Car written off by insurance company

bag181

I was involved in what I believed to be a no-fault car accident. My insurance company collected my car for assessment and has deemed my car to be a category B write-off. After my car was collected, I spoke to a motor bodyshop who said it was repairable to a roadworthy condition based on the photos of the damage and my description of the issues, such as reverse sensors not working properly, not able to close boot and few cracks in front and back bumper, etc (but was able to drive from accident scene to home). What is the appropriate course of action as I am not a car expert? Should I accept the insurance company's conclusion?

bag181

From a distance, it was difficult to tell that my car has been in a accident as the shape front and back was almost the same as before and the motor bodyshop was under the impression that the damage was cosmetic.

DullGreyGuy

Cat B means it cannot safely be returned to the road but can be broken for parts (unlike cat A which must be crushed). Clearly the engineer thats inspected it has found some damage that they consider beyond safe repair which you haven't told the bodyshop about. 

If it was just a matter of economics then it would be a cat S to say it has structural problems but can be fixed and returned to the road. 

TheSpectator

What is the value of the car? Did the bodyshop give an estimate of costs to repair.

Nothing stopping you accepting any offer from the insurance company minus the salvage cost and getting it fixed yourself if the numbers stack up.

tedted

not if its cat b only good for breaking for parts

bag181

Insurance company says £999 as value. Bodyshop says £1500 to fix. 15 yr old car and done 140000miles

DullGreyGuy

TheSpectator said:

What is the value of the car? Did the bodyshop give an estimate of costs to repair.

Nothing stopping you accepting any offer from the insurance company minus the salvage cost and getting it fixed yourself if the numbers stack up.

No, cat B has to be broken and cannot be returned to the road, in principle you need a breakers licence to buy it but there are ways around it (unlike Cat A) however no way of returning it to the road with a legitimate V5c

Mildly_Miffed

Cat B means DVLA will never issue another V5C for it, ever.

The "boot won't shut" - rarely just the bootlid/tailgate. It's usually the panel that it closes onto, and if that's down at bumper level, the boot floor.

A grand's worth of car with serious structural damage like that? It's toast. Let it go. Work on getting the best payout you can.

bag181

Any advice on how to negogiate more than offer of 999?

TheSpectator

bag181 said:

Any advice on how to negogiate more than offer of 999?

Find similar cars for sale above that value.

It's clearly a write off at that age/value and repair bill. Having re-read your OP again the bodyshop haven't even seen the car!

bag181

Just checked with insurance company. No negotiation on price - cannot go above current offer due to damage before accident. I guess I have to accept it.