Garage selling parts that the insurance co has paid out on..

[batmanreturns]

...does anyone know what the law/state of play on this is?

If an insurance company pays out on a damaged car part as the result of an accident can the garage legitimately resell it? My logic would say no as the insurance co paid out and therefore the part should be disposed of rahter than cleaned up and sold. If it was sold then the insurance company would want some of that money surely otherwise it's surely insurance fraud?

[Gareth79]

Yes it is fine, they will have bought the damaged car from the insurance company. IIRC there is an industry agreement that Cat A should be completely disposed of, Cat B can be parted out, Cat C and D can be resold whole. It's not law though - Cat A & B write-offs can theoretically be put back on the road but I think salvage companies doing that would soon be refused the opportunity to buy them.

edit: Oh just re-read that it is *parts*. I guess it would depend on the repair contract and whether replaced parts remain the property of the vehicle's owner, the garage or the insurance company.

Edited by Gareth79 on Tuesday 26th August 18:39

[batmanreturns]

I'm talking about parts from a car that was NOT written off and was repaired in the form of a back bumper and exhaust though. Surely the dealer can't then sell those parts as if they are their own?

[surveyor]

I suspect legally it should be returned to insurance company who won't want it and won't want to know..

[ikarl]

Gareth79 said:

Yes it is fine, they will have bought the damaged car from the insurance company. IIRC there is an industry agreement that Cat A should be completely disposed of, Cat B can be parted out, Cat C and D can be resold whole. It's not law though - Cat A & B write-offs can theoretically be put back on the road but I think salvage companies doing that would soon be refused the opportunity to buy them.

Edited by Gareth79 on Tuesday 26th August 18:39

Before anyone questions this explanation, it's been discussed a hundred times and more on here..

Gareth is absolutely correct and has explained it perfectly!

[jeff666]

batmanreturns said:

I'm talking about parts from a car that was NOT written off and was repaired in the form of a back bumper and exhaust though. Surely the dealer can't then sell those parts as if they are their own?

Why not ? the damaged bumper and exhaust is no good to the customer, they have new ones fitted paid for by the ins co.

The ins co don't want the old parts back, this is why most body shops charge the ins co an environmental charge, usually around £10.00 it covers the disposal of the old parts, waste thinners etc.

[Andyjc86]

When the wife had a little bump a while ago. The insurance company decided to replace both car seats. Once I had them, I asked what to do with the old ones, their answer, whatever you want.

They went on ebay for spares.