Insurance Write Off vs. Repair

[Dr Interceptor]

Afternoon folks, I hope this is the best place to ask for advice on this.

A week ago last Saturday, I was involved in a collision in my Mustang, non-fault and third party has already accepted full liability. My car is a 68 Plate, less than six months old, 5000 miles on the clock.

The damage to my car is quite extensive as it took a big whack to the front... both front chassis legs require replacement as well as a whole front end (bonnet, wings, lights, rad, crash structure etc), and the estimate (according to the bodyshop) is currently sitting around £15k + VAT.

My insurers consider a write off to be 55% of value so circa £20-22k.

I haven't got their final decision yet, but at this stage it's sounding like my insurer is erring on the side of repair, rather than replace - which I'm really not that enthralled about.

So, before that decision lands (imminently), I'm after some good sound advice...

1. Is there any way I can force a write off?
2. Would there be a case for diminished value if they did decide to repair it?
3. Does repairing my car really put me back to the same position I was in before the collision?

I've had a search, but usually the question is the other way round, with people wanting their car back, rather than written off. Just in this case, I think due to the extent of repairs, and its relative newness, I'd rather it was replaced.

Thanks in advance...

Jon

[Pegscratch]

You're pretty much out of luck there I think.

Think of it this way instead; if you pick a good bodyshop the chances are it'll have been put together with more love and care than the factory. I know it's not what you want to hear but if they can fix it, it'll be as good as new anyway and diminished value won't apply as it shouldn't be diminished in value. They're fairly commonplace motors now and if it's not recorded as a write off, you'd need to find the damage to see it had been crashed.

[S11Steve]

If you have the option, I'd insist it is repaired at a Ford approved bodyshop, rather than an insurance approved repair agent. It may be worth speaking to Ford as well to understand what warranty implications a major structural repair could have.

Both may result in shiny and straight looking vehicles when they come out, but one will be done to maintain the manufacturers warranty, the other will be done to a tighter budget.
We have had fleet cars rejected because there was 4mm of filler used in a repair instead of the manufacturer limit of 2mm after it went through an insurance agent, where the manufacturer bodyshop would have replaced the panel.

[Dr Interceptor]

Thanks for the advice folks. Just not that happy as every vehicle I've ever had repaired (fleet vehicles, not mine, I don't make a habit of this) have come back not right. Either bad paint colour matches, sub-standard repairs, poor panel fit etc etc.

It has been taken to Autotech (Reading), they are my insurers approved repair centre. They seem fairly professional...

[Pegscratch]

Scrap the attempt to use insurer approved shops; find a good one. One that people have used, and recommend. Not because they came out and took their car away dropping a better/equivalent car off, but one that someone chose to use because their work was good.

You have that right, especially when going through third party's insurers.

[S11Steve]

I've just checked on our manufacturer list - Auto Technics in Maidenhead is Ford Approved - http://www.autotechnics.com/

[Dr Interceptor]

I'm not sure now if its too late to change the repairer... The one in Reading it has already gone to second stage strip down as instructed by my insurer to check for further damage.

I'm just not getting any joy out of anyone. The place in Reading is waiting on authority from the insurers, and the loss adjuster at the insurer won't return my calls.

[Heres Johnny]

Make sure they’re racking up an expensive hire car bill while it’s being repaired. The prospect of a 3-4K bill for that in addition to the repair cost, as I imagine your car will take a while to be repaired, might be the tipping point.

[Tyre Smoke]

Heres Johnny said:

Make sure they’re racking up an expensive hire car bill while it’s being repaired. The prospect of a 3-4K bill for that in addition to the repair cost, as I imagine your car will take a while to be repaired, might be the tipping point.

I doubt that. It will already be factored in and will be claimed against the liable party, won't affect cost of repair on the Mustang.

[Jakg]

Heres Johnny said:

Make sure they’re racking up an expensive hire car bill while it’s being repaired. The prospect of a 3-4K bill for that in addition to the repair cost, as I imagine your car will take a while to be repaired, might be the tipping point.

Tyre Smoke said:

I doubt that. It will already be factored in and will be claimed against the liable party, won't affect cost of repair on the Mustang.

No, but surely while the OP is without their car, someone is paying for a replacement. As soon as it's written off and they have the cash, they don't need the car.

If the repair takes 4 weeks and a Mustang-equivalent costs £150 a day to rent (made up figures!), it might be cheaper, and certainly less risky, to write the car off and draw a line under the claim.

[Ardennes92]

Presumably if it is repaired, you will have the option to go over it with a fine tooth comb and reject it if not up to your required standard.

[alabbasi]

Find a high end body shop that repairs cars right and have them do the work. Don't let the insurer pick the place. It can be fixed right.

[Heres Johnny]

Jakg said:

Heres Johnny said:

Make sure they’re racking up an expensive hire car bill while it’s being repaired. The prospect of a 3-4K bill for that in addition to the repair cost, as I imagine your car will take a while to be repaired, might be the tipping point.

Tyre Smoke said:

I doubt that. It will already be factored in and will be claimed against the liable party, won't affect cost of repair on the Mustang.

No, but surely while the OP is without their car, someone is paying for a replacement. As soon as it's written off and they have the cash, they don't need the car.

If the repair takes 4 weeks and a Mustang-equivalent costs £150 a day to rent (made up figures!), it might be cheaper, and certainly less risky, to write the car off and draw a line under the claim.

Exactly, the OP can have an equivalent hire car to the mustang paid for by the insurer footing the bill for the repair. If they’ve put him in a cheapo car the bill might be £50 a day, the Mustang would be 4-5x that at a guess, and until their car is back on the road. It soon adds up

[Sheepshanks]

Heres Johnny said:

Make sure they’re racking up an expensive hire car bill while it’s being repaired. The prospect of a 3-4K bill for that in addition to the repair cost, as I imagine your car will take a while to be repaired, might be the tipping point.

I don't think it works like that - they don't seem to take the hire car cost into account.

Anyway, the OPs own insurer is handling the repair so they'll just be passing any hire bill on to the other insurer. Maybe if you were dealing direct wit the 3rd party is might be possible to negotiate on that point, although normally they'll think repairs can be quick so won't see hire car costs as an issue. We had a car were repairs took 4 months, but once they were into it, they couldn't go back.

Doesn't seem much logic to these things sometimes - I would have liked daughter's car to be repaired but her insurance company wouldn't hear of it. A friends daughter's £3K car got t-boned and the repair estimate was the value of the car. Third party insurer insisted on repairing it - seemed like spite as she'd wanted it written off. Repairs took 6 weeks.

[S11Steve]

Before any further strip down or repairs commence, I think you need to at least speak to Ford about this and understand what their view is on the standard of repair - https://www.ford.co.uk/owner/service-and-maintenan...

The reviews of Autotech Reading are not that favourable.

[SteBrown91]

S11Steve said:

I've just checked on our manufacturer list - Auto Technics in Maidenhead is Ford Approved - http://www.autotechnics.com/

Ford approved just means they have paid ford to have a plaque in reception. You want to be at a ford store which would have received training on the mustang (as they are the only ones who can sell them)

[S11Steve]

SteBrown91 said:

Ford approved just means they have paid ford to have a plaque in reception. You want to be at a ford store which would have received training on the mustang (as they are the only ones who can sell them)

It also means that there is no comeback on us if the repair isn't to the manufacturer standard for any reason!

[andymc]

contact anniesdad on here

[Wish]

Call the TPI at 55% and the threat of hire costs they will likely stop the repairs and pay out.

Ps. Who is the TPI ?

[Dr Interceptor]

Thanks for the comments, all taken on board... I'll be hopefully talking to my insurers today to get a decision... But I will raise all the points mentioned above.

Will update when I have some news.