Car about to be written off...options?

[kosymodo]

Here starts a very sorry tale...

Last Weds my car was hit by a car being driven by a girl rushing to get to work. Low speed, side impact. To be fair, she immediately said she accepted full responsibility. My initial assessment was a dented NSF door, and a scrape from the NSF wing along to the NS corner of the rear bumper. Perfectly driveable, seemingly easy enough repair job.

She'd given me her insurance (Aviva) details there and then, so once in work I reported the incident to my insurers (Admiral). Within 3 hours, it had been arranged by Aviva that my car would be picked up and taken to their approved repair centre, and that I'd have a hire car delivered. I was pretty impressed with that service!

Since the car was picked up last Fri, I've been waiting to see what the assessment would be. This morning I found out!

The estimate for the repairs has come in at just shy of £2000 I haven't received a breakdown, but as far as I know this includes everything I initially spotted PLUS a new NSF alloy and new NS sill (these extra damages were noted by the repair centre when they picked the car up).

I've spoken to the claims assessor this morning, and he's valued my car at £1650 (2001/76k/fair condition). Therefore it's set to be written off.

I asked what my options were like to buy the car back. He explained that it would cost me 74% of the valuation figure, so £1221. That would leave me with a damaged car, and £429 to get it repaired. Hardly an option!?

What do you guys think? I have zero experience of insurance write-offs, so would appreciate any advice on offer

 

[DdraigR]

Surely if they've valued your car at £1650 then you can just go out and buy another one for the same or even a little more money, sounds more hassle than it's worth to be honest mate.

 

[Mr OCD]

Depends on how much you value the car in all honesty.

That's £1650 minus the excess BTW. So depending on excess you maybe better off keeping the car?

If its a good genuine car that you've spent money on I would just get the car back off the insurance (without claiming) so its not written off and repair from own pocket...

Doors and wings are dirt cheap on ebay... given the car is driveable you can take your time to find the right parts.

I say that because as soon as you take into consideration excess and increase in insurance premium due to the claim its going to be pretty much a lose-lose situation whichever way you look at it.

 

[kosymodo]

Surely if they've valued your car at £1650 then you can just go out and buy another one for the same or even a little more money, sounds more hassle than it's worth to be honest mate.

I know what you're saying, and I kinda agree...the problem being that £1650 isn't gonna buy back what I'll lose. I think my first priority is to work out a plan of attack on how to get them to raise their valuation of my car?

 

[kosymodo]

That's £1650 minus the excess BTW. So depending on excess you maybe better off keeping the car?

Shouldn't be minus excess, should it? It's a non-fault accident on my part

I say that because as soon as you take into consideration excess and increase in insurance premium due to the claim its going to be pretty much a lose-lose situation whichever way you look at it.

Again, I don't think this will affect my premiums?

 

[DdraigR]

I suppose it all depends on how much the repairs will cost, then you'll have more of an idea of what your options are.

Won't need to be put on a jig or anything will it?

 

[Mr OCD]

Shouldn't be minus excess, should it? It's a non-fault accident on my part



Again, I don't think this will affect my premiums?

Yes it will be minus your excess. You will then need to claim back the excess from the third party... that is the procedure.

You have been involved in an accident - you are therefore deemed more 'at risk' than someone that hasn't ... as a result your premium will increase at renewal as you will need to declare the 'non' fault accident.

I'm aware this seems very unfair but this is insurance for you.

A good friend of mine is one of the top Senior Car Insurance bods in the Industry - a useful person to know in such instances as this!

 

[Mr OCD]

I know what you're saying, and I kinda agree...the problem being that £1650 isn't gonna buy back what I'll lose. I think my first priority is to work out a plan of attack on how to get them to raise their valuation of my car?

Print off examples of same spec / colour / mileage as an argument if you feel your car is worth more but in all honesty £1650 seems reasonable for a 2001 Cupra? - given what I have seen some go for recently?

 

[kosymodo]

I suppose it all depends on how much the repairs will cost, then you'll have more of an idea of what your options are.

Won't need to be put on a jig or anything will it?

Nope...the amount of damage was pathetic, seriously!

Thing is, if I do buy it back and repair, it'll be a Cat C anyway, so I'll be losing out on potential resale value there too...

I'm thinking the easiest way forward would be for me to find a decent Cupra at around £2k...accept the (hopefully increased) insurance settlement...then just buy a new car. There's nothing remotely sentimental about the old one!

 

[DdraigR]

Yes it will be minus your excess. You will then need to claim back the excess from the third party... that is the procedure.

You have been involved in an accident - you are therefore deemed more 'at risk' than someone that hasn't ... as a result your premium will increase at renewal as you will need to declare the 'non' fault accident.

I'm aware this seems very unfair but this is insurance for you.

A good friend of mine is one of the top Senior Car Insurance bods in the Industry - a useful person to know in such instances as this!

I didn't know this. When is some one going to step in and stop these scamming sods making silly money from perfectly innocent and competent drivers!

 

[kosymodo]

Print off examples of same spec / colour / mileage as an argument if you feel your car is worth more but in all honesty £1650 seems reasonable for a 2001 Cupra? - given what I have seen some go for recently?

Does colour really matter in these circumstances? Does the fact mine was Imperial Blue mean it's worth more than another colour, or less?

 

[DdraigR]

Nope...the amount of damage was pathetic, seriously!

Thing is, if I do buy it back and repair, it'll be a Cat C anyway, so I'll be losing out on potential resale value there too...

I'm thinking the easiest way forward would be for me to find a decent Cupra at around £2k...accept the (hopefully increased) insurance settlement...then just buy a new car. There's nothing remotely sentimental about the old one!

There's a fairly good looking one on Autotrader at the moment, Black with leather interior for about £1700, saw it last night think it had about 68k miles.

 

[kosymodo]

i didn't know this. When is some one going to step in and stop these scamming sods making silly money from perfectly innocent and competent drivers!

+1

 

[kosymodo]

There's a fairly good looking one on Autotrader at the moment, Black with leather interior for about £1700, saw it last night think it had about 68k miles.

£1795 67k

Just looking at it now actually! Also has leather seats (which mine didn't)

 

[Alexis27]

Don't think colour matters for an 11 year old car.

 

[m0rk]

74% buy back? It's normally about 25%!!!

Check you got the ratio right

 

[yellonvi-R]

Buy it back for peanuts break it put the money away take the payout buy another car!

Crashed my ibiza cupra, bought it back for £100 broke it got £1500 for all the bits, now getting paid out £2000 for the car, already replaced the ibiza with a better one

 

[kosymodo]

74% buy back? It's normally about 25%!!!

Check you got the ratio right

He definitely said 74%...or at least I think that's what he said...aaarrrggghhh!!!

 

[Mr OCD]

74% buy back? It's normally about 25%!!!

Check you got the ratio right

It's right unfortunately... it has all changed in the last couple of years.

 

[kosymodo]

Buy it back for peanuts

Don't think this is an option