Write-off (Category C)

Im_A_Mouse_In_Need

Hi,

Looking for suggestions about best thing to do here:

Bought Peugeot 307 (2002/02 plate) from private seller twelve months ago, with full mot. Car had several niggles but was low end of price suggested by Parkers so I bartered it down a little but apparently not enough!

Took it for mot this week, mechanic said it has significant damage to wheelbearings, front driveshaft and looks to have been involved in an accident. He recommended that before he did any work, I should see electrical specialist to check sensors (ABS fault reported on dashboard) who also suspected accident, said airbag had been activated

Went to mycarcheck.com, paid £4 for the basic search which confirmed the car
was written off 5 months before I got it. Category C apparently, so I looked here:
http://www.autocheck.co.uk/write-off-categories.html
Mycarcheck says it passed VIC one month before I bought it, which was 4 months after write off

Only other dodgy point in the check was this:
"Plate Transfer This registration has been involved in a plate change, please call 0870 118 1630 if further investigation is required."
Any chance this could be something innocent, personalised plate perhaps? Or just replacing old plates smashed in accident?

Possible courses of action:

- Pay for car to be made roadworthy, pass mot, sell on. Quotes still pending, but from what I have been told, work could cost anywhere between £1000-2000. Market value still severely impacted by write off status, won't be worth much more than work to be done.
- Scrap car, not sure how this even works and how to recover any good parts. New full length exhaust fitted 6 months ago, good quality.
- Track down seller. I failed to ask if any accident history when buying, so I believe I have no legal comeback, although it is on record that car was written off before they sold it. Do I have any rights?


Obviously I feel like a bit of a mug. I am not keeping the car, have cash to buy another (more carefully!) but would like some independent advice on what to do with the Peugeot

Thanks for reading, any help much appreciated

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Wheelbearings are cheap and easy to replace. Driveshaft, depends on damage.

Personally I'd repair it and keep. Theres nothing wrong with it.

Unless the seller described the car as accident free, you haven't a leg to stand on, and even if he did, how would you prove it?

hewhoisnotintheknow

i might be wrong but if its a cat c shouldnt this show up on the V5 doc?

Conor_3

Not when the accident was - it was VIC'd 17 months ago.

flutterbyuk25

The logbook V5C (that you should have in your name) would show that it had a VIC in Section 3 under the Special Notes.

The plate transfer part is probably nothing dodgy, more than likely the previous owner had a private number plate on it and they transfered this off the vehicle in the past.

HTH

x

Im_A_Mouse_In_Need

Thanks for the replies

The logbook (V5C) has this under special notes:

Substantially repaired and/or accident damaged; identity checked on .. / .. / 2006

Previously I have only ever read the new keepers details to check they have transferred it to the correct name and address, will pay more attention from now on. I agree I probably have very little comeback and should have been more careful buying.

Given that no further damage has happened to the vehicle since I have had it, does beg the question how it was passed for an mot just before I bought it.

The mechanic has said vehicle is highly dangerous to drive in its current state, which is what really bugs me - I think someone granted an mot to a vehicle which wasn't safe to drive, and someone knowingly sold the car on in the knowledge it wasn't safe too. I have done approx 10,000 miles and drive sensibly, and from the problems described by mechanic, it looks like normal wear and tear can be ruled out.

I realise the world has a few scumbags about, but how could you sleep at night knowing you have put others in a potentially fatal position for the sake of a few quid?

Night-owl_6

http://www.autocheck.co.uk/write-off-categories.html

Night-owl_6

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/community/forums/t/insurance-claim-amp-cat-c-write-off-19032.aspx

Night-owl_6

http://www.aacheck.com/write-off-categories.html

Hope the links help