Chance of write off if I claim for stolen wheels?
Chance of write off if I claim for stolen wheels?
Author
Discussion

TroubledSoul

Original Poster:

4,669 posts

224 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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Hi all, I am just having a quandry at the minute with regards to the wheels that were stolen from my M3 Evo and whether to claim for them.

Would there be a risk of the car being written off for such a claim? I think we valued it at £4.5k when the policy was taken out (which we paid for it) and secondhand a set of wheels would be around £400, but obviously the insurance would replace with new. These are either around £1400 +vat from BMW or £2200 inc tyres +vat from BMW so a huge chunk of the car's value.

my main policy with my NCB is separate to this one on this car, but obviously I'd still have to declare a claim at renewal in future. I'm trying to weigh up whether it's worth it or not as I'm loathe to swallow such a loss due to a thieving scumbag.

MitchT

17,157 posts

239 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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If it's a good, clean example it'll be worth a lot more than £4.5k now. You'll need to do some digging to find out roughly how much though. Then do your calculations as to whether you should claim or not.

ging84

9,548 posts

176 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
Chances are that's not enough to write it off anyway, but even if it was, if you offered for them to settle the claim for a cash amount lower than the car's value as a contribution towards the wheels, they would be fools to say no.
insurers don't have a write off quota to fill

but for the sake of £400 odd you need to consider if having a theft claim against you is worth it

MrJuice

3,770 posts

186 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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No idea about answer to your question but I am very surprised someone went to all the trouble of taking your wheels and will get a maximum of £400 for them. Must be more desperate people out there than I imagined

TroubledSoul

Original Poster:

4,669 posts

224 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
It's a lot of money if you don't pay any taxes or rent/mortgage wink

ging84

9,548 posts

176 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
MrJuice said:
No idea about answer to your question but I am very surprised someone went to all the trouble of taking your wheels and will get a maximum of £400 for them. Must be more desperate people out there than I imagined
You're kidding right? people will steal stuff worth a lot less than £400
people will smash your window for a handful of loose change if parked in the wrong sort of place.

wolf1

3,100 posts

280 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
Were they actually attached to the car at the time of the theft?

ging84

9,548 posts

176 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
wolf1 said:
Were they actually attached to the car at the time of the theft?
probably depends if you count the work to remove them from the car, by the thieves as part of the theft

i think the OP might have mentioned it if they were some random wheels stolen from his boot, rather than the ones attached to the car
but this is PH so maybe not

LoonR1

26,988 posts

207 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
The maths for a write off is fairly simple for you to do. It's considered a write off, if the cost of repair is more than 70% of the value of the car pre accident / theft, as a general rule.

It shouldn't be too hard to work it out based on the numbers you've given above

dacouch

1,172 posts

159 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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How old were the tyres as depending on their age a deduction may be made for wear and tear on the tyres aka betterment

wolf1

3,100 posts

280 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
ging84 said:
wolf1 said:
Were they actually attached to the car at the time of the theft?
probably depends if you count the work to remove them from the car, by the thieves as part of the theft

i think the OP might have mentioned it if they were some random wheels stolen from his boot, rather than the ones attached to the car
but this is PH so maybe not
TroubledSoul said:
Already been looking. One set was stacked beside the garage, out of sight of the front. Other set was stacked behind my M3 as they belong to it.
He did in his other thread, I was pointing out that they weren't actually attached to the car so may not be covered

Zoobeef

6,004 posts

188 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
LoonR1 said:
The maths for a write off is fairly simple for you to do. It's considered a write off, if the cost of repair is more than 70% of the value of the car pre accident / theft, as a general rule.

It shouldn't be too hard to work it out based on the numbers you've given above
I was very surprised to find that privilege go up too 100% of the value as a write off! Meant that my 02 plate A4 with 200k on the clock wasnt writen off when I was rear ended last year!

LoonR1

26,988 posts

207 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
wolf1 said:
He did in his other thread, I was pointing out that they weren't actually attached to the car so may not be covered
Odds on you'll be right too. I can't see an insurer paying out for these if they were off the car and stored.

LoonR1

26,988 posts

207 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
Zoobeef said:
I was very surprised to find that privilege go up too 100% of the value as a write off! Meant that my 02 plate A4 with 200k on the clock wasnt writen off when I was rear ended last year!
They shouldn't be. The other insurer probably wouldn't pay them their outlay in full when they try to recover.

hidetheelephants

36,164 posts

223 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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LoonR1 said:
wolf1 said:
He did in his other thread, I was pointing out that they weren't actually attached to the car so may not be covered
Odds on you'll be right too. I can't see an insurer paying out for these if they were off the car and stored.
And quite likely the house contents cover won't spring for anything over a grand unless it's noted specifically.

Zoobeef

6,004 posts

188 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
LoonR1 said:
They shouldn't be. The other insurer probably wouldn't pay them their outlay in full when they try to recover.
It's just what the assessor said as I mentioned I was keen to buy it back if it was written off. In the end it was only £730 which was about 40% of the value.

surveyor

18,705 posts

214 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
hidetheelephants said:
LoonR1 said:
wolf1 said:
He did in his other thread, I was pointing out that they weren't actually attached to the car so may not be covered
Odds on you'll be right too. I can't see an insurer paying out for these if they were off the car and stored.
And quite likely the house contents cover won't spring for anything over a grand unless it's noted specifically.
This scenario happened to my father. Can't remember the company involved.

Not covered by car policy as not on car.
Not covered by house policy as vehicle related items were a specific exclusion.

steveo3002

11,231 posts

204 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
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get the used ones for £400 and get on with life , save you declaring any claims for the next 5 years and the $$ loading it might bring

davepoth

29,395 posts

229 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
steveo3002 said:
get the used ones for £400 and get on with life , save you declaring any claims for the next 5 years and the $$ loading it might bring
Since they aren't on the car would it be better to go through your home insurance?

LoonR1

26,988 posts

207 months

Tuesday 29th December 2015
quotequote all
davepoth said:
steveo3002 said:
get the used ones for £400 and get on with life , save you declaring any claims for the next 5 years and the $$ loading it might bring
Since they aren't on the car would it be better to go through your home insurance?
I doubt his home insuramce will cover them.