Should I try and save a write off?

bxcorsae

Hi all,

my car has been written off after I damage a wing and the headlight while parking, I bought the car for £8000 in 2022 but of course it’s worth much less now. Insurance have cancelled my policy (is this normal?) and offered me around £4000. 

I’d really like to save the car, I know I can buy the wing already painted and the headlight second hand for around £250 altogether.

But I’m not sure if I do repair it now whether I will be able to insure it again. As surely it will flag to insurers that it’s been written off, but then surely places that salvage these written off vehicles then resell them? So surely I can repair it and insure as normal, and if I cancel the claim it won’t be classed as a write off category?

Other option is taking the £4000 and starting again, but I will still have to spend a few grand to get something similar ish:/ Plus I really like this car!

 Also I’m worried that my policy being cancelled means I will have to declare that I’ve had a policy cancelled when I try to insure anything else? Help!

ontheroad1970

Insurance cover finishing on a write off isn't a cancellation.  You can usually get to keep the car as salvage and they deduct the amount from your settlement.

Arunmor

Ask them for a price to retain the salvage.  I hope you still have the car in your possession?

Nobbie1967

Did you cause any damage to anyone else’s property when you damaged your car? Little point in withdrawing your claim if someone else has a claim against you as you’ll lose NCB even if you withdraw your claim and repair yourself.

DullGreyGuy

ontheroad1970 said:

Insurance cover finishing on a write off isn't a cancellation.  You can usually get to keep the car as salvage and they deduct the amount from your settlement.

Not normally, you can generally transfer the remainder of the term onto a replacement vehicle, or indeed the same vehicle again, in exchange for the relevant admin fee and premium based on the change of vehicle. 

Brie

Are you sure they said it's a write off or that it's uneconomical to repair?

DullGreyGuy

Brie said:

Are you sure they said it's a write off or that it's uneconomical to repair?

The terms are used interchangeably along with total loss. 

bxcorsae said:
Other option is taking the £4000 and starting again, but I will still have to spend a few grand to get something similar ish:/ Plus I really like this car!

 Also I’m worried that my policy being cancelled means I will have to declare that I’ve had a policy cancelled when I try to insure anything else? Help!

There is the third option of telling them you want to retain the salvage and so they will pay you £4,000 - salvage value - excess. You then get to keep the vehicle, what you will need to do to get it back on the road will depend what category it is. 

Its not a cancelled policy for the purposes of future declarations.

pseudodox

My car was written off as being uneconomical to repair 13 years ago.  I bought the salvage value at £200, got it fixed with reclaimed parts and was successfully in claiming the cost of repairs off the guy who hit me.  The car has just passed it's 5th in a row MOT with flying colours, now age 22, so it was £200 well spent!  If I had given it up it would have gone to auction, been fixed up and put back on the road by someone who did not value it as I do.  I would have been furious to see it be driven around whilst I had to go and buy a replacement.  If the car is worth it to you get some quotes for fixing it privately.

DullGreyGuy

pseudodox said:

My car was written off as being uneconomical to repair 13 years ago.  I bought the salvage value at £200, got it fixed with reclaimed parts and was successfully in claiming the cost of repairs off the guy who hit me.  

So you defrauded them? Your insurers had written off the vehicle, they'd then have claimed the write off value from him. You were not entitled to claim the repair costs as well, that is undue enrichment. Hopefully they dont know your user handle here  

pseudodox

My insurers did not pay out a penny, nor did they claim from the other guys insurance.  Everything was done with the full knowledge of my insurance company, the accident management company & advice from the garage.  I am sorry I did not take advice from you but you were not there.  The owner of the company vehicle that hit me paid everything.  No insurance company was defrauded so do not make assumptions (again!)

DullGreyGuy

pseudodox said:

My insurers did not pay out a penny, nor did they claim from the other guys insurance.  Everything was done with the full knowledge of my insurance company, the accident management company & advice from the garage.  I am sorry I did not take advice from you but you were not there.  The owner of the company vehicle that hit me paid everything.  No insurance company was defrauded so do not make assumptions (again!)

So why did you buyback your own car for £200 salvage?