Written off car, when can the salvage company collect?

ClaytonM

Hi,

We've been verbally told by the insurance company that the car will be written off. We are yet to recieve an offer in terms of payment and yet the salvage company are trying to collect.
Am I right to refuse collection until a settlement figure has been reached? After all the car still belongs to me until an offer fornthe car is made and accepted.

Any help and advice would be appreciated.

DullGreyGuy

Most people dont refuse collection, as long as the vehicle isn't in a fee incurring storage the insurer won't really care, the salvage agent (like all businesses) will want it ASAP to flip it as quickly as they can as its effectively stock to them. 

ClaytonM

Thanks, in my mind you lose control of the situation once the cars gone. Better to have the car as pressure is then on the insurance company to come up with a decent offer.

DullGreyGuy

Not sure what control you think you have by retaining the salvage but ultimately the insurer can just settle net of salvage and the car is yours to do what you want with 

pearb34

I had a car written off after a crash, it was collected from the site of the incident. I don't really see how holding on to the car gives you any control since you declared the cars value when you took out insurance, my offer was around that value minus the excess.
Only reason to keep it is if you intend to then buy it off the insurer to save yourself the transportation cost.

Ectophile

ClaytonM said:

Thanks, in my mind you lose control of the situation once the cars gone. Better to have the car as pressure is then on the insurance company to come up with a decent offer.

That's inviting the claims handler to say something like:

"That's fine.  If you want to keep the car, I can cancel the claim for you".

cw8825

Op
you having the car Dosent put you in a better bargaining position. 

As it’s you who wants the money from the insurance company. 

Unless you want to keep the car post settlement just let them take it

Herzlos

They insurance company may tell you that they can't give a repair estimation without collecting the car, and will quite happily wait for you to concede whilst accumulating interest on the payout.

If the cars a write off and you don't want to reclaim it as salvage, you're at no advantage holding onto it.