Fighting a write off valuation
Discussion
Hi All,
I had a car accident the other morning, the third party accepted liability at the road side and I have since had a voicemail left for me off the third party insurance advising their client has accepted liability so I'm hopeful its going to be a fairly straight forward process, my little run around though is a mess and I think 100% a write off.
its a 2010 60 plate Smart Fortwo CDI "Ice Edition" which was a special edition that included extras on it such as Pioneer headunit and subwoofer (hence ICE), Brabus wheels, leather heated seats, flappy paddles for gearbox etc. It was quite a nice spec, I'd say 1 down from a full Brabus but with the CDI engine and £0 road tax.
My insurance straight away have offered £1800, I had it insured for £3500. i rejected that and said no thanks, this happened on Thursday, so with the bank holiday its been quiet.
So a quick look online to "replace" it like for like suggests I cant, all of the Smart CDi for sale, none of them have a similar spec, mainly the leather heated seats but they all range from £2.5-5k.
For example this is close to my car, but its missing the heated leather and headunit for a start , mileage is a little lower than mine.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403127...
So how do I come up with a "reasonable figure" to suggest to the insurance?
They are sending somebody out to it this week to inspect it, its currently at a Copart compound somewhere, basically it needs 2x new airbags, 2x new Brabus front wheels and tyres (discontinued) , a new dash, new steering wheel, new drivers side front suspension, new front panels, probably new headlights, new radiator/intercooler and the list goes on, I would imagine the 2x airbags from Mercedes will make it a write off straight away.
People with knowledge of fighting valuations how did you do it? I can provide screenshots of "similar" cars but none are the same spec.
I had a car accident the other morning, the third party accepted liability at the road side and I have since had a voicemail left for me off the third party insurance advising their client has accepted liability so I'm hopeful its going to be a fairly straight forward process, my little run around though is a mess and I think 100% a write off.
its a 2010 60 plate Smart Fortwo CDI "Ice Edition" which was a special edition that included extras on it such as Pioneer headunit and subwoofer (hence ICE), Brabus wheels, leather heated seats, flappy paddles for gearbox etc. It was quite a nice spec, I'd say 1 down from a full Brabus but with the CDI engine and £0 road tax.
My insurance straight away have offered £1800, I had it insured for £3500. i rejected that and said no thanks, this happened on Thursday, so with the bank holiday its been quiet.
So a quick look online to "replace" it like for like suggests I cant, all of the Smart CDi for sale, none of them have a similar spec, mainly the leather heated seats but they all range from £2.5-5k.
For example this is close to my car, but its missing the heated leather and headunit for a start , mileage is a little lower than mine.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403127...
So how do I come up with a "reasonable figure" to suggest to the insurance?
They are sending somebody out to it this week to inspect it, its currently at a Copart compound somewhere, basically it needs 2x new airbags, 2x new Brabus front wheels and tyres (discontinued) , a new dash, new steering wheel, new drivers side front suspension, new front panels, probably new headlights, new radiator/intercooler and the list goes on, I would imagine the 2x airbags from Mercedes will make it a write off straight away.
People with knowledge of fighting valuations how did you do it? I can provide screenshots of "similar" cars but none are the same spec.
Edited by the-norseman on Monday 1st April 22:16
Ezra said:
Was the car insured with an agreed insured value? Or, was that just the suggested value you gave when taking out the cover. If the former, surely, they'll have to pay out £3500. If the latter, I suspect you've got a bit of a fight to look forward to.
Also, did you inform the insurer of all the additional spec as you've detailed in your post? If not, and if these are in addition to standard spec, can't see insurance paying out for these.
No agreed value. Also, did you inform the insurer of all the additional spec as you've detailed in your post? If not, and if these are in addition to standard spec, can't see insurance paying out for these.
ridds said:
Ask for the Assessors phone number and speak direct to them.
You will get a clear explanation from them and also be able put forward your views.
Has worked for me in the past.
Excellent idea will try that. You will get a clear explanation from them and also be able put forward your views.
Has worked for me in the past.
I think going in its favour is the green MOT pass every year as well.
A few of the parts were knackered, the two Brabus front wheels for example both were cracked, the passenger side seat belt holder had ripped out of the leather seat somehow not really sure why because nobody was sat in it. Plus to be honest I was only using the car as it was my dads and was a little sentimental over it, I wouldn't buy another one, even mapped to about 74ps they are still slow combined with a slow as hell semi-auto box.
They initally offered me 1800, think if I can get 2.5k for it I will probably settle, obviously hoping for 3k really.
They initally offered me 1800, think if I can get 2.5k for it I will probably settle, obviously hoping for 3k really.
GasEngineer said:
If you had GAP insurance; would the GAP insurer haggle with the insurance company on your behalf to reduce the GAP amount they have to pay out?
Would you even get gap insurance on a 2010 car that has been owned since 2015? I thought you took them kinda products out when the car was sold. I have been at my wedding venue today sorting the decorations for tomorrow when the engineer called to make me an offer.
They originally offered 1800, I said no.
The "engineer" has now reviewed all of the pictures that Copart have sent him and declared the car as a Cat B. The maximum they can offer me apparently after reviewing all of the evidence, cars for sale etc is 2600 but they have upped it to 2700 as I had originally mentioned that as a figure, that is -£200 for my excess which will hopefully be recovered from the third party insurance. I said I'm still not sure that is enough to replace like for like but they have replied with a firm, "that is maximum".
Told them I will reply on Saturday once the wedding is out of the way, I've got the hire car for a maximum of 7 days after I accept the other so though id drag it out a little longer.
Any way of increasing it or a case of take it?
They originally offered 1800, I said no.
The "engineer" has now reviewed all of the pictures that Copart have sent him and declared the car as a Cat B. The maximum they can offer me apparently after reviewing all of the evidence, cars for sale etc is 2600 but they have upped it to 2700 as I had originally mentioned that as a figure, that is -£200 for my excess which will hopefully be recovered from the third party insurance. I said I'm still not sure that is enough to replace like for like but they have replied with a firm, "that is maximum".
Told them I will reply on Saturday once the wedding is out of the way, I've got the hire car for a maximum of 7 days after I accept the other so though id drag it out a little longer.
Any way of increasing it or a case of take it?
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