ready to explain why and counter.

When I had to claim, I produced a list of same spec cars and the cost within a 30 mile radius of my postcode. This was sufficient for my insurance company (Tesco in this instance) to pay out the full amount.

Jmoo

That's really helpful. Thank you both. 

I'm accepting I'll probably have to contribute to get a better car, but don't also want to be fobbed off either as I think it'll take some time. 

facade

If it is only a dent and a couple of scratches it may be possible to "retain the salvage" which means keep your car (for a fee) when they write it off.

So they pay you the value of your car before the accident, less what it is worth as scrap and you carry on driving your dented car until it wears out.

It will become a CAT N car, and worth less than it was, but you will have had most of the value paid to you already.

Bigphil1474

As above, I've done that a couple of times. Works out pretty good if it's just cosmetic damage. Handy if you know a decent mechanic who can advise honestly. The last time it happened (a few years ago now) it was in an old Fiesta, I got £750 from the insurers, and paid a £couplehundred to a mechanic to get it road legal.