Minor damage, don't want it written off.
Discussion
Someone's driven into the back of my friend's car and dented the bumper. (Could be more damage underneath but let's just accept what she says, that it's superficial).
It's a cheap shed, but she's had it for quite a while,done repairs, runs well and she knows where she is with it, worth less than a grand, will most likely be written off if she makes a claim.
If it's written off she could either buy another one for the amount she's given, but then it's a unknown and might end up costing lots to get it to the same standard as the old one or spend a few grand on a better one, either way it would cost her money so the one she's got is actually worth £750 but theoretically worth £3000 to her. Bumpers are on ebay for £50, new £350.
What's the best plan.
Don't claim?
Claim and hope they don't write it off? Might insurer insist it's written off/can you still buy back?
Something else?
Tx
It's a cheap shed, but she's had it for quite a while,done repairs, runs well and she knows where she is with it, worth less than a grand, will most likely be written off if she makes a claim.
If it's written off she could either buy another one for the amount she's given, but then it's a unknown and might end up costing lots to get it to the same standard as the old one or spend a few grand on a better one, either way it would cost her money so the one she's got is actually worth £750 but theoretically worth £3000 to her. Bumpers are on ebay for £50, new £350.
What's the best plan.
Don't claim?
Claim and hope they don't write it off? Might insurer insist it's written off/can you still buy back?
Something else?
Tx
Definitely do not claim.
I had a simliar thing with a series 3 Daimler Double six that my insurer wanted to right off. I had to withdraw the claim and fix it myself to avoid it being written off.
It was a lovely example that recently had a major cosmetic overhaul.
It needed front wing/bumper and bonnet. It bought all the parts for about £300 and had them all fitted and painted to match the fresh paint on the rest of the car and then got an agreed value classic car policy for £4.5k.
I had a simliar thing with a series 3 Daimler Double six that my insurer wanted to right off. I had to withdraw the claim and fix it myself to avoid it being written off.
It was a lovely example that recently had a major cosmetic overhaul.
It needed front wing/bumper and bonnet. It bought all the parts for about £300 and had them all fitted and painted to match the fresh paint on the rest of the car and then got an agreed value classic car policy for £4.5k.
Edited by Shuvi McTupya on Sunday 3rd March 13:49
I would want to check the car over carefully - a friend of mine was hit from behind in a low-speed shunt a couple of years back - she thought everything was fine until we looked at the spare wheel well - we couldn't get the tyre out! The car had just been serviced/MOT'd/4 new tyres.
She claimed (also a low-value car) and we bought it back from the insurance. She ran it until the MOT ran out then we broke it for parts.
She claimed (also a low-value car) and we bought it back from the insurance. She ran it until the MOT ran out then we broke it for parts.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yes, but your car was repaired (or money paid for write off) by the third parties insurer when you made your 100% no fault claim, so you are not out of pocket by making the claim. I appreciate you could be out of pocket by having the accident but then you definitely would be if you did not claim!Also you would probably still be paying an additional £1,000+ over five years when you told the insurance company you'd had a no fault accident, even if you didn't claim.
I just do not understand why anyone would not claim off the third parties insurer.
ging84 said:
Don't involve your own insurer, go straight to the 3rd party, tell them you don't want it written off, if the repairs exceed the value you will accept a repair contribution.
Exactly - that's what I would do!Third party insurers tend to be more relaxed about letting you keep your car.
If she claims off the third party insurer then the claim will be on record and she'll need to declare it to her existing insurer anyway (or risk them finding out).
So they're likely to find out either way, so I'm not sure what you gain by going to the third party in this instance? Unless I'm misunderstanding things.
Seems like this is a situation where she should approach the other party and offer to draw a line under it for eg £250 (which may be less than their excess) or have that "I don't want it written off, I'll buy it back for salvage" etc conversation with her insurer.
So they're likely to find out either way, so I'm not sure what you gain by going to the third party in this instance? Unless I'm misunderstanding things.
Seems like this is a situation where she should approach the other party and offer to draw a line under it for eg £250 (which may be less than their excess) or have that "I don't want it written off, I'll buy it back for salvage" etc conversation with her insurer.
I had a positive outcome from an experience circa 8 years ago.
I am still asleep when the milkman backs his transit into the rear of my Forester, taking out one of the rear lights, scraping the plastic bumper and denting the tailgate.
They leave a note, I ring them, they agree to fix the car, whish was worth about £1500 at the time.
Long story-, their authorised repairer is a Mercedes garage who refuse to consider a used tailgate, light or repair to the bumper -their quote £3.5K.
They offer me the £1500, at which point I am torn, as I had been thinking about selling the car anyway. As a good friend of mine needed a cheap runabout due to a downturn in work, I had a quick look on ebay, and found a tailgate in the same colour and a set of lights, all for under £100.
They settled £1200 cheque and the car back in lieu of the other £300. I let my mate have the car for £300 and he repaired it with the £100. ebay parts.
I got book value for a car id wanted to sell anyway, my friend got a reliable and practical car for only £400, (that he still uses as a second car 8years later).
Sadly, I don't think it always goes that way.
I am still asleep when the milkman backs his transit into the rear of my Forester, taking out one of the rear lights, scraping the plastic bumper and denting the tailgate.
They leave a note, I ring them, they agree to fix the car, whish was worth about £1500 at the time.
Long story-, their authorised repairer is a Mercedes garage who refuse to consider a used tailgate, light or repair to the bumper -their quote £3.5K.
They offer me the £1500, at which point I am torn, as I had been thinking about selling the car anyway. As a good friend of mine needed a cheap runabout due to a downturn in work, I had a quick look on ebay, and found a tailgate in the same colour and a set of lights, all for under £100.
They settled £1200 cheque and the car back in lieu of the other £300. I let my mate have the car for £300 and he repaired it with the £100. ebay parts.
I got book value for a car id wanted to sell anyway, my friend got a reliable and practical car for only £400, (that he still uses as a second car 8years later).
Sadly, I don't think it always goes that way.
Durzel said:
If she claims off the third party insurer then the claim will be on record and she'll need to declare it to her existing insurer anyway (or risk them finding out).
So they're likely to find out either way, so I'm not sure what you gain by going to the third party in this instance? Unless I'm misunderstanding things.
Seems like this is a situation where she should approach the other party and offer to draw a line under it for eg £250 (which may be less than their excess) or have that "I don't want it written off, I'll buy it back for salvage" etc conversation with her insurer.
It is not about claims history it is about the claim it's self.So they're likely to find out either way, so I'm not sure what you gain by going to the third party in this instance? Unless I'm misunderstanding things.
Seems like this is a situation where she should approach the other party and offer to draw a line under it for eg £250 (which may be less than their excess) or have that "I don't want it written off, I'll buy it back for salvage" etc conversation with her insurer.
You have no contract with the 3rd party that says they can claim ownership of the vehicle if it is a total loss, which you very often do with your own insurer.
If there is no dispute in liability your insurer has no incentive to settle in the most cost effective manor, and in general having more companies involved frustrates the process.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff