O/T Car repair or write off?

[medicine man]

Googling's proved to be a nightmare on this one, so...
My other halfs car was hit whilst parked (no one hurt) up the front- not too much damage, still drivable etc.
Now, after visiting a few garages for quotes, they've all said it'll be a write off, as repair will be around £600 (1998 Fiat Punto- good runner, just a bit of a dent in the front!), A quick reccy on line and the parts concerned will cost £130, and found a garage that will fit the parts for £100.

Do insurance companies allow you to go down this route? Or do what they say, or your f**ked?
Advice greatly appreciated.
Cheers

 

[Garage_Doors]

Most insurance companies will allow you buy the car back so long as it is not dangerous to drive. Like yours just cosmetically damaged but uneconomic to repair.

Normally for 1/3 of the value of what they give you for the claim.

So for instance value £600 they will give you £400 + you keep the car.

 

[Father Jack]

hi there, worked in insurance for a while. Companies write of cars to round about 60% of their value. The price quoted by your insurance company would have been for new parts to be fitted to return the car to its original state. Every company has a slightly different policy but the general rule is however that a company will not pay for second hand parts found by the customer etc. However if you send them a quote for your repairs they will be able to approve the garage you have chosen if indeed you wish to do so.

 

[Father Jack]

Most insurance companies will allow you buy the car back so long as it is not dangerous to drive. Like yours just cosmetically damaged but uneconomic to repair.

Normally for 1/3 of the value of what they give you for the claim.

So for instance value £600 they will give you £400 + you keep the car.

only if its a cat c or d write off

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Insurance companies usually write off cars if the cost to repair the damage is greater than 2/3rds the value of the car. - in the case of a write off, some insurance companies give you the choice of whether you take a full cash payout or take some cash and keep the car (which you either repair or scrap / sell) depending on what category your car will fall into (see below)

Categories Of Write-Off
An explanation of the categories of write-off are listed below:

Category A A vehicle which should be totally crushed, including all its spare parts.
Category B A vehicle from which spare parts may be salvaged, but the bodyshell should be crushed and the car should never return to the road.
Category C An extensively damaged vehicle which the insurer has decided not to repair, but which could be repaired and returned to the road.
Category D A damaged vehicle which the insurer has decided not to repair, but which could be repaired and returned to the road.
Category F A vehicle damaged by fire, which the insurer has decided not to repair.
Theft These vehicles have not been recovered and ownership rests with the insurer who made the total loss payment. They are able to repossess the car as soon as it is identified, even if it has been bought innocently.

Vehicles categorised as A, B or C require a VIC test before the DVLA will issue a new registration document. This will then be noted on the V5C. See Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for more information on VIC testing.

 

[Box of Frogs]

With a car of that value, the salvage value is likely to be minimal, maybe £50-£100 or so. You should advise them that you want to retain the salvage if the car is written off, you can then get the car repaired where and when you want. You will however have to get it retested before you can reinstate your Comprehensive cover though.

Alternatively, if they say the cost of repairs is not going to make the car a write off, then you could ask them for cash in leiu of repairs - they will then pay you the amount repairs would have costs them, with a small deduction (usually about the same as VAT) then you can get the car repaired how and when you want, presumably cheaper if you are using 2nd hand parts.

 

[medicine man]

Thank you all who replied- this info will help whilst negotiating with the insurers.

 

[Chapper's Own Goal]

If you have the details of the responsible party(its not clear whether you do or not) then its best to claim direct against their Insurer (check if you have Legal Expenses cover on your policy and if so they will appoint representatives to act for you). This means your 'No Claims Bonus' wont be affected and you are entitled to keep the vehicle 'salvage' (quite a few Insurers will not allow comprehensive' customers to keep the salvage) whereas if you claim as a 'Third Party' the car remains your property at all times. Let the engineers 'write it off' you get a cheque for the full pre-acc value less salvage value and you are then free to repair the car for the figures you quote above. The car will be registerd as a total loss (almost certainly a category C) and you will have to get it retested before Insuring it again but for a car with that value , the 'write off' on the register will not greatly affect any future loss.

Bingo, Roberts yours Dad's Brother .