Insurance Claim - Cat C/D on Ford Ka
Discussion
Hello all
My partner recently had a bump in her 2001 Ford Ka. It happened at low speed, 10-15, in a petrol station where both driver's side front wings collided, my parter turning right at the time. The Ka's bumper and wing were lightly damaged but also her steering was mis-aligned with the wheels stright with the steering wheel at least once to the right. She's insured with Elephant.co.uk with the car valued at £1500 and a £200 excess.
After endless ringing around and being fobbed off about them not assessing it yet, she finally got the answer they may not repair because of cost. Something about possible damage to suspension, plus I know their overhead costs like courtesy car, storage and recovery are included. It's being passed onto another repair center to see if they are willing to repair or the insurer will want to write the car off.
I wasn't present for the accident itself but turned up and saw the car before it was recovered and I honestly didn't think it looked that bad, though I'm no mechanic. The only thing I could imagine being expensive was the steering re-alignment or if that had inadvertently damaged something else, such as the suspension. The body work looked ok but repairable.
I understand that the likelihood will be the car will be registered as a cat C or D, depending on the level of damage and cost to repair.
My questions are:
- Is it likely that if it is a cat d, the money from the claim would cover the repairs at an independent garage?
- Is it at all likely that the 2nd repair center will be willing to authorise the repair?
- Can the value of the car be contested at settlement? The car was bought for £1500 and this was the value we told the insurer but now realise we got a good deal as its got less than 30k miles, FSH and around £500 worth of sound equipment installed (all came with the car).
Thanks
My partner recently had a bump in her 2001 Ford Ka. It happened at low speed, 10-15, in a petrol station where both driver's side front wings collided, my parter turning right at the time. The Ka's bumper and wing were lightly damaged but also her steering was mis-aligned with the wheels stright with the steering wheel at least once to the right. She's insured with Elephant.co.uk with the car valued at £1500 and a £200 excess.
After endless ringing around and being fobbed off about them not assessing it yet, she finally got the answer they may not repair because of cost. Something about possible damage to suspension, plus I know their overhead costs like courtesy car, storage and recovery are included. It's being passed onto another repair center to see if they are willing to repair or the insurer will want to write the car off.
I wasn't present for the accident itself but turned up and saw the car before it was recovered and I honestly didn't think it looked that bad, though I'm no mechanic. The only thing I could imagine being expensive was the steering re-alignment or if that had inadvertently damaged something else, such as the suspension. The body work looked ok but repairable.
I understand that the likelihood will be the car will be registered as a cat C or D, depending on the level of damage and cost to repair.
My questions are:
- Is it likely that if it is a cat d, the money from the claim would cover the repairs at an independent garage?
- Is it at all likely that the 2nd repair center will be willing to authorise the repair?
- Can the value of the car be contested at settlement? The car was bought for £1500 and this was the value we told the insurer but now realise we got a good deal as its got less than 30k miles, FSH and around £500 worth of sound equipment installed (all came with the car).
Thanks
Gassing Station | Ford | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff