Crashed car advice

[paddy wright]

Sorry to hear this OP- I did similar a few years back and fixed it my self for less than my excess (I did't need a bonnet though or paint as parts were available in my colour. ) Just a word of warning my insurer (admiral) wouldn't guarantee I could buy back the car if it was deemed a write off so I didn't claim.

That’s surprising, the car is your property so seems a bit much that they wouldn’t let you have the option of keeping it :x
Rob

Think their logic is once they payout the car is theirs and they want to recoup as much as possible form it in salvage- I wasn't pleased about this fact though!

 

[firebobby]

Sorry to hear about your car OP, do you have any photos of it ?

 

[Hagasan]

Sorry to hear this OP- I did similar a few years back and fixed it my self for less than my excess (I did't need a bonnet though or paint as parts were available in my colour. ) Just a word of warning my insurer (admiral) wouldn't guarantee I could buy back the car if it was deemed a write off so I didn't claim.

That’s surprising, the car is your property so seems a bit much that they wouldn’t let you have the option of keeping it :x
Rob

Think their logic is once they payout the car is theirs and they want to recoup as much as possible form it in salvage- I wasn't pleased about this fact though!

The correct way of doing it is for both the settlement figure and salvage figure to be agreed and the balance is paid out.

In this case the OP has the car and the keys so the car will stay in his possession.

I'd suggest that the OP does his costings/valuation etc so that he knows what he wants out of any deal. You'll want to have a decent amount of cash to not only do the repairs but offset the future reduction in resell value due to the write off status...

 

[kis]

The correct way of doing it is for both the settlement figure and salvage figure to be agreed and the balance is paid out.

I think this is the key. Once they come back saying they will pay you £xxx you need to be clear and upfront that you want the car back. They'll then knock off some money off that settlement figure and let you keep the car. Well normally.

Obviously you can still turn round and just take the money if they're being unreasonable about the whole thing. But if they pay you a settlement and then you turn round and say you want the car I think it's too late by this stage. Have them give you all the options then you can make a calculated decision.

Best of luck!

 

[Crazy Harry]

Having owned cat c and d cars previously and spoken to insurers about it, they see no difference in the car insurance wise. The car will have been repaired so it's seen as a 'undamaged' car.

I bought a cat D Clio for my kids a few years back (still going strong) which had been written off because of hail stone damage; then bought from the insurer and repaired by a small spray shop. No problem with for us getting insurance since it had been checked as roadworthy and certificated by VOSA (or alike). The only thing affected was the 'value insured' since it was worth what I paid as a 'category car' rather than a never been written off car - quite a saving. If anything writes it off again or repairs put it on the cusp of a write off its value is less to start with; but I knew that when I got it and as a cheap runabout / first car for the kids I felt that was a decision I could live with.

I think where forum members might be more careful is an accident where you are the only party involved which is not reported to / recorded by the police. Say a slip off an iced road and a nudge into a tree - organising your own repairs and not making a claim could save a lot of cash in the long term value of the car.