Insurance write off
Author
Discussion

OllyV8

Original Poster:

104 posts

213 months

Monday 15th November 2010
quotequote all
My mate has a 06 Astra sri diesel.
He drove it into a ford after all the rain and hydrolocked it,
insurance are writing it off but I was going to ask him about buying it
back and putting a new engine in and giving it to my girlfriend.
Just wondering if anyone has any idea how much they would charge to buy it
back and if it a good idea?

Olly

Compo_Simmonite

391 posts

209 months

Monday 15th November 2010
quotequote all
A neigbour buys and repairs minor write offs for his own, familly and friends use. He says long gone are the days when you can buy one for peanuts. Insurers want the best price they can get for the salvage so unless your friend had a clause in his policy which gives him the automatic right to buy back the car then it will go to a specialist disposal company. Of couse that doesen't stop him asking how much the insurers would want but don't be surprised if they ask for, say, 75% of the payout amount. There again you might be pleasantly surprised so worth asking anyway. I'm betting on £2000 upwards would be the least you'd pay.

Paul H

Edited by Compo_Simmonite on Monday 15th November 08:49


Edited by Compo_Simmonite on Monday 15th November 08:52

rallycross

13,681 posts

259 months

Monday 15th November 2010
quotequote all
If it's a nice car it's a good idea he just needs to ask them for a figure will probably be < 25%, maybe less than 20% of it's value.

be aware that if it's already gone to the salvage yard it will probably pick up some more damage before you get it back, eg dents, scrapes, damage on the floor from being lifted with a fork lift etc

davido140

9,614 posts

248 months

Monday 15th November 2010
quotequote all
How badly flooded was the car? I only ask as it may not even be worht considering.

If it was just a bow wave ended up in the engine bay and destroying the engine then the engine swap route may be viable.

If it was sat in 2-3 feet of water for a while and the passenger compartment filled with water (as I did to a passat 10 years ago, it didnt look that deep, honest!) then it may not be worth looking at, the car will forever stink and be growing mould unless you completely strip and replace the interior and carpets and that's not to mention all the electrical problems that will probably surface over the next few months and years after everything was immersed in water.

Some poor sap was sold my passat 6 months after it was written off and I left it to the insurers, he wrote me a letter asking if I knew of any problems with the car... and why it might smell so odd. He wasnt a happy bunny when I gave him a call to let him know the bad news.


crofty1984

16,826 posts

226 months

Monday 15th November 2010
quotequote all
When my car was written off (about 4 years ago) the insurance let me have it for 10% of the value. Didn't even take it off the drive. Just gave me a cheque for £1080 (1200-120).

SGirl

7,922 posts

283 months

Monday 15th November 2010
quotequote all
My insurers wanted 20% when my car was written off earlier this year.