Brother had a crash - Insurance declared it a write off

[shauncr91]

Ok so my brother crashed his Laguna about a week back, causing damage to the drivers door and front right wing.

The insurance company has said that their own damage evalutator has quoted it at £3k to fix the car, however my brother has had a quote given to himself from a local garage for £950.
When he phoned the insurer today, they said that this is irrelevent as they have already declared it a write off, and they want to claim posession of the vehicle.

The company who quoted £950 however, have said that it is illegal for them to deny the car owner the ability to collect their own quotes, is this true? And if so, what is the best thing for him to do now ?

Thanks

 

[shauncr91]

Thanks for the posts everyone, lots of good advice

You have a right to chose where the car is repaired provided it is 'reasonable'.

At 3 times less than the quote the insurer got no court would settle against you.

Some insurers do not let you buy back - it is imperative you do not allow yourself to be screwed over by letting them take ownership until you know if you can buy back. Personally I'd push for repair from the cheaper garage if thats what you want.

Yep, they refuse the ability to buy back a car from them (I'm not sure on his insurer but it's one of those small ones nobody's heard of).

The company has said that because it's already been declared by them as a write off they reckon that's irreversable.

He'll be ringing the citizens advice/trading standards tomorrow to take it further, since he already had an argument with the insurer on the phone this afternoon about their actions.