7 months to repair car!

[Gtayee]

The story
My car was rear ended whilst I was parked up by the roadside (parked legally)
By an off duty plod, who careered into the rear corner of my car despite a dry bright day, pushing my car 4 metres forward
The car is a 17 plate golf gti , nothing outrageously fancy but I like it

I had assumed write off from day 1,but it's being repaired, I haven't claimed off my insurance all through a claim company as other driver accepted full liability
He's considerably lucky given my 2 kids were in the back and both walked away, could have been a whole lot worse.

Anyway, fast forward 7 months and I'm getting my car back next week, having had a hire car Audi A3 for 4 months then a Merc cla amg line for 3 months, I absolutely shudder at the thought of the cost of that, why my car was never written off is beyond me

So my car has sat for 7 months and now mot has expired, should I be expecting the garage to mot before returning to me? And should I be concerned at all the fluids having sat for 7 months? It's getting a service a week after I get it back.
A truly bizarre situation all round for me
Any thoughts appreciated

[sixor8]

Presumably, the car will have been moved around several times and brakes etc won't be seized on. I take cars off the road for winter for months at a time (usually a TVR ) but I trickle charge the battery and check the clutch and brakes haven't stuck on, long term use of the handbrake is not good either.

It'll need a good check over, I'm sure they can't return it to you unroadworthy but that's not the same as having a valid MoT. You can drive it legally straight to a pre-booked MoT test centre if it's insured.

[Gtayee]

Yeah totally get that, think it would be a little unreasonable for me to have to collect and go straight to mot centre surely, timing would need to be very accurate and I can't legally even drive the car home then back to mot centre the next day!

[Sebring440]

No use arguing with PH peeps, if you've got any questions, contact the accident management company.

[Gericho]

I wouldn't care about driving it without an MOT until I get booked in personally. Nobody actually follows rules anymore.

[Junglebert]

I was in the same situation last year. The car was away for about 4 months, and though the body shop did MOTs I couldn’t book one, as I didn’t know when the car would be repaired, and they wouldn’t fit me in with little notice, so the day I arranged to collect, I booked a test at a place close to home. Worked out fine in the end.

[P2KKA]

Gtayee said:

I haven't claimed off my insurance all through a claim company as other driver accepted full liability.....
.....having had a hire car Audi A3 for 4 months then a Merc cla amg line for 3 months, I absolutely shudder at the thought of the cost of that

And people wonder why insurance has shot up in price. I would speak to the management company and see if they can get it recovered to your house.

[Lester H]

Dreadful for the OP and another reason why premiums are increasing so much. No such thing as a free lunch where courtesy cars are concerned.

[Dark85]

Lester H said:

Dreadful for the OP and another reason why premiums are increasing so much. No such thing as a free lunch where courtesy cars are concerned.

Probably the main reason premiums are up so much in the last year or two. This is far from an isolated incident, in fact repairs taking 2-3months has become pretty standard and going on much longer (with the associated hire car costs) is fairly common. I will say it does seem to be easing now though so there is light at the end of the tunnel.

OP, if the MOT has expired I'd ask the repairer to sort that out before the car is returned (obvs at your expense) - all bodyshops will know an MOT station near by. Aside from that you've put the last 7 months wear and tear on someone else's car, I imagine the benefits of that will outweigh any negatives. In the end most of these delays are down to supply chain issues that are very difficult to predict let alone avoid, hence why the car was not written off, and it's not really anyone's fault, just how things are at the moment.

[Gtayee]

Thanks folks, will contact the claim management company and push for an MOT to be completed before collection.
It's frightening how long it's taken for car parts to become available for what is probably one of the most common cars in the UK and maybe Europe.

I would actually have preferred the car to be written off it would have saved a lot of hassle, and uncertainty, as well as driving cars that I wouldn't choose for so long (albeit nice cars)

[anyoldcardave]

Gtayee said:

Thanks folks, will contact the claim management company and push for an MOT to be completed before collection.
It's frightening how long it's taken for car parts to become available for what is probably one of the most common cars in the UK and maybe Europe.

I would actually have preferred the car to be written off it would have saved a lot of hassle, and uncertainty, as well as driving cars that I wouldn't choose for so long (albeit nice cars)

Insurance costs are through the roof because of parts supply problems, try getting Transit parts lol, Ford dealers have the things for months waiting for parts.

My mate had the complete front end removed, on his drive, mid afternoon, not an isolated case, and if you have a 1 litre ECO Bang Fiesta, put a lock on the steering wheel, or take the badge off the back lol, they are being stolen wholesale. Probably on a par with Range Rovers.

Insurance premiums on Fiestas are higher than equivelant cars, especially for new drivers, 3/400 more.

[Lester H]

Dark85 said:

Lester H said:

Dreadful for the OP and another reason why premiums are increasing so much. No such thing as a free lunch where courtesy cars are concerned.

Probably the main reason premiums are up so much in the last year or two. This is far from an isolated incident, in fact repairs taking 2-3months has become pretty standard and going on much longer (with the associated hire car costs) is fairly common. I will say it does seem to be easing now though so there is light at the end of the tunnel.

OP, if the MOT has expired I'd ask the repairer to sort that out before the car is returned (obvs at your expense) - all bodyshops will know an MOT station near by. Aside from that you've put the last 7 months wear and tear on someone else's car, I imagine the benefits of that will outweigh any negatives. In the end most of these delays are down to supply chain issues that are very difficult to predict let alone avoid, hence why the car was not written off, and it's not really anyone's fault, just how things are at the moment.

Interesting response: The small independent with which I am associated part time had a phase of the owner’s son acquiring very low mileage, written off hyundais. To all intents and purposes, they looked like new, having had a small bump but the difficulty of getting parts meant that it was cheaper for the insurer to ‘ bail out’ rather than funding a courtesy car ( especially ‘ like for like’ ) for several months while sourcing parts.

[Dark85]

anyoldcardave said:

Insurance costs are through the roof because of parts supply problems, try getting Transit parts lol, Ford dealers have the things for months waiting for parts.

My mate had the complete front end removed, on his drive, mid afternoon, not an isolated case, and if you have a 1 litre ECO Bang Fiesta, put a lock on the steering wheel, or take the badge off the back lol, they are being stolen wholesale. Probably on a par with Range Rovers.

Insurance premiums on Fiestas are higher than equivelant cars, especially for new drivers, 3/400 more.

You're not kidding about Transit parts, I had a case early last year, where one needed a rear doors and upon enquiry with Ford the repairer was told there were no Transit doors anywhere in the entire country and they'd have to wait for more to be imported; how many Transit are on the road?

LesterH - That is interesting, my experience has very much been the opposite, I'm seeing lots of cars being repaired which I'd half have expected to be written off regardless of the parts supply issues. I figured the supply issues were not limited to parts and as new & used car prices are through the roof as well insurers were being forced to repair when they'd rather not. Maybe certain brands did a better job of staying on top of supply? Sounds like it worked out well for your independent place though - something which I'm always happy to hear about!