Insurance V write off
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Discussion

oldaudi

Original Poster:

1,643 posts

189 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
So, A few weeks ago someone crashed into our car and from what I can see damaged the plastic bumper a small part of the metal wheel arch is dented.

The person that crashed into it admitted their fault and its gone through insurance to get it fixed.

The repair in my view doesn't look like it would it take much, a new bumper and some small amount of paint. The people doing the work have quoted over £2K which is over 65% of the value of the car. Their insurance company has two weeks to say if they will go ahead with the repair or write the car off.

Im fuming. What are the chance of this company paying out for the repairs? Anyone know if there is a cut off point where they don't pay for the repair? Surely its better for them to pay for the repair than pay out for the full value of the car?

Any one been in the same situation?
Can I get another quote rather than the one that our insurance company provided?

Thanks.

aw51 121565

4,773 posts

264 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
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Assuming they write the car off, they will pay you more-or-less the value of the car less the cost of the salvage (as you will be keeping it wink - be assertive on this point!).

You then repair the car yourself for significantly less than what the insurer's preferred repairer (or assessor or whoever) is quoting - and you will probably have enough cash left to treat yourself and the family as well smile .

oldaudi

Original Poster:

1,643 posts

189 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
Will this process make it a Cat C or D? So I can keep the car, fix it for hopefully less than what they pay out and pocket the difference

Will my insurance company be happy with this?

Krikkit

27,938 posts

212 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
Chances are it'll be Cat.C, depending on the actual details of the quote (was the repair >65%, or the repair+hire car and sundry costs?) Cat. C will need a VIC check once repaired (which isn't an enhanced MOT, just an identity check).

M6L11

1,246 posts

157 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
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[Deleted incorrect beliefs to save misleading]

Edited by M6L11 on Thursday 29th January 17:07

LordGrover

34,186 posts

243 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
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M6L11 said:
As far as I understand it, a third party insurer can't write off your car. It's at your discretion whether you push for repairs or accept a write-off settlement. Only your own insurer can write off your car, if you make a claim against your own policy. The third party has a responsibility to put you back in the same position and if that means repairing your car then that's their problem. Accepting it back as salvage would leave it a write-off, yes.
I didn't know that. Ta.

ZOLLAR

19,920 posts

204 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
M6L11 said:
As far as I understand it, a third party insurer can't write off your car. It's at your discretion whether you push for repairs or accept a write-off settlement. Only your own insurer can write off your car, if you make a claim against your own policy. The third party has a responsibility to put you back in the same position and if that means repairing your car then that's their problem. Accepting it back as salvage would leave it a write-off, yes.
Ignore this OP it's completely incorrect, TP insurer can write your car off they can't be forced to pay for repairs if it is uneconomical to do so.

M6L11

1,246 posts

157 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
LordGrover said:
I didn't know that. Ta.
As I said it's only what I've picked up from the forums and I may be wrong, or at best overly simplistic. But that's what I'd come to understand. I imagine it's not entirely black and white, and you do have a duty to mitigate your losses (for example if repairing it would cost three times the value of a new car then you're clearly in dodgy waters). I'll watch with interest to see what better advice comes along.

SMcP114

2,916 posts

223 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
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LordGrover said:
I didn't know that. Ta.
Ignore that completely.

The Turbonator

2,792 posts

182 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
After my bump last week, our car is getting repaired at a cost of £5500, when it's probably worth about the same.

AXA have been great and when the assessor rang me about the damage, I told him that I really didn't want it written off.

He was going to write it off at first, I mean it's only a Grand Picasso but it's been very well looked after and has only done 35,000 miles. When I explained that, he was very under understanding and said he'd do what he could and ring me back. 15 minutes later, he called back saying it was going ahead for the repairs but that if anything else came up, he would have no choice but to right it off.

I've been with AXA for four years now and once again they've been fantastic and have gained a customer for a very long time to come.


oldaudi

Original Poster:

1,643 posts

189 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
Thanks all. I know this is what insurance does but I'm annoyed because I look after my cars, its done very low miles, its serviced correctly, just had the MOT and Timing belt and water pump completed with an aim to keep it on the road for a long time. Its not worth a great deal, probably less than I think but its the family wagon and Ill be annoyed if it goes as scrap for what appeared to be a new bumper and a small dent. I know the cost to fix will include the labour which is why their estimate to fix it is high.

Just means that Ill get very little back and wont find another car in the same condition assuming we go like for like. Ill keep you informed but we now have a windows of two weeks where the at fulat drivers insurance will decide or not to go ahead. Not sure if it makes any difference but it was a business insurance and one of their drivers did the damage. All because he couldnt wait and tried to squeeze pass a small space at 5 miles an hour and ripped our bumper off as he drove pass. Arrghhhh

Edited by oldaudi on Thursday 29th January 17:15

oldaudi

Original Poster:

1,643 posts

189 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
The Turbonator said:
After my bump last week, our car is getting repaired at a cost of £5500, when it's probably worth about the same.

AXA have been great and when the assessor rang me about the damage, I told him that I really didn't want it written off.

He was going to write it off at first, I mean it's only a Grand Picasso but it's been very well looked after and has only done 35,000 miles. When I explained that, he was very under understanding and said he'd do what he could and ring me back. 15 minutes later, he called back saying it was going ahead for the repairs but that if anything else came up, he would have no choice but to right it off.

I've been with AXA for four years now and once again they've been fantastic and have gained a customer for a very long time to come.
That sounds promising. For what its worth, I'm with Admiral and its gone to their approved repairer for the assessment. Its that report that's gone to the third parties insurer.

73mark

774 posts

158 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
oldaudi said:
That sounds promising. For what its worth, I'm with Admiral and its gone to their approved repairer for the assessment. Its that report that's gone to the third parties insurer.
The miss had admiral approved assessors. They came back with we can't assess what is old and what is new damage,my miss was not happy and said she would only be happy with main volvo dealer. She got her way like they always do car value £1200-1400 cost of repair £1100. Makes no sense.

oldaudi

Original Poster:

1,643 posts

189 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
SO the value of the car was upto £1400, cost of repair was £1100 and they paid for it to be repaired?

73mark

774 posts

158 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
oldaudi said:
SO the value of the car was upto £1400, cost of repair was £1100 and they paid for it to be repaired?
Yes it's a Volvo S60 d5 03 plate with over 142000 miles. Now with a brand new bumper on it.

oldaudi

Original Poster:

1,643 posts

189 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
Blimey this is good news, hopefully they'll sort mine then!

73mark

774 posts

158 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
I've just text the miss will put a picture up of the receipt/proof of it.

oldaudi

Original Poster:

1,643 posts

189 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
Its OK, I totally believe you. It just provides me with hope. Surely if the repair costs 65% (including any hire car) of the value of the car, why would they want to fork out another 35% to pay me off?


ZOLLAR

19,920 posts

204 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
73mark said:
oldaudi said:
That sounds promising. For what its worth, I'm with Admiral and its gone to their approved repairer for the assessment. Its that report that's gone to the third parties insurer.
The miss had admiral approved assessors. They came back with we can't assess what is old and what is new damage,my miss was not happy and said she would only be happy with main volvo dealer. She got her way like they always do car value £1200-1400 cost of repair £1100. Makes no sense.
In this case replacing the bumper is not likely to lead to future rectification issues and the salvage the insurer would receive back would be minimal on a car with a value of 1200-1400 so I can see why that would be repaired.

oldaudi

Original Poster:

1,643 posts

189 months

Friday 30th January 2015
quotequote all
Another question as this has been playing on my mind all night.

Just because the insurance company think it will cost more to fix than its worth doesn't automatically put it as a write off if I choose not to go ahead with their decision? Does it?

I'm assuming I can go elsewhere for another quote or just not go through the insurance and get it all done privately with me picking up the bill? I think the main cost is going to be for the supply and fitting/painting of a new bumper. But Im almost certain they've added a lot for the small loss of paint and dent in the rear quarter. I've had bigger dents pulled out by Dent companies for £50 and I can replace the rear light cluster plastic for £35 on the bay. Can I just get them to do part of the job, ie the bumper and Ill sort the rest out

Please don't tell me that a third party can automatically write my car off, surely I can just refuse them to have any further involvement?