BAD DAY! Got rear ended and think they might write my car off, advice please?

[Malice19]

Hi All

What a sh*t morning, was driving to work sitting in traffic with no cars behind me when all of a sudden a car smashed into the back of me, he says as the sun was in his eyes but must have been driving quite quick considering the standing traffic ahead when he crashed into me stationary as i was waiting in traffic.

Anyway i have loved and looked after my car for 11 year of owning it and the car has looked after me by not breaking down once. I have called my insurance and they said it need to be inspected but most likely due to age of car it will be a write off

All i can see is that the bumper has been cracked and scratched, and number plate snapped. Could i get it repaired if not too expensive? Do i have to buy if back off the insurer? Not sure how it works.

Feeling gutted as wanted to keep this car going forever but looks like it will not be up to me soon?

Not sure if they will take into consideration all the other declared mods i have.

Thanks for your help and time.


PS sorry if this is not posted in the correct section, admins please move if so.
Thanks

 

[RichyH]

The car is still yours so you have the choice of getting it back or your insurer will offer you a sum for scrap if its a write off. If the damage is as minor as you say then it may be worth the repair, but obviously the value of the car will drop and insurance will go up after repair, if it has been written off. If its not worth the repair cost then getting the car back and selling the parts for breaking is your best bet to get back the most money. Loads of fellow owners will need spares and oem components which will make you more than the scrappy will offer, as they don't take the aftermarket stuff into the price at all. Sorry about your **** day, i know what a nightmare it all is


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[Homer Simpson]

If you go through insurance, it will get written off as new parts, paint and labour will be too high.

Is the 3rd party willing to pay for repairs without going through insurance?

Work out a reasonable figure with second hand parts and you will save the car. Damage sounds superficial but make sure it does not have damage behind the bumper

 

[DrewCole]

Check the boot floor for any signs of damage there, if it's flat then I would get it fixed myself and have the third party pay for it.

You don't have to go through your insurance, it'll get written off if they do proceed with the claim and then when you buy it back you'll end up with a Cat C/D listed car.

 

[Malice19]

If you go through insurance, it will get written off as new parts, paint and labour will be too high.

Is the 3rd party willing to pay for repairs without going through insurance?

Work out a reasonable figure with second hand parts and you will save the car. Damage sounds superficial but make sure it does not have damage behind the bumper

His insurance has already called me telling me it was his fault and i have already called mine as thought that legally you have to report it to them even if its not your fault?

Shame as not going to be able to get another car that has any where near the performance for the money the insurance will give me if they write it off

 

[Battoussai]

I'm sorry to hear that. Our beloved cars always give us so much joy as nightmares.

I don't know if European insurance rules apply on UK but I'm just trying to help.

On Portugal even if a car is a write-off we could keep it and receive value from the fault driver insurance. Of course it will be so much less than we desire but since you could have a third party mechanic to bring it all together maybe there is a chance.
Going OEM from dealer? Forget it. It will be a lot of money.

Keep an eye for the boot, see if it opens and closes well, and try to get the spare tire out and in. I supose the chassis is intact. Could be a single bumper or a lot more...

Wish you luck.

 

[DrewCole]

I had someone drive into the back of me last week, although I was in a hire car..

The young lad basically wasn't paying attention and accelerated into me, I was stationary waiting to turn into a garage and signalling.

He was really scared when I made him get out of his car, he said he though I was going to rip him apart.....!

I pointed out that I don't really care because its a hire car, however if it had been my car then.. yes I probably would have wanted to paste you up the road.

So, I feel your pain.

As it's started being processed by insurance companies then it'll have to go through now, however it might be worth asking them to go to a 'friendly' garage if you have one and doing what you can to bring their quote down that they give to the insurance company...

You could provide what is required or even pay cash for the majority of the work, that could stop it being written off and you having to buy it back, maybe.

 

[Malice19]

I'm sorry to hear that. Our beloved cars always give us so much joy as nightmares.

I don't know if European insurance rules apply on UK but I'm just trying to help.

On Portugal even if a car is a write-off we could keep it and receive value from the fault driver insurance. Of course it will be so much less than we desire but since you could have a third party mechanic to bring it all together maybe there is a chance.
Going OEM from dealer? Forget it. It will be a lot of money.

Keep an eye for the boot, see if it opens and closes well, and try to get the spare tire out and in. I supose the chassis is intact. Could be a single bumper or a lot more...

Wish you luck.

As far as i can see its just the bumper that is cracked, the boot opens fine and has no creases in the metal, pulled spare wheel out and there is no sign of any defect to the area around the spare wheels metal walls compartment.

As i am going though the third parties insurance as it was his fault they have called today and said it will most likely be a write off due to its age but did ask would i be interested in buying it back? I advised it all depends on how much damage has been done which still needs to be confirmed when it has been fully inspected?

This is where i am not sure how this works, as say "just for example" they offered me 2K and then asked would i like to buy it back for say £300 would i just get paid £1700 and keep my car or am i getting this wrong?

Also as i still have the car on my drive and it is drivable so is it worth me taking it to my local performance garage that has done lots of work to the car before to see if they could give me a guestimate on how much it would be to be repaired by them if i buy it back?

Thanks for everyone time and help with this.

 

[andycupra]

if he hit you at 30 then there wouldnt be anything for discussion, your car would be a right mess!
most likely the speed was much lower...

but yes, you would be surprised how little damage is required for an older car (in fact any) to be written off.
this is partly as they don't work out a write off on 100% value, its usually 75% or so as they then get to sell the wreck on.

the good news, is that its clearly not your fault, so you can very much go along the lines of asking the insurer to put you back in the position you were previously, so if you can find other cars the same for sale then you can use those values.
alternatively, if it gets written off then you could go repiar route.
If its category D then this is purely a financial write off.
Cat C is structural
B is very bac structural
cat A is crashed and burned...
C B and A will be recorded on the V5 and the car will need checking,
cat D is recorded but not on the V5 and does not need to checked and certified as safe before going back on road.

If its cat C id walk away with the cash

PS
yes you would normally have to buy it off the insurer, but you could negotiate direct with the other insurer for an agreed settlement.
you can also be quite pushy and demand repair, especially if you can find a place you are happy with thats not the typical silly pricing.
no you did not have to contact your insurer, but you do need to declare the accident if asked, - even no fault accidents.
and i'm the bearer of bad news, despite being no fault, this can and probably will mean higher premiums...
(stats show people in no fault claims are more likely to have a further claim in the next period).

 

[Malice19]

if he hit you at 30 then there wouldnt be anything for discussion, your car would be a right mess!
most likely the speed was much lower...

but yes, you would be surprised how little damage is required for an older car (in fact any) to be written off.
this is partly as they don't work out a write off on 100% value, its usually 75% or so as they then get to sell the wreck on.

the good news, is that its clearly not your fault, so you can very much go along the lines of asking the insurer to put you back in the position you were previously, so if you can find other cars the same for sale then you can use those values.
alternatively, if it gets written off then you could go repiar route.
If its category D then this is purely a financial write off.
Cat C is structural
B is very bac structural
cat A is crashed and burned...
C B and A will be recorded on the V5 and the car will need checking,
cat D is recorded but not on the V5 and does not need to checked and certified as safe before going back on road.

If its cat C id walk away with the cash

PS
yes you would normally have to buy it off the insurer, but you could negotiate direct with the other insurer for an agreed settlement.
you can also be quite pushy and demand repair, especially if you can find a place you are happy with thats not the typical silly pricing.
no you did not have to contact your insurer, but you do need to declare the accident if asked, - even no fault accidents.
and i'm the bearer of bad news, despite being no fault, this can and probably will mean higher premiums...
(stats show people in no fault claims are more likely to have a further claim in the next period).

Dont think he had hit me at 30MPH after watching some youtube crashes of cars that have crashed at that speed but it did make a big bag.

This might give you a better idea...

 

[Malice19]

if he hit you at 30 then there wouldnt be anything for discussion, your car would be a right mess!
most likely the speed was much lower...

but yes, you would be surprised how little damage is required for an older car (in fact any) to be written off.
this is partly as they don't work out a write off on 100% value, its usually 75% or so as they then get to sell the wreck on.

the good news, is that its clearly not your fault, so you can very much go along the lines of asking the insurer to put you back in the position you were previously, so if you can find other cars the same for sale then you can use those values.
alternatively, if it gets written off then you could go repiar route.
If its category D then this is purely a financial write off.
Cat C is structural
B is very bac structural
cat A is crashed and burned...
C B and A will be recorded on the V5 and the car will need checking,
cat D is recorded but not on the V5 and does not need to checked and certified as safe before going back on road.

If its cat C id walk away with the cash

PS
yes you would normally have to buy it off the insurer, but you could negotiate direct with the other insurer for an agreed settlement.
you can also be quite pushy and demand repair, especially if you can find a place you are happy with thats not the typical silly pricing.
no you did not have to contact your insurer, but you do need to declare the accident if asked, - even no fault accidents.
and i'm the bearer of bad news, despite being no fault, this can and probably will mean higher premiums...
(stats show people in no fault claims are more likely to have a further claim in the next period).

Also thank you very much for your post and time! Has made things alot more clear, cheers.

 

[andycupra]

is that it?

ok so Cat D at very worst.


i dont know the year/mileage of your car so cant comment regards write off.
but lets say they are looking at £750 repair then an early cupra is in the region of potential write off.
but in all honesty, you could then take the payout, but buy the car back for say £250 and get it repaired for much less.

 

[Malice19]

is that it?

I know it does not look that bad but still gutted, especially if they write it off... There is a big crack in bumper but surly it could be repaired by replacing bumper as long there is no hidden damage.

 

[andycupra]

this is the thing.
insurance repairs will quote for a new bumper, labour, painting, +10% over quote for miscelaneous.
courtesy car blah blah and tend to quote high to cover anything they miss.

you yourself would look at repair of bumper, buying a second hand one etc etc.
if there is ddamage behind the bumper not visible, you might not worry to much about, but if its repaired you might demand its repaired...

 

[Battoussai]

I agree. If the worst cenario is only the cracked bumper I would buy the car back.
Third party pays 2000£ you pay for the car 300£ and end up with 1700£ which can easy match a friendly budget from a trusted repair shop.
Like mentioned above you could get used bumper by yourself and have it painted. I bought a Cupra R one from UK for 50€. Fitting its pretty easy as we all know. A dealer repair would be a RIP.

 

[RichyH]

Try and buy a new bumper (no paint) to save you some money on the paint job. Takes a day longer if they have to strip the paint down first, meaning more money! Unless your lucky and find a bumper the same colour!?


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[Malice19]

Looking at replacement bumpers but not been lucky enough to find one in my colour and cupra shape yet but as its not going to be brand new they are cheap.

 

[RichyH]

Try and find a paint shop or ideally a couple and get a quote for one? They should give you a rough quote for new and used, then see if its worth saving the money on a used bumper? assuming you want it the same colour eventually


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[BadBoy03]

Nasty business. My sis-in-law had her car declared a write off but she took the money and had it repaired cheaply. This was a few years ago so rules may be a lot stricter. I can't see why you can't have an independent assessment and let you decide. The insurance may only meet a certain cost but worth pleading with them that you want a second opinion before they snub you. This link might be of some use?

http://www.gocompare.com/car-insurance/write-offs-and-how-to-challenge-them/

Good luck mate, really feel for you.

 

[Maria]

Last I heard an economic write-off (cat C or D) as opposed to a structural write-off (cat A or B) there should be no problem for you to get the car repaired and back on the road. You must declare the write-off if you ever sell the car and it may reduce its value slightly. My last car before the Leon was a cat D from about 7 years before I bought it, it had an odd wing mirror and the nearside doors had both come from a scrap yard - no problems insuring it and I did declare it of course. Going back 20 years I had the same thing as you, someone went into the back of my car and it was an economic write-off, again no problems keeping it and getting the work done. As long as the car's been checked properly for any hidden damage of course.

Having had an accident will bump up your premiums even if it wasn't your fault (they sting you for this even if the car was parked) but you can't avoid that no matter what you do.