When does an insurer declare a car a write off?

Wyndham

Currently trying to decide the best way to go with this, so any thoughts appreciated.

Car had an argument with a car park (no one else involved). Damage to the back passenger door, and some more minor damage to panels either side. Only got one quote so far, which has come out at just less than £2K. In the process of getting a second, but we think it will be over £1K.

However, the car is 11 years old, and we think is worth somewhere in the region of £2.5K to £3K. That being the case, is the insurer likely to declare it a write off? Do they have a certain percentage where they just decide it's not viable, or would they want to repair as it is still less than the overall value?

Brie

The insurer will want to write it off if it's deemed too expensive to repair.  They might pick a low value for the car (£2k max?) and a high amount for a repair at their chosen shop. 

What you need to decide is whether damage is easily repairable by you or cheaply by your chosen garage.  Or if it actually needs to be repaired at all.  If those are options you might be able to take money off the insurer to get the repairs done yourself but still keep the car whether it's repaired or not.  I did something similar with a car a number of years back, drove it without the body work being repaired for another year and then sold it back to the second hand place I'd bought from a few years earlier.  Between the insurance and the sale price I basically had the car for free.

400ixl

Your quotes are not relevant. The insurer will do their own assessment of the cost to repair which will include only using new OEM parts and services that will sign up to giving the guarantees they want.

They will then have additional costs for managing the claim to take into consideration. They will also get some money back from the salvage value.

It will not take much to write off a £3k car.

Mildly_Miffed

Is it cheaper for them to pay you the pre-collision value than to repair it?

That easy.

Except, of course, it's not quite that easy.
There's hire cars to take into account, there's the potential for hidden damage. Parts are all new at dealer price, and don't underestimate the cost of paint.
Then they take the salvage auction value into account, too - what they get from selling it bent.

11yo, £2.5k car? They won't even do the sums. It's in the bin.

BUT you can ask to keep it for a proportion (often ~10%) of the payout. Then fix it yourself, cheaper.

sheslookinhot

Or just drive it and not have your premiums increase due to a claim.

Wyndham

Thanks all for the helpful comments.