Buying back an insurance write off

[craigjm]

Mate of mine had an accident the other day not his fault and the insurance is saying that the car is potentially a write off. Its only an old Skoda Octavia probably worth about 1500-2000 private sale and they are saying repairs would be about 1800 (couple of doors and some sill straightening). If he accepts what they offer can he buy back the car and have it rebuilt by a friend that owns a body shop and reckons he can do it mates rates for not a lot? How does he go about doing that? I am assuming it would be listed as cat D once done.

advice appreciated.

[t400ble]

Some will let you buy it back, some wont

Car will be Cat C or D

D wont need a VIC check

C may need a VIC check

Paul

[littleredrooster]

He should ask the insurance company if they could include the car as part of the settlement. I did it many years ago with a VW Passatt - I got (IIRC) £1200 plus the car; repairs cost about £400 at a local bodyshop. No 'Category' marker, either! Job jobbed!

[craigjm]

littleredrooster said:

He should ask the insurance company if they could include the car as part of the settlement. I did it many years ago with a VW Passatt - I got (IIRC) £1200 plus the car; repairs cost about £400 at a local bodyshop. No 'Category' marker, either! Job jobbed!

Thats what i was thinking

[Bradley1500]

Depends on their insurer so best to ask them!

I was fairly lucky recently when my Civic was written off. I agreed a payment and then the insurer said they would collect the car and scrap it.

I had collected the car from the impound where it needed to be fork-lifted onto my flat bed. I simply said to the insurance it's going to be more hassle you trying to remove it from my flat to scrap it than me keeping it and disposing of it myself.

They said didn't mind and in fact were were quite pleased as it saved them a job. Removed £120 scrap fee from my original payment and let me keep the car.

I stripped it for parts and scrapped the shell.