Non fault accident

[fatboynash]

I was hit by an HGV whilst sitting in stationary traffic in the Dartford Tunnel. The damage requires a new tailgate, lights, bumper, exhaust and paintwork.

If they repair the car it will be re-classified as a CAT D, therefore devaluing the car by say 20-25 percent.

Based on this do I have to accept the car back if they do want to repair it.

Any feedback greatly appreciated.

[KungFuPanda]

If they repair it, it won't be classed as anything.

If they declare it as a Cat D, you'll receive a cheque for the value of the car and it'll be taken off you.

[RYH64E]

This comes up time and again, Cat C or D classifications are not based upon the severity of any accident damage and mean nothing without context. They're based upon the cost of repair compared to car value, £10k of repair work on a £50k car wouldn't be recorded in any way, whereas £500 of damage could be enough to write off a cheap car.

Edited by RYH64E on Saturday 12th December 17:17

[TooMany2cvs]

fatboynash said:

If they repair the car it will be re-classified as a CAT D

Cat D means it's been written off not repaired, even though the cost to repair was below the pre-accident value of the car. You will be paid the full pre-accident value of the car, and never see it again.

If it was repaired by the insurer, it wouldn't be categorised.

If it gets repaired AND Cat D flagged, then there's some kind of deal been done, whereby the car's been written-off, but retained in exchange for giving up a %age of the pay-out as salvage value, then repaired. Whether you choose to do that or not is down to you, and there's no further payout due, because you've decided that it's worth going that route.

[Planet Claire]

Similar, I was stationary when someone went into the back of me about three weeks ago (thankfully other party admitted liability). Unfortunately the cost of repairing means the insurance company want to write-off my beloved MX5, even though the damage isn't major. I can buy it back but would be Cat-D, which is not what I want, nor should I accept. Therefore I'm trying to get them to settle on a cash-in-lieu settlement. As I understand it, they just give me the money to repair, and they can close the claim. Still waiting on them to give me an offer though .

[the_lone_wolf]

Planet Claire said:

Similar, I was stationary when someone went into the back of me about three weeks ago (thankfully other party admitted liability). Unfortunately the cost of repairing means the insurance company want to write-off my beloved MX5, even though the damage isn't major. I can buy it back but would be Cat-D, which is not what I want, nor should I accept.

Struggling with this one

Regardless of the insurance register saying Cat D or not the car will still have been repaired won't it? You'll still be morally obliged to reveal that when selling it and the insurance register won't affect the quality of the repair...

In the politest way possible, a T reg MX-5 isn't exactly a newer or sought after model that would require a clean slate to sell, I'd bet there are more MX-5s from that era on the road sporting repairs of some sort than those not.

Certainly wouldn't put me off if, as you clearly are, the seller of a Cat D MX-5 were a keen MX-5 fan - I'd take it any day over a "clean" one from the local "not a clue" dealer...

[RYH64E]

the_lone_wolf said:

Struggling with this one

Regardless of the insurance register saying Cat D or not the car will still have been repaired won't it? You'll still be morally obliged to reveal that when selling it and the insurance register won't affect the quality of the repair...

In the politest way possible, a T reg MX-5 isn't exactly a newer or sought after model that would require a clean slate to sell, I'd bet there are more MX-5s from that era on the road sporting repairs of some sort than those not.

Certainly wouldn't put me off if, as you clearly are, the seller of a Cat D MX-5 were a keen MX-5 fan - I'd take it any day over a "clean" one from the local "not a clue" dealer...

It's much harder to sell a cat C or D car, potential buyers always assume that the car has had major accident damage and been written of as unsafe to repair.

[TooMany2cvs]

Planet Claire said:

Unfortunately the cost of repairing means the insurance company want to write-off my beloved MX5, even though the damage isn't major. I can buy it back but would be Cat-D

Then it's not the cost of repair which is stopping them repairing it, since Cat D means the damage was less than the value.

Planet Claire said:

which is not what I want, nor should I accept.

Why not? If it's that beloved, I presume you won't be selling it soon, so that's irrelevant. B'sides, if it's an older (so low value) MX, then it's going to be condition alone which sets the value. And you would be honest about it having had collision damage repair, wouldn't you?

So it's just a few words on some paperwork which you'd be happy to explain to any buyer in the far future...

Against that, it means that YOU get to choose the quality of repair, and whether you want any betterment work doing at the same time.

Seems like a win to me.

[BertBert]

The reality is that a cat d car will be harder to sell and worth less than an identical damaged repaired car not on the register.
Bert

[LoonR1]

fatboynash said:

I was hit by an HGV whilst sitting in stationary traffic in the Dartford Tunnel. The damage requires a new tailgate, lights, bumper, exhaust and paintwork.

If they repair the car it will be re-classified as a CAT D, therefore devaluing the car by say 20-25 percent.

Based on this do I have to accept the car back if they do want to repair it.

Any feedback greatly appreciated.

You clearly have no idea at all about what's happening.

[TooMany2cvs]

BertBert said:

The reality is that a cat d car will be harder to sell and worth less than an identical damaged repaired car not on the register.

Planet Claire is talking about a grand and change of 16yo MX5. The difference in value between one with Cat D and one without is going to be minimal, relative to the condition of it.

We have no idea what vehicle the OP's talking about.

[RYH64E]

TooMany2cvs said:

BertBert said:

The reality is that a cat d car will be harder to sell and worth less than an identical damaged repaired car not on the register.

Planet Claire is talking about a grand and change of 16yo MX5. The difference in value between one with Cat D and one without is going to be minimal, relative to the condition of it.

We have no idea what vehicle the OP's talking about.

Have you read the Shed of the Week Alfa 156 thread? There are people on there who believe that any car with a Cat C or D classification must be a death trap. Few people have any understanding of what it actually means.

[BertBert]

TooMany2cvs said:

Planet Claire is talking about a grand and change of 16yo MX5. The difference in value between one with Cat D and one without is going to be minimal, relative to the condition of it.

We have no idea what vehicle the OP's talking about.

Yes good point, but 30% of the value might still be important to people

[anonymous-user]

Document the damage and the repair with plenty of pictures. That'll make it much easier to sell on, unless the damage really is extensive and structural in which case you'll be in the same position as having no evidence at all in terms of desirablilty to buyers.

[LoonR1]

BertBert said:

TooMany2cvs said:

Planet Claire is talking about a grand and change of 16yo MX5. The difference in value between one with Cat D and one without is going to be minimal, relative to the condition of it.

We have no idea what vehicle the OP's talking about.

Yes good point, but 30% of the value might still be important to people

If that's the case then don't buy the damaged car back. Take a full payout and go and find another car. Nobody is forced to keep their written off car.

[TooMany2cvs]

RYH64E said:

There are people on there who believe that any car with a Cat C or D classification must be a death trap. Few people have any understanding of what it actually means.

There are people who seem to think a 5yo+ car is overdue for scrapping.
There are people who seem to think a brand spankin' new car with a minor paint scratch should be scrapped.
The world is not underendowed with raving wuckfits. And, going by the 156 thread, they walk even amongst us.

Edited by TooMany2cvs on Sunday 13th December 17:41

[Red Devil]

TooMany2cvs said:

fatboynash said:

If they repair the car it will be re-classified as a CAT D

Cat D means it's been written off not repaired, even though the cost to repair was below the pre-accident value of the car. You will be paid the full pre-accident value of the car, and never see it again.

If it was repaired by the insurer, it wouldn't be categorised.

If it gets repaired AND Cat D flagged, then there's some kind of deal been done, whereby the car's been written-off, but retained in exchange for giving up a %age of the pay-out as salvage value, then repaired. Whether you choose to do that or not is down to you, and there's no further payout due, because you've decided that it's worth going that route.

Your appear to be contradicting yourself.

I know several people who have done the latter and so kept their p&j. With a car over 15 years old it takes very little damage for it to be declared a Cat D.

[RYH64E]

TooMany2cvs said:

RYH64E said:

There are people on there who believe that any car with a Cat C or D classification must be a death trap. Few people have any understanding of what it actually means.

There are people who seem to think a 5yo+ car is overdue for scrapping.
There are people who seem to think a brand spankin' new car with a minor paint scratch should be scrapped.
The world is not underendowed with raving wuckfits. And, going by the 156 thread, they walk even amongst us.

And unfortunately, these people form a large part of the market for second hand cars, trying to sell to them is hard enough without the added disadvantage of a cat C or D marker on the car.