Schoolboy error... insurance write off!
Schoolboy error... insurance write off!
Author
Discussion

Adam_W

Original Poster:

1,096 posts

217 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
Not sure where the best place for this is, biker banter, S,P & the law.. anyway please move if better suited elsewhere.

Bought a bike in 2022, all looked good to me, 1st owner, stack of receipts and history, v5c all there and genuine reason for sale, shiny new bike parked next to it.

I thought I had run some kind of check but I cant see any evidence so in the heat of the moment I may have forgotten... oops.

Fast forward to this weekend, attempting to part ex against another bike, HPI showing CAT B write off in 2020.

Absolutely speechless, how on earth can that be right, CAT B.. 'cannot be returned to the road', doesn't make sense. Have put hundreds of miles on it myself not to mention had it apart and seen no evidence of damage.

Must be a mistake.. maybe.. but then a closer look at the history, MOT and service both missing for 2020 (maybe just you know the global pandemic..).

Surprised it hasn't been mentioned on the v5c issued to me in 2022 or by the insurers that have covered me for the last 2 years, I have been oblivious!

If it is a mistake how can I go about proving and correcting it? Assuming its not a mistake.. can I even sell it as a road going bike or is it now spares/track use?

Edited by Adam_W on Monday 19th August 00:59

OzzyR1

6,160 posts

249 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
Does the VIN on the frame match the paperwork?

Adam_W

Original Poster:

1,096 posts

217 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
OzzyR1 said:
Does the VIN on the frame match the paperwork?
Sure does, first thing I checked

Dave.

7,720 posts

270 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
Had it had/does it have a private plate on it?

s p a c e m a n

11,372 posts

165 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
Anything coming up with a Google image search of the numberplate?

nismocat

896 posts

25 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
You are getting confused with Cat A, they must be crushed and cannot be returned to the road. Cat B can be repaired.

It does not take much for a bike to be Cat B, fairing and wheel damage is all it takes. I have bought many Cat B from auctions, unless the chassis is bent they are usually fine.

MikeM6

5,568 posts

119 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
nismocat said:
You are getting confused with Cat A, they must be crushed and cannot be returned to the road. Cat B can be repaired.

It does not take much for a bike to be Cat B, fairing and wheel damage is all it takes. I have bought many Cat B from auctions, unless the chassis is bent they are usually fine.
Interesting, I always thought that Cat B should not be returned to the road but parts could be salvaged.

SimonTheSailor

12,786 posts

245 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all

Adam_W

Original Poster:

1,096 posts

217 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
nismocat said:
You are getting confused with Cat A, they must be crushed and cannot be returned to the road. Cat B can be repaired.
Don't wish to pile on but, do you have any source to back that up? Since both the HPI report and RAC vehicle check report I have both say the shell should have been crushed and also https://www.gov.uk/scrapped-and-written-off-vehicl... states it should be crushed and only parts used.

Adam_W

Original Poster:

1,096 posts

217 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
Dave. said:
Had it had/does it have a private plate on it?
HPI report states no plate changes, I certainly don't/didn't have a private plate on it.

Adam_W

Original Poster:

1,096 posts

217 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
s p a c e m a n said:
Anything coming up with a Google image search of the numberplate?
no nothing at all, I ran one of the reports (I'll not name the company) that allegedly can display more damage images and details, it actually comes back stating no damage and doesn't even report the insurance write off status.

Auto810graphy

1,608 posts

109 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
Have you seen the full HPi report?

Cherished ref numbers can throw up errors as well as data errors. You need to check it is recorded as a total loss on VRM and VIN along with the date it was entered. You may also contact the insurer that put the bike on the register to confirm the information is correct.

In regards the V5, you can keep taxing a Cat B vehicle if it’s in your name, tricky part is when you try to change keeper as a new V5 gets declined so I am surprised a V5 was issued if DVLA had been notified.


Adam_W

Original Poster:

1,096 posts

217 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
Auto810graphy said:
Have you seen the full HPi report?
I'm not sure how I can get a full report. I ran the consumer HPI check from their site and got a report that appears to be rather high level. Do you need to be in the trade to see a more detailed version? I cant seem to locate any way of getting that.

Auto810graphy said:
In regards the V5, you can keep taxing a Cat B vehicle if it’s in your name, tricky part is when you try to change keeper as a new V5 gets declined so I am surprised a V5 was issued if DVLA had been notified.
From what I have read I don't believe I should have been issued a new v5c for it if it was recorded CAT B at the time I bought it, the new keeper slip I was given was printed on the date of first registration so was the original v5c

Earthdweller

16,272 posts

143 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
I had an issue a few years back with a car i bought new, kept for 4 years and then went to trade in at the same dealer i bought it from and who had mainitained it throughout

Got a call saying they couldnt take it as a px as it was a Cat B write off!!

Now i knew catagorically the car had never had any bodywork damage, let alone been in a serious accident .. yet here was a HPI report saying it had

Long story short, the marker was removed after some digging and it turned out to be someone inputting the wrong reg number into a computer which then recorded my car as a total loss and not the correcf vehicle

Bobupndown

2,580 posts

60 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
Is it a high value bike?
Takes amazingly little damage for insurance companies to write off z perfectly repairable vehicle.

Alex Z

1,828 posts

93 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
Do you still have contact details for the original owner?
Might be worth given them a call.

Obviously if they knew it was a Cat B write off and were trying to hide it then they may not be honest with you, but they may be able to shed some light on the matter.

Adam_W

Original Poster:

1,096 posts

217 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
Alex Z said:
Do you still have contact details for the original owner?
Might be worth given them a call.
I actually sent them a text, was expecting to be ghosted but actually got a reply. He has no knowledge of this, never claimed and no accidents.

Jordie Barretts sock

6,018 posts

36 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
Is there any chance where you were trying to p/ex it have made an error? Did you actually see what flagged it to them or just accepting that's what they told you?

Adam_W

Original Poster:

1,096 posts

217 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
Jordie Barretts sock said:
Is there any chance where you were trying to p/ex it have made an error? Did you actually see what flagged it to them or just accepting that's what they told you?
Saw it on screen and have since run my own reports/checks, showing CAT B against the VRM

Jordie Barretts sock

6,018 posts

36 months

Monday 19th August 2024
quotequote all
It sounds like a mistake. I suggest you contact MID and then the insurance company that placed the marker. At the very least you'll have more information.