My 2005 car written off
Discussion
Someone drove into my old Volvo, causing quite a lot of damage to the passenger side, from front wing to rear door. No doubt the car will be written-off, but I'm not sure what to do now...
It was a great car, and it was always serviced and repaired with Volvo parts. It had four new Bridgestone winter tyres fitted the week before Christmas, and a few months ago it had the timing belt & water pump changed, etc. etc.
I suspect I'll receive a few hundred quid for it, which might not even cover what the tyres cost!
I'm not currently seeing any cars advertised which could replace it. Used car prices seem to have risen in recent years, and there are fewer cars at the cheaper end of the market. It seems that the majority of cars under £1,000 are MOT failures, and many cars up to around £2,000 (and even more) don't seem particularly great. Also, I don't have much time to go searching for a car.
I suppose I could look into the possibility of buying the Volvo back from the insurance company, but then it would be categorised as a write-off, and I'm not completely sure about the damage it's suffered. There's obvious panel damage, but a front wheel probably took an impact, and it's possible the A-pillar has moved slightly. In any case, it probably wouldn't be cheap to repair even if I sourced doors and front wing from a breaker.
Has anyone else had a low value car written off, and if so, what did you do?
It was a great car, and it was always serviced and repaired with Volvo parts. It had four new Bridgestone winter tyres fitted the week before Christmas, and a few months ago it had the timing belt & water pump changed, etc. etc.
I suspect I'll receive a few hundred quid for it, which might not even cover what the tyres cost!
I'm not currently seeing any cars advertised which could replace it. Used car prices seem to have risen in recent years, and there are fewer cars at the cheaper end of the market. It seems that the majority of cars under £1,000 are MOT failures, and many cars up to around £2,000 (and even more) don't seem particularly great. Also, I don't have much time to go searching for a car.
I suppose I could look into the possibility of buying the Volvo back from the insurance company, but then it would be categorised as a write-off, and I'm not completely sure about the damage it's suffered. There's obvious panel damage, but a front wheel probably took an impact, and it's possible the A-pillar has moved slightly. In any case, it probably wouldn't be cheap to repair even if I sourced doors and front wing from a breaker.
Has anyone else had a low value car written off, and if so, what did you do?
My 2005 V70 was written off 3 years ago with panel damage to the passenger side...!
It was worth around £2.5k. As with yours, it was mechanically (and otherwise cosmetically) in well above average condition, so I bought it back from the insurance company for around £1k. I could have lived with it as it was, but I managed to source two doors in the correct colour from a breaker for about £150 and spent around 2 hours swapping the new doors on (and switching the mirror, door cards and higher spec speakers over from my old car). I ignored the minor scratching to the front and rear wing.
When I sold it on six months later (declared as Cat N), it was for pretty much full value as it was in very good overall condition in comparison to most other things out there.
Cat rating isn't such a big deal at this end of market, especially if you have photos to prove it is just panel damage (assuming it is).
In short, if you like the car and it is a relatively easy fix then go for it, especially as you've just spent a load on maintenance on it. If the A pillar has gone though, then your hands are tied (unless the car is on your property, in which case I'd get busy stripping all the good bits you can before they come to take it away!).
It was worth around £2.5k. As with yours, it was mechanically (and otherwise cosmetically) in well above average condition, so I bought it back from the insurance company for around £1k. I could have lived with it as it was, but I managed to source two doors in the correct colour from a breaker for about £150 and spent around 2 hours swapping the new doors on (and switching the mirror, door cards and higher spec speakers over from my old car). I ignored the minor scratching to the front and rear wing.
When I sold it on six months later (declared as Cat N), it was for pretty much full value as it was in very good overall condition in comparison to most other things out there.
Cat rating isn't such a big deal at this end of market, especially if you have photos to prove it is just panel damage (assuming it is).
In short, if you like the car and it is a relatively easy fix then go for it, especially as you've just spent a load on maintenance on it. If the A pillar has gone though, then your hands are tied (unless the car is on your property, in which case I'd get busy stripping all the good bits you can before they come to take it away!).
Thanks!
I'll see what the assessor says, and take it from there. Unfortunately, the car has been taken to the recovery company's compound, so I dont have access to it. My brother saw the car, and it was him who raised concerns about the A-pillar. I suppose the car would need to be put on a jig to check\straighten. It could have been twisted due to the side impact, which was hardest around the front passenger wing\wheel.
Mine is\was an S60 Sport with the D5 2.4 engine and manual gearbox - great car!
I'll see what the assessor says, and take it from there. Unfortunately, the car has been taken to the recovery company's compound, so I dont have access to it. My brother saw the car, and it was him who raised concerns about the A-pillar. I suppose the car would need to be put on a jig to check\straighten. It could have been twisted due to the side impact, which was hardest around the front passenger wing\wheel.
Mine is\was an S60 Sport with the D5 2.4 engine and manual gearbox - great car!
I had a similar experience last year when my 2005 BMW 330i got tapped in the rear at a set of lights.
A couple of gouges and very minor cracks in the rear bumper cover but the bodyshop recommended by the other drivers' insurer padded the estimate up to over £2K. BMW could supply the bumper cover in primer for about £650!
Anyway the other insurer made it a Cat N before they bothered telling me, but thankfully I still had it.
I didn't like their valuation and eventually got a slight increase out of them, but I got to keep it for 22% of their valuation (presumably what Copart would pay them) and it still runs great.
While it may be a Cat N on a car of that age I don't think it makes much difference to its value - I'll see if it affects insurance when it is up for renewal in April but I've had 50% of what I paid for it almost 5 years ago so no downside so far.
I hope your car is structurally OK because based on my experience it sounds like a keeper.
Here is what my Cat N damage looked like.
A couple of gouges and very minor cracks in the rear bumper cover but the bodyshop recommended by the other drivers' insurer padded the estimate up to over £2K. BMW could supply the bumper cover in primer for about £650!
Anyway the other insurer made it a Cat N before they bothered telling me, but thankfully I still had it.
I didn't like their valuation and eventually got a slight increase out of them, but I got to keep it for 22% of their valuation (presumably what Copart would pay them) and it still runs great.
While it may be a Cat N on a car of that age I don't think it makes much difference to its value - I'll see if it affects insurance when it is up for renewal in April but I've had 50% of what I paid for it almost 5 years ago so no downside so far.
I hope your car is structurally OK because based on my experience it sounds like a keeper.
Here is what my Cat N damage looked like.
Mr Tidy said:
I had a similar experience last year when my 2005 BMW 330i got tapped in the rear at a set of lights.
A couple of gouges and very minor cracks in the rear bumper cover but the bodyshop recommended by the other drivers' insurer padded the estimate up to over £2K. BMW could supply the bumper cover in primer for about £650!
Anyway the other insurer made it a Cat N before they bothered telling me, but thankfully I still had it.
I didn't like their valuation and eventually got a slight increase out of them, but I got to keep it for 22% of their valuation (presumably what Copart would pay them) and it still runs great.
While it may be a Cat N on a car of that age I don't think it makes much difference to its value - I'll see if it affects insurance when it is up for renewal in April but I've had 50% of what I paid for it almost 5 years ago so no downside so far.
I hope your car is structurally OK because based on my experience it sounds like a keeper.
Here is what my Cat N damage looked like.
It was written off for those two blemishes? The kind of mark you would get clipping a gate post and shrug it of as "oh bA couple of gouges and very minor cracks in the rear bumper cover but the bodyshop recommended by the other drivers' insurer padded the estimate up to over £2K. BMW could supply the bumper cover in primer for about £650!
Anyway the other insurer made it a Cat N before they bothered telling me, but thankfully I still had it.
I didn't like their valuation and eventually got a slight increase out of them, but I got to keep it for 22% of their valuation (presumably what Copart would pay them) and it still runs great.
While it may be a Cat N on a car of that age I don't think it makes much difference to its value - I'll see if it affects insurance when it is up for renewal in April but I've had 50% of what I paid for it almost 5 years ago so no downside so far.
I hope your car is structurally OK because based on my experience it sounds like a keeper.
Here is what my Cat N damage looked like.
ks" ! My 2007 Astra was written off in 2020 after someone drove into it when it was parked outside the house.
My insurance co offered me £900 for it. I trawled autotrader for comparable replacements that were actually on the market from dealers (I think I did an 80 mile search radius and looked for cars more or less the same give or take a bit of mileage and a year either way).
I found comparables from £1400 - £2500 (the higher end was better spec'd cars to be fair) and sent these to the insurance co and they came back the next day with a revised offer of £1500 which I accepted.
I've just had a quick look on AT for an S60 (2004 - 2006) and in useable condition and found this for £1484
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310283...
Plenty more petrol engined variants too you could include.
My insurance co offered me £900 for it. I trawled autotrader for comparable replacements that were actually on the market from dealers (I think I did an 80 mile search radius and looked for cars more or less the same give or take a bit of mileage and a year either way).
I found comparables from £1400 - £2500 (the higher end was better spec'd cars to be fair) and sent these to the insurance co and they came back the next day with a revised offer of £1500 which I accepted.
I've just had a quick look on AT for an S60 (2004 - 2006) and in useable condition and found this for £1484
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310283...
Plenty more petrol engined variants too you could include.
I had my insignia wrote off which i paid £1350 for. It was only rear bumper damage so bought it back as a cat n. I got £1800 back after the salvage fees and fitted a colour coded bumper myself that was £30 
Id rather not have a cat n car but it made a lot more sense retaining the car as its a lot easier than sifting through dross and possibly buying a lemon.
Id rather not have a cat n car but it made a lot more sense retaining the car as its a lot easier than sifting through dross and possibly buying a lemon.
My 2005 X Trail got written off last month for this:
I asked about claiming for my damage, and I was offered the Copart value for the car of £1080, the car is worth around £2,500 and has under 100k miles on it. I asked what would happen if I didn't claim for my damage and they said nothing would happen - no Cat marker, no write off.
A good friend and PH contributor told me that his son had reversed his similar 2005 X trail into a post recently, with not dissimilar damage.
It's a plastic bumper, just needs heating up and pushing out, then re-spraying if it won't buff out.
Just the joy of removing a number of probably rusted bolts to get it off the car, as access is limited.
I suggest you try negotiating with the insurers, you are insured for the car's market value, not its scrap value. If no dice and you want to put it right, then buy the car off them and go hunting on Ebay. I have previously managed to buy a complete Merc ML tailgate in the right colour from a Merc scrapyard, when mine got damaged and the rear screen broken. £125 for the tailgate and £125 to have it swapped over. All I had to do was find it and collect it.
I asked about claiming for my damage, and I was offered the Copart value for the car of £1080, the car is worth around £2,500 and has under 100k miles on it. I asked what would happen if I didn't claim for my damage and they said nothing would happen - no Cat marker, no write off.
A good friend and PH contributor told me that his son had reversed his similar 2005 X trail into a post recently, with not dissimilar damage.
It's a plastic bumper, just needs heating up and pushing out, then re-spraying if it won't buff out.
Just the joy of removing a number of probably rusted bolts to get it off the car, as access is limited.
I suggest you try negotiating with the insurers, you are insured for the car's market value, not its scrap value. If no dice and you want to put it right, then buy the car off them and go hunting on Ebay. I have previously managed to buy a complete Merc ML tailgate in the right colour from a Merc scrapyard, when mine got damaged and the rear screen broken. £125 for the tailgate and £125 to have it swapped over. All I had to do was find it and collect it.
I’m a bit confused by some of the comments.
I assumed if you buy the car back from the insurers and its value is agreed at say £1500,you get the car plus £1500 less it’s scrap value of ( maybe £200)?
So you get the car,plus £1300 with the downside being it has a marker against it ?
Asking as my daughter has found herself in a similar position!
I assumed if you buy the car back from the insurers and its value is agreed at say £1500,you get the car plus £1500 less it’s scrap value of ( maybe £200)?
So you get the car,plus £1300 with the downside being it has a marker against it ?
Asking as my daughter has found herself in a similar position!
sjc said:
I’m a bit confused by some of the comments.
I assumed if you buy the car back from the insurers and its value is agreed at say £1500,you get the car plus £1500 less it’s scrap value of ( maybe £200)?
So you get the car,plus £1300 with the downside being it has a marker against it ?
Asking as my daughter has found herself in a similar position!
Exactly that. I assumed if you buy the car back from the insurers and its value is agreed at say £1500,you get the car plus £1500 less it’s scrap value of ( maybe £200)?
So you get the car,plus £1300 with the downside being it has a marker against it ?
Asking as my daughter has found herself in a similar position!
Alex Z said:
sjc said:
I’m a bit confused by some of the comments.
I assumed if you buy the car back from the insurers and its value is agreed at say £1500,you get the car plus £1500 less it’s scrap value of ( maybe £200)?
So you get the car,plus £1300 with the downside being it has a marker against it ?
Asking as my daughter has found herself in a similar position!
Exactly that. I assumed if you buy the car back from the insurers and its value is agreed at say £1500,you get the car plus £1500 less it’s scrap value of ( maybe £200)?
So you get the car,plus £1300 with the downside being it has a marker against it ?
Asking as my daughter has found herself in a similar position!
That's a shame, but might work out OK for you in the end, just don't take their first offer.
The insurance business is such a joke at the moment.
Is it possible to get a pay out up to the level of a car being written off? Say a car is worth £5k and the cut off for writing it off is £1500 could you get £1400 and not have the car written off?
The insurance business is such a joke at the moment.
Is it possible to get a pay out up to the level of a car being written off? Say a car is worth £5k and the cut off for writing it off is £1500 could you get £1400 and not have the car written off?
QBee said:
My 2005 X Trail got written off last month for this:
I asked about claiming for my damage, and I was offered the Copart value for the car of £1080, the car is worth around £2,500 and has under 100k miles on it. I asked what would happen if I didn't claim for my damage and they said nothing would happen - no Cat marker, no write off.
A good friend and PH contributor told me that his son had reversed his similar 2005 X trail into a post recently, with not dissimilar damage.
It's a plastic bumper, just needs heating up and pushing out, then re-spraying if it won't buff out.
Just the joy of removing a number of probably rusted bolts to get it off the car, as access is limited.
I suggest you try negotiating with the insurers, you are insured for the car's market value, not its scrap value. If no dice and you want to put it right, then buy the car off them and go hunting on Ebay. I have previously managed to buy a complete Merc ML tailgate in the right colour from a Merc scrapyard, when mine got damaged and the rear screen broken. £125 for the tailgate and £125 to have it swapped over. All I had to do was find it and collect it.
Try pouring boiling water over first and getting your hand in to push the dent out. Worked on my missus micra and may save you taking it all off.I asked about claiming for my damage, and I was offered the Copart value for the car of £1080, the car is worth around £2,500 and has under 100k miles on it. I asked what would happen if I didn't claim for my damage and they said nothing would happen - no Cat marker, no write off.
A good friend and PH contributor told me that his son had reversed his similar 2005 X trail into a post recently, with not dissimilar damage.
It's a plastic bumper, just needs heating up and pushing out, then re-spraying if it won't buff out.
Just the joy of removing a number of probably rusted bolts to get it off the car, as access is limited.
I suggest you try negotiating with the insurers, you are insured for the car's market value, not its scrap value. If no dice and you want to put it right, then buy the car off them and go hunting on Ebay. I have previously managed to buy a complete Merc ML tailgate in the right colour from a Merc scrapyard, when mine got damaged and the rear screen broken. £125 for the tailgate and £125 to have it swapped over. All I had to do was find it and collect it.
sjc said:
I’m a bit confused by some of the comments.
I assumed if you buy the car back from the insurers and its value is agreed at say £1500,you get the car plus £1500 less it’s scrap value of ( maybe £200)?
So you get the car,plus £1300 with the downside being it has a marker against it ?
Asking as my daughter has found herself in a similar position!
Its a salvage fee,not scrap value though and ive got it in my head its around 30% but dont know if thats right or varies for any reason. Id imagine its the estimated auction price if it went there.I assumed if you buy the car back from the insurers and its value is agreed at say £1500,you get the car plus £1500 less it’s scrap value of ( maybe £200)?
So you get the car,plus £1300 with the downside being it has a marker against it ?
Asking as my daughter has found herself in a similar position!
Ryyy said:
QBee said:
My 2005 X Trail got written off last month for this:
I asked about claiming for my damage, and I was offered the Copart value for the car of £1080, the car is worth around £2,500 and has under 100k miles on it. I asked what would happen if I didn't claim for my damage and they said nothing would happen - no Cat marker, no write off.
A good friend and PH contributor told me that his son had reversed his similar 2005 X trail into a post recently, with not dissimilar damage.
It's a plastic bumper, just needs heating up and pushing out, then re-spraying if it won't buff out.
Just the joy of removing a number of probably rusted bolts to get it off the car, as access is limited.
I suggest you try negotiating with the insurers, you are insured for the car's market value, not its scrap value. If no dice and you want to put it right, then buy the car off them and go hunting on Ebay. I have previously managed to buy a complete Merc ML tailgate in the right colour from a Merc scrapyard, when mine got damaged and the rear screen broken. £125 for the tailgate and £125 to have it swapped over. All I had to do was find it and collect it.
Try pouring boiling water over first and getting your hand in to push the dent out. Worked on my missus micra and may save you taking it all off.I asked about claiming for my damage, and I was offered the Copart value for the car of £1080, the car is worth around £2,500 and has under 100k miles on it. I asked what would happen if I didn't claim for my damage and they said nothing would happen - no Cat marker, no write off.
A good friend and PH contributor told me that his son had reversed his similar 2005 X trail into a post recently, with not dissimilar damage.
It's a plastic bumper, just needs heating up and pushing out, then re-spraying if it won't buff out.
Just the joy of removing a number of probably rusted bolts to get it off the car, as access is limited.
I suggest you try negotiating with the insurers, you are insured for the car's market value, not its scrap value. If no dice and you want to put it right, then buy the car off them and go hunting on Ebay. I have previously managed to buy a complete Merc ML tailgate in the right colour from a Merc scrapyard, when mine got damaged and the rear screen broken. £125 for the tailgate and £125 to have it swapped over. All I had to do was find it and collect it.
Pamoothican said:
That's a shame, but might work out OK for you in the end, just don't take their first offer.
The insurance business is such a joke at the moment.
Is it possible to get a pay out up to the level of a car being written off? Say a car is worth £5k and the cut off for writing it off is £1500 could you get £1400 and not have the car written off?
Yes. Tell them you want to fix it yourself and request a cash settlement. I've done this previously to prevent a car being written off.The insurance business is such a joke at the moment.
Is it possible to get a pay out up to the level of a car being written off? Say a car is worth £5k and the cut off for writing it off is £1500 could you get £1400 and not have the car written off?
Colleague going through this at the moment.
Problem as I see it, apart from any emotional attachment to the car, is that you "know what you've got" in terms of servicing, any big expensive jobs that have been done, and if it is written off you have to step into the unknown with a second hand car (that is being sold possibly because it has upcoming issues / big bills).
For that reason at this end of the market I'd be trying to buy it back from the insurance company.
Problem as I see it, apart from any emotional attachment to the car, is that you "know what you've got" in terms of servicing, any big expensive jobs that have been done, and if it is written off you have to step into the unknown with a second hand car (that is being sold possibly because it has upcoming issues / big bills).
For that reason at this end of the market I'd be trying to buy it back from the insurance company.
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