Insurance claim - old car, unavailable parts
Discussion
I have an older car with high mileage with some damage, that will be tricky to repair to insurance standards due to availability of parts. It’s an ‘at fault’ claim, nobody else involved. I think the claim will be fairly high value compared to the car. I expect the insurance company will undervalue the car compared to the real cost of getting an equivalent example.
My goal is to keep and have the car repaired. I like it. I don’t want the insurance company to write it off. I don’t want to buyback a salvaged car and repair it either (i.e. have it categorised).
What do I need to ask for/can I do with insurance company to steer it towards this outcome?
My goal is to keep and have the car repaired. I like it. I don’t want the insurance company to write it off. I don’t want to buyback a salvaged car and repair it either (i.e. have it categorised).
What do I need to ask for/can I do with insurance company to steer it towards this outcome?
parabolica said:
Best option is probably not to involve them and fix it out of your own pocket; from what you've said, they will likely write the car off and give you the option of payment or buying the car back, both of which you said you don't want.
From experience with an old but sound Focus I would agree. I didn’t have a parts problem but was in control of the situation, it is a faff finding and organising parts and Labour (autocorrect
) though.parabolica said:
Best option is probably not to involve them and fix it out of your own pocket; from what you've said, they will likely write the car off and give you the option of payment or buying the car back, both of which you said you don't want.
I'm not sure this is the best course. If the ins co write it off and give you money and you can buy it back, you have funds to offset or cover the repairs.But the repaired car will be lower value if you want to sell it. A bit of a tradeoff - sums you could estimate.
Can you talk to the ins co and ask whether they will sell you the car if they write it off and take it from there?
Best route assuming you can't repair without involving insurance company is to look to do a contract repair. Due to the lack of parts, issues with quoting and the possibility of other hidden issues the insurers will always write off as their liabilities are not limited. Contract repair requires you to get quotes to fix and if they agree they will contract your quoter to fix your car, but if other items are found and the costs increase you are liable for the excess. I had my XKR Convertible repaired like this 12 years ago and came out in pocket as using second hand parts meant the cost was less, so my specialist was able to enhance non damaged parts while he had the car. You avoid an insurance marker.
If you go down the route of a write off Cat N you can buy back for 25% of value. I went this route last years as the same XKR Converible was damaged again and the offer made was good and even at 25% buy back it was uneconomic for me to fix. I was able to upgrade to an X150 XKR convertible half the age for just over double the pay out.
If you go down the route of a write off Cat N you can buy back for 25% of value. I went this route last years as the same XKR Converible was damaged again and the offer made was good and even at 25% buy back it was uneconomic for me to fix. I was able to upgrade to an X150 XKR convertible half the age for just over double the pay out.
I had a similar situation a number of years ago. I wanted to keep the car alive and didn't want it to be a category whatever write off etc. I managed to successfully contest the value of the car (it was quite rare) to eventually allow the repair to fall within the threshold for repair. It was a long process of lots of phone calls and collating evidence though.
I also shopped around a few repairers to bring that number down as much as possible too
I also shopped around a few repairers to bring that number down as much as possible too
BertBert said:
parabolica said:
Best option is probably not to involve them and fix it out of your own pocket; from what you've said, they will likely write the car off and give you the option of payment or buying the car back, both of which you said you don't want.
I'm not sure this is the best course. If the ins co write it off and give you money and you can buy it back, you have funds to offset or cover the repairs.But the repaired car will be lower value if you want to sell it. A bit of a tradeoff - sums you could estimate.
Can you talk to the ins co and ask whether they will sell you the car if they write it off and take it from there?
Does however sound like that horse may have bolted if a claim has already been opened.
simon_harris said:
What difference does it make if it is categorised if you want to keep it and not sell it anyway?
Right now I want to keep it, I believe I want to keep it indefinitely, but circumstance can always change... i.e my mind won't change if the 'input' doesn't change, but there could be an unforeseen reason in the future that means I no longer want it. For that reason I don't want to take the hit in the value. thanks to all the suggestions from everyone so far!
BertBert said:
parabolica said:
Best option is probably not to involve them and fix it out of your own pocket; from what you've said, they will likely write the car off and give you the option of payment or buying the car back, both of which you said you don't want.
I'm not sure this is the best course. If the ins co write it off and give you money and you can buy it back, you have funds to offset or cover the repairs.But the repaired car will be lower value if you want to sell it. A bit of a tradeoff - sums you could estimate.
Can you talk to the ins co and ask whether they will sell you the car if they write it off and take it from there?
GiantCardboardPlato said:
akirk said:
perhaps find a different insurance company - one used to insuring classic cars or collections (e.g. Lancaster / Chubb / etc.) as you may find they understand that mindset more...
Yes, lesson learnt there I think, but for now I cannot uncrash the car... 
fair point - I was adding that more as a general comment, but yes, can understand it is frustrating for youGiantCardboardPlato said:
Right now I want to keep it, I believe I want to keep it indefinitely, but circumstance can always change... i.e my mind won't change if the 'input' doesn't change, but there could be an unforeseen reason in the future that means I no longer want it. For that reason I don't want to take the hit in the value.
thanks to all the suggestions from everyone so far!
While I accept this is only my view but a well documented and photographed repair and history of the vehicle will go a long way to negating the impact of a CAT N (or S tbh) thanks to all the suggestions from everyone so far!
that said so long as the insurance company don't pay out how can they categorise it, though this option may cost you more than the drop in value in the long run.
what car, and what damage?
its very likely an older car will be written off, for even fairly minor damage. in which case, you'll get an undervalued payout, made even smaller by any excess you have.
you can then buy the car back (it'll be worth near pittance at this point) and then you can repair it yourself, but it'll obviously be a cat N or cat S.
personally, if i didnt want the car to be written off, i'd be scouring ebay / local scrappys for bumpers, wings, doors etc whatever you need, and repairing it myself.
its very likely an older car will be written off, for even fairly minor damage. in which case, you'll get an undervalued payout, made even smaller by any excess you have.
you can then buy the car back (it'll be worth near pittance at this point) and then you can repair it yourself, but it'll obviously be a cat N or cat S.
personally, if i didnt want the car to be written off, i'd be scouring ebay / local scrappys for bumpers, wings, doors etc whatever you need, and repairing it myself.
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