Mk2 Golf GTi written off - advice please
Discussion
My much-loved Mk2 Golf GTi was written off last month by some kind chap who pulled out of a side road right in front of me.
Long-and-short of it, I was a "no fault" claimant against his insurance. There was no argument and he admitted responsibility straight away. Just over three weeks later, they came forward with a settlement of just £305.
Yes, the car was old (1989), and had a high mileage (just over 200,000, but with a new engine only 60,000 ago), but it was in excellent condition, with an immaculate all-black interior, BBS alloys, virtually no rust etc etc. I've looked around, and the best I can find that's even similar to mine in condition is a minimum £1200, and rising to £5000 for those marginally better.
I appealed, and after supplying them with links to almost 40 similar cars (ranging from £1000 to £8000 in asking price) they revised their settlement to £400. I've appealed again, and they're insisting on an independent valuation. I've contacted my local GTi Owners Club branch in Oxford, but no reply.
Anyone got any suggestions?
Long-and-short of it, I was a "no fault" claimant against his insurance. There was no argument and he admitted responsibility straight away. Just over three weeks later, they came forward with a settlement of just £305.
Yes, the car was old (1989), and had a high mileage (just over 200,000, but with a new engine only 60,000 ago), but it was in excellent condition, with an immaculate all-black interior, BBS alloys, virtually no rust etc etc. I've looked around, and the best I can find that's even similar to mine in condition is a minimum £1200, and rising to £5000 for those marginally better.
I appealed, and after supplying them with links to almost 40 similar cars (ranging from £1000 to £8000 in asking price) they revised their settlement to £400. I've appealed again, and they're insisting on an independent valuation. I've contacted my local GTi Owners Club branch in Oxford, but no reply.
Anyone got any suggestions?
The trick with insurers seems to keep pushing and pushing.
If you have any reciepts, they will help, as will proof of sale ads etc.
Did you have an assesor come round to view the vehicle. They are normally the people who value the car, and the insurers offer is based on this.
I wouild imagine, as you are the third party, tell the insurers that you want them to arrange for the independant valuation. Also don't forget to claim for injuries that may have occured. Add to that the fact that you want a rental car while its all being sorted out.
If you have any reciepts, they will help, as will proof of sale ads etc.
Did you have an assesor come round to view the vehicle. They are normally the people who value the car, and the insurers offer is based on this.
I wouild imagine, as you are the third party, tell the insurers that you want them to arrange for the independant valuation. Also don't forget to claim for injuries that may have occured. Add to that the fact that you want a rental car while its all being sorted out.
Thanks for the reply. They did send round an assessor, and I think that's half the trouble. He/she clearly knew nothing about the car, and simply referred to Glass's Guide.
The hire car is a sore point. Within two hours I'd had a call from the company appointed by my brokers to assist with my claim. They wanted me to have a hire car, but I said that wasn't wholly necessary, because I had access to my wife's car, and also a van. They insisted however, and the next day a very smart Jetta Turbo Diesel turned up, accompanied by a hugely apologetic guy who said I was eligible for a higher grade of car, but they had nothing available until the following week. I told him not to bother, and accepted the Jetta.
When the cheque for £305 was issued, the hire car had to go back. Only then did I discover that the other party's insurance company was picking up a tab that amounted to £186 per day, and after nearly a month, that equated to over £5,000.
A bit more investigation revealed that the hire company was owned by the company supposedly assisting me with the claim. That explains not only their eagerness to supply a hire car, but their disappointment when I refused the upgrade to a more expensive model.
Fine, so they're five grand up, but I'm without a car of my own, and with only £400 in pocket, have no real chance of ever doing so.
The hire car is a sore point. Within two hours I'd had a call from the company appointed by my brokers to assist with my claim. They wanted me to have a hire car, but I said that wasn't wholly necessary, because I had access to my wife's car, and also a van. They insisted however, and the next day a very smart Jetta Turbo Diesel turned up, accompanied by a hugely apologetic guy who said I was eligible for a higher grade of car, but they had nothing available until the following week. I told him not to bother, and accepted the Jetta.
When the cheque for £305 was issued, the hire car had to go back. Only then did I discover that the other party's insurance company was picking up a tab that amounted to £186 per day, and after nearly a month, that equated to over £5,000.
A bit more investigation revealed that the hire company was owned by the company supposedly assisting me with the claim. That explains not only their eagerness to supply a hire car, but their disappointment when I refused the upgrade to a more expensive model.
Fine, so they're five grand up, but I'm without a car of my own, and with only £400 in pocket, have no real chance of ever doing so.
Thanks Dr G - excellent suggestion. I spoke to John, but he was having problems with his phone, but one of his colleagues was very helpful - indirectly. They don't have their own assessors, but at least he was prepared to spend some time talking on the phone, agreed that the settlement offer was "derisory", and gave me some pointers.
I have tried to contact my local ClubGTi branch in Oxford, but no replies to emails as yet.
I have tried to contact my local ClubGTi branch in Oxford, but no replies to emails as yet.
Anyone driving an old car which they value would be well advised to investigate "Agreed Value" insurance through the classic brokers.
As the name implies, you agree with the insurer what the car is worth when you take out the policy and pay the premium accordingly, so if the worst happens you get what you wanted not the auction scrap value.
AdrianR
As the name implies, you agree with the insurer what the car is worth when you take out the policy and pay the premium accordingly, so if the worst happens you get what you wanted not the auction scrap value.
AdrianR
This doesn't always work when the 3rd party insurer is paying out.
They tried to pay a friend of mine under a grand for a G40 a few years back. This was when they were £2500-£3000. I hate to stereotype, but many insurers are thiefs, who will mess you around for a few hundred quid.
Don't bank the cheque, as that may be considered the offer accepted, but keep at their heels, Ring them daily, wind them up, send letters etc, note the times and dates of these, and then send them an invoice for your time, and effort when they agree on a higher figure.
And yes, claims assistance companies do stitch these companies up, but without them, we would just give up and the insurers would win even more often
They tried to pay a friend of mine under a grand for a G40 a few years back. This was when they were £2500-£3000. I hate to stereotype, but many insurers are thiefs, who will mess you around for a few hundred quid.
Don't bank the cheque, as that may be considered the offer accepted, but keep at their heels, Ring them daily, wind them up, send letters etc, note the times and dates of these, and then send them an invoice for your time, and effort when they agree on a higher figure.
And yes, claims assistance companies do stitch these companies up, but without them, we would just give up and the insurers would win even more often
I had to refuse 4 offers on my Primera a few years back when it was written off.
I had a hire car and they still let me keep it for 3 weeks even though the settlement came through after 2 weeks.
helps when the 3rd parties insurer is Norwich Union. It gave me time to find another car.
Don't give in and they should still be letting you have the hire car because it hasn't been settled yet.
I had a hire car and they still let me keep it for 3 weeks even though the settlement came through after 2 weeks.
helps when the 3rd parties insurer is Norwich Union. It gave me time to find another car.
Don't give in and they should still be letting you have the hire car because it hasn't been settled yet.
LaSarthe+Back said:
This is the main reason I am reluctacnt to go for a really nice Mk2. Those not in the know just think it's a 1980's shed. 
sad really.
Good luck with it.
Andy
Try HIC or Brentacre. They do agreed valuation policies. sad really.Good luck with it.
Andy
Agreed it could be hard if your chasing it through someone elses insurer though.
Only advice I have seen given in these cases is to present them with as much evidence as you can to prove its value and keep hounding them!
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