Car write off

[tsped83]

Unfortunately my car was involved in an accident on Sunday evening and isn't in great shape. Luckily no one was hurt but that isn't true of the cars.

My beloved Fabia ('03, 38,000miles, 1.2l), a hand me down gift from my grandad needs at least a new door, front wing and possibly a bumper. Given the age of the car, some friends and family have advised that they believe the insurance firm will call it a write off and offer me a total loss payment.

Now, if it can be fixed, I want it fixed. The car does have sentimental value attached and is great and cheap to run. If however it cannot be fixed I'm bracing myself for the worst and what ever a write off entails...

Anybody got experience of a similar situation and how to get the best outcome?

Thanks people

 

[gripitripit]

If they write it off you may be able buy the car back if it's CAT D or CAT C. If it's A or B then it will be only scrap or parts.
You may then get it repaired and inspected to be roadworthy again. I think that's how it works.

 

[Piece]

If its a write off, they (insurance) will offer you a sum for the car. Therefore, do some research to assess what the likely market value is. Then when their offer comes in, see how that matches with your research. In my case, they looked on Autotrader for equivalents... It is up to you whether you accept their (first) offer. In my experience, they also examined all parts of my insurance to make sure everything was declared; e.g. aftermarket exhaust and ECU mod known to insurance. Hopefully, you're squeaky clean! This was over 10 yrs ago but should be similar now.

If you want to buy the write-off, I don't know what the process is.

 

[la_lucha]

I had an old rover that someone backed into the rear door. As it was on their insurance it didn't matter about mods. They offered me something like £700 and I got to keep the car which was worth about £800. Didn't need to be examined or tested as roadworthy as it wasn't chassis damage.

 

[dufferman]

An 03 Fabia is worth about £700... I sold one last year to a dealer. You might get £1000 on AutoTrader but insurance companies don't really go for private trade value, they go for trade value.

 

[tsped83]

An 03 Fabia is worth about £700... I sold one last year to a dealer. You might get £1000 on AutoTrader but insurance companies don't really go for private trade value, they go for trade value.

Really? Only done 38,000. Same models with more mileage going for £1400+ on Autotrader...

 

[Stuey01]

You might get £1000 on AutoTrader but insurance companies don't really go for private trade value, they go for trade value.

Which is of course ludicrous and a total con, because how many people on the street have access to cars at motor trade value?

 

[Simbo]

If the car is only worth that then it's a pretty good chance it's a write off, give it the benefit of the doubt and say it's worth £1500, paint alone for a new door/wing and bumper will cost roughly 400 quid depending where you live. That's not including buying the parts. As soon as companies see it's an insurance job the price goes through the roof. Couple the facts above with the fact that if the insurance company do write it off they will get 200/300 quid for it from the scrappy. Insurance companies will only fix a car up to a % of its value, can't remember what that is though. I'd say it's touch and go here.
Bear in mind if they do fix it or write it off and you but it back on a cat d or whatever it will affect the sale price of the car when you sell it, which I guess here wouldn't be a concern, it can also affect insurance

Can't you sort it out without insurance companies being involved?

 

[tsped83]

If the car is only worth that then it's a pretty good chance it's a write off, give it the benefit of the doubt and say it's worth £1500, paint alone for a new door/wing and bumper will cost roughly 400 quid depending where you live. That's not including buying the parts. As soon as companies see it's an insurance job the price goes through the roof. Couple the facts above with the fact that if the insurance company do write it off they will get 200/300 quid for it from the scrappy. Insurance companies will only fix a car up to a % of its value, can't remember what that is though. I'd say it's touch and go here.
Bear in mind if they do fix it or write it off and you but it back on a cat d or whatever it will affect the sale price of the car when you sell it, which I guess here wouldn't be a concern, it can also affect insurance

Can't you sort it out without insurance companies being involved?

Thanks fella. It's already with the insurance companies so no going back now I guess.

Spoke to the garage earlier who told me "it's on the limit" as to whether it is economical to repair. Great. I am bracing myself for the phone call which tells me the car is a write off. If that is indeed the case, I want a fair and reasonable total loss payment, which from reading on the 'net and things I hear, is something you have to haggle for, providing evidence etc.

 

[MegaSteve]

I want a fair and reasonable total loss payment, which from reading on the 'net and things I hear, is something you have to haggle for, providing evidence etc.

Not necessarily so... I got 'rear ended' twice in the space of a couple of months a few years back... Each time vehicle was "beyond economical repair" and each time I got a more than reasonable settlement relatively hassle free... I was hiring a vehicle, rather than using a 'loan car', so I suspect the costs they were having to cover were mounting so a quick resolution would be to their advantage...