Could i get in trouble?
Discussion
I have made repairs to my own car after the insurance company has decided it was 'beyond economical repair'.
My insurance has been renewed with the same company since i had the accident but before they assessed the damage.
I had assumed that the car was not legally written off, and that we were in negotiation until we agreed a value or I decided what i wanted to do, but now i am actually back on the road I am worried that i might get stopped by the police because they are not expecting to see it back on the road?
If the car is uninsurable according to the insurance company, shouldn't they have offered to refund the new insurance policy?
I understand that if they had informed the DVLA that car was a write off for safety reasons, i should not (or could not) drive it, but only i can decide if i want to spend my own money cosmetically fixing my own car, surely?
I have written to my insurance company to clarify the situation, but its now the weekend and i was hoping someone here could tell me where they think i stand.
>>> Edited by hedders on Saturday 24th April 17:41
My insurance has been renewed with the same company since i had the accident but before they assessed the damage.
I had assumed that the car was not legally written off, and that we were in negotiation until we agreed a value or I decided what i wanted to do, but now i am actually back on the road I am worried that i might get stopped by the police because they are not expecting to see it back on the road?
If the car is uninsurable according to the insurance company, shouldn't they have offered to refund the new insurance policy?
I understand that if they had informed the DVLA that car was a write off for safety reasons, i should not (or could not) drive it, but only i can decide if i want to spend my own money cosmetically fixing my own car, surely?
I have written to my insurance company to clarify the situation, but its now the weekend and i was hoping someone here could tell me where they think i stand.
>>> Edited by hedders on Saturday 24th April 17:41
So basically, you had an accident, renewed your policy, they decided it was cat C or D, you took it back and presumably they gave you some cash?
It might be registered as being a economic total loss, but that is no big deal. Sometimes ins. co.s decide this because they think the cost of the hire car for the repair period will tip the balance, or that using genuine new parts is too expensive, for example.
You are taxed, MOT'd and insured, and your insurance company have handed you your car back on the understanding you will repair it privately, and then continued your policy?
From what you've said, I think you are perfectly fine.
It might be registered as being a economic total loss, but that is no big deal. Sometimes ins. co.s decide this because they think the cost of the hire car for the repair period will tip the balance, or that using genuine new parts is too expensive, for example.
You are taxed, MOT'd and insured, and your insurance company have handed you your car back on the understanding you will repair it privately, and then continued your policy?
From what you've said, I think you are perfectly fine.
julianhj said:
So basically, you had an accident, renewed your policy, they decided it was cat C or D, you took it back and presumably they gave you some cash?
It might be registered as being a economic total loss, but that is no big deal. Sometimes ins. co.s decide this because they think the cost of the hire car for the repair period will tip the balance, or that using genuine new parts is too expensive, for example.
You are taxed, MOT'd and insured, and your insurance company have handed you your car back on the understanding you will repair it privately, and then continued your policy?
From what you've said, I think you are perfectly fine.
No, we have never agreed a value for the car, they have never taken possession of the car. When they told me they thought it was beyond economical repair I told them over the phone that i would fix it myslef out of my own pocket.
No more was ever said about it and i never put a claim in.
Well, even better then! If it's not on the register, and it's safe in the eyes of the law, nothing to worry about. You still have to declare if a potential buyer asked 'was the car ever damaged?', but no stigma will be attached to it in terms of Cat C/D as you never went ahead with the claim.
I hope you are right, I have a feeling they may have immediately informed the dvla it was a right off as soon as they came to the decision or something.
I will talk to them on monday again and find out but they didn't seem to know which category it was put under when i spoke to them during the week so i am a bit worried.
They just asked me to send them a letter explaining that i had made repairs myself and they cost less than the excess allowance to make everyones life easier.
But they did mumble something about it being a write off...I need to clarify this situation
ADDED:
I have just found the letter they sent me after the inspection and it says:
"The insurers are now in receipt of the engineers report, who have advised that your vehicle is byond economical repair / OR a constructive total loss.
Your insures have therefore requested originals of of the following documents."
And they asked for MOT's and purchase reciepts and keys etc.
I immediately got on to the phone to them and told them that was ridiculous and i would not send them anything and i would be effecting my own repairs.
I have nothing in writing to prove i said that, and they don't seem to recognise that that call happened
But when i spoke to them this week, they seemed to be ok with the idea of me not claiming but they didn't know the legal status of the vehicle!
>> Edited by hedders on Saturday 24th April 19:11
I will talk to them on monday again and find out but they didn't seem to know which category it was put under when i spoke to them during the week so i am a bit worried.
They just asked me to send them a letter explaining that i had made repairs myself and they cost less than the excess allowance to make everyones life easier.
But they did mumble something about it being a write off...I need to clarify this situation
ADDED:
I have just found the letter they sent me after the inspection and it says:
"The insurers are now in receipt of the engineers report, who have advised that your vehicle is byond economical repair / OR a constructive total loss.
Your insures have therefore requested originals of of the following documents."
And they asked for MOT's and purchase reciepts and keys etc.
I immediately got on to the phone to them and told them that was ridiculous and i would not send them anything and i would be effecting my own repairs.
I have nothing in writing to prove i said that, and they don't seem to recognise that that call happened
But when i spoke to them this week, they seemed to be ok with the idea of me not claiming
but they didn't know the legal status of the vehicle! >> Edited by hedders on Saturday 24th April 19:11
My car was written off (Cat C or D i think) as it was beyond econimical repair. I had no problem insuring it and was stopped a couple of times for a few other things (young male driver) and they never said anything. I just drove the car around with a massive great dent in the side.
I'd just ensure that all your lights are working correctly and that there are no sharp edges anywhere on the bodywork otherwise the MOT centre/Old bill might take a dim view
I'd just ensure that all your lights are working correctly and that there are no sharp edges anywhere on the bodywork otherwise the MOT centre/Old bill might take a dim view
I have replaced the creased wing and broken headlight and bent bumper, so the car is exactly the shape it was meant to be, it just needs some paint and a bonnet reallignment (its about 1/2 inch high on one side) to make it as good as new.
Hardly a write off...
>> Edited by hedders on Saturday 24th April 19:30
Hardly a write off...
>> Edited by hedders on Saturday 24th April 19:30
hedders said:
I have replaced the creased wing and broken headlight and bent bumper, so the car is exactly the shape it was meant to be, it just needs some paint and a bonnet reallignment (its about 1/2 inch high on one side) to make it as good as new.
Hardly a write off...
>> Edited by hedders on Saturday 24th April 19:30
IIRC , you need to ssubmit your V5 to the ins. co. for them to right your car off. It's your call, not theirs. My car was beyond enconomic repair, they paid out the replacement value of the car, less the value of it after the accident. So I basically bought it off them. If they kept it then they would have written it off.
Same here Hedders old chap! some years ago someone drove into the back of me while I was stopped waiting to turn right, made a right mess of the boot area of the Sierra (yes I know!)
His insurance paid out and gave me my car back,got it properly repaired at a decent price and had some cash left over. Drove it all over europe for several years after that, no problems.
After all ANYTHING can be repaired if you're willing tp pay, even if it means a full new body shell.
His insurance paid out and gave me my car back,got it properly repaired at a decent price and had some cash left over. Drove it all over europe for several years after that, no problems.
After all ANYTHING can be repaired if you're willing tp pay, even if it means a full new body shell.
I really hope you are right about having to send off the V5!
If thats the case i am fine, and if they have told DVLA its a write off without me sending them the paperwork, i take it that DVLA would have to ammend their records and the car would have no record of ever being in an accident?
Thats the main thing i am concerned about..When I sell this car (at some point in the future) i want it to have a good history.
As soon as i can establish my legal right to fix the car myself and drive it. I will let the insurance company inspect the car again and this time i will get an agreed value, which is what i should have done in the first place
The car is a very good example after i have spent mucho deniro on it but they are allowed to treat it at its blue book value because i didn't send off the necessary forms...
If thats the case i am fine, and if they have told DVLA its a write off without me sending them the paperwork, i take it that DVLA would have to ammend their records and the car would have no record of ever being in an accident?
Thats the main thing i am concerned about..When I sell this car (at some point in the future) i want it to have a good history.
As soon as i can establish my legal right to fix the car myself and drive it. I will let the insurance company inspect the car again and this time i will get an agreed value, which is what i should have done in the first place
The car is a very good example after i have spent mucho deniro on it but they are allowed to treat it at its blue book value because i didn't send off the necessary forms... Hedders
From what I understand it will all fall down to your Insurance Company. If they have declared the vehicle a "write off", then I understand that there is an obligation to notify DVLA who then put a marker on the file. If the marker is activated after a repair and application to relicense said vehicle, they invoke a procedure through VOSA (Vehicle Inspectorate) who come out and give the vehicle a good going over to ensure repairs carried out satisfactorarily and also confirm no "ringing" involved. So do not be surprised if on re-licensing in the future you attract some attention.
If you are on relatively good terms with your Insurance Co then ask them to clarify whether they have notified DVLA vehicle has been declared a write off.
Have a look at:
www.tinyurl.com/3ahep
DVD
From what I understand it will all fall down to your Insurance Company. If they have declared the vehicle a "write off", then I understand that there is an obligation to notify DVLA who then put a marker on the file. If the marker is activated after a repair and application to relicense said vehicle, they invoke a procedure through VOSA (Vehicle Inspectorate) who come out and give the vehicle a good going over to ensure repairs carried out satisfactorarily and also confirm no "ringing" involved. So do not be surprised if on re-licensing in the future you attract some attention.
If you are on relatively good terms with your Insurance Co then ask them to clarify whether they have notified DVLA vehicle has been declared a write off.
Have a look at:
www.tinyurl.com/3ahep
DVD
Hedders, take a look at this document on the ABI's website:
www.abi.org.uk/Public/Consumer/Codes/MotorVehicleSalvage.pdf
It seems to agree with what people have been saying that you have to send the V5 off before they can write you're car off. This was certainly the case when my MX5 met it's maker last year
www.abi.org.uk/Public/Consumer/Codes/MotorVehicleSalvage.pdf
It seems to agree with what people have been saying that you have to send the V5 off before they can write you're car off. This was certainly the case when my MX5 met it's maker last year
No the V5 is pretty irrelevant.
Process goes along the lines:
Have crash
Call insurance.
They get it inspected.
They decide if it is economical to repair.
if it isn't there are 3 options:
1- vehicle is write off. You pass ownership to insurance company. A marker is applied and the vehicle is usually auctioned off.
2-vehicle is write off but you retain vehicle. Effectively you use part of insurance pay out to buy the vehicle direct of insurance co and a marker is still applied. This is a pain in the rear when a pre accident value can not be decided.
3-No further claim is made. No change of ownership but the ins. co. may require evidence of satisfactory repair to ensure cover (re-MOT)
Process goes along the lines:
Have crash
Call insurance.
They get it inspected.
They decide if it is economical to repair.
if it isn't there are 3 options:
1- vehicle is write off. You pass ownership to insurance company. A marker is applied and the vehicle is usually auctioned off.
2-vehicle is write off but you retain vehicle. Effectively you use part of insurance pay out to buy the vehicle direct of insurance co and a marker is still applied. This is a pain in the rear when a pre accident value can not be decided.
3-No further claim is made. No change of ownership but the ins. co. may require evidence of satisfactory repair to ensure cover (re-MOT)
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