Car write off advice

smr

smr

smr

Soldato
Joined
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Location
Leicestershire
Hi,

Pretty sure my car is a write off but just wondering what happens next. I have phoned insurance company and they've sent an email to say they suspect it's a write off etc.

As I understand it someone will come out to look at it from the insurance company and confirm whether or not it is. Looking at other cars which are written off I'm 95 percent sure it will be.

If so what happens then, do they offer a settlement fee before taking the car, should I accept the first offer and anything else worth knowing to help would be appreciated.

It's a Ford Focus 63 with 97k.
 
Just make sure you get what it is worth/do some research into what it should be worth.

Don't accept the first offer if it is lower than you expect/lower than what similar cars are going for.
 
smr said:
As I understand it someone will come out to look at it from the insurance company and confirm whether or not it is. Looking at other cars which are written off I'm 95 percent sure it will be.
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They might simply ask you to upload photos and make a decision from there.
 
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You should be able to replace your current car with the same spec, age, condition etc, if you can't get a replacement for what they offer that means its too low. Use Autotrader for examples, cars tend to be more expensive on there.
 
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IC3 said:
You should be able to replace your current car with the same spec, age, condition etc, if you can get a replacement for what they offer that means its too low. Use Autotrader for examples, cars tend to be more expensive on there.
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Sorry, not sure I understand that? If I can get a replacement for what they offer isn't that a good thing?
 
Had Mine written off 2010 Honda Accord - Inspectors report using genuine honda parts and paint for new door and power wing mirror and blending to car £5200

Car was purchased for £3800 on credit with 117k on the clock.

Car was written off by inspector, he valued car at £3500 as it was upto 133k miles and was 10months of usage for me. He valued the car at £500 scrap. I bought car back and got the £3k difference.

If the write off value seems too low then get prices for similar year/spec/mileage and provide that to the insurance company. However, as used car prices are though the roof if when you insured the car the "inflated" market price of cars if more than the insured value they dont have to offer you more than that figure

I got a new door and wing mirror, whilst not perfect condition, i fixed the car for £150, this included putting it through a new MOT..even thought it it passed the first MOT 2 days afer the accident the insurer forced a retest as it was written off after that mot date.
 
What if I can't find the car in the exact spec?

I can find three Zetec Automatic Focus 2013 1.6L Petrol cars with similar mileage but my car is the auto titanium model which I can't find.
 
Ok I have found a similar one, for £5,300. They're all around the £5k price. So should I settle for nothing less than £5k? If I refuse their first offer and they come back with another offer less than £5k do I refuse again until they meet that price?
 
smr said:
Ok I have found a similar one, for £5,300. They're all around the £5k price. So should I settle for nothing less than £5k? If I refuse their first offer and they come back with another offer less than £5k do I refuse again until they meet that price?
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Remember, AT is what the seller wants not what the buyer pays but it gives you a good ballpark hopefully to go on. How bad is the damage? If it's worth £5k then I think they go to 60% value for repairs, bear in mind those are insurance prices from an approved repair shop, doesn't take long to add up.

Another option if you are happy with the car and think it could be repaired is to buy it back from the insurance company and get their offer minus excess (if applicable) and salvage value taken off and fix it yourself. Sure you'll be likely driving around in a cat S but no guarantee the replacement vehicle if you went for the same type of car again isn't mechanically wrecked.

Or just take the cash and put it towards a newer one, you've a few options.
 
OldKitMan said:
Remember, AT is what the seller wants not what the buyer pays but it gives you a good ballpark hopefully to go on. How bad is the damage? If it's worth £5k then I think they go to 60% value for repairs, bear in mind those are insurance prices from an approved repair shop, doesn't take long to add up.

Another option if you are happy with the car and think it could be repaired is to buy it back from the insurance company and get their offer minus excess (if applicable) and salvage value taken off and fix it yourself. Sure you'll be likely driving around in a cat S but no guarantee the replacement vehicle if you went for the same type of car again isn't mechanically wrecked.

Or just take the cash and put it towards a newer one, you've a few options.
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if you do go the salvage route make sure you dont let them remove the vehicle or i pretty much guarantee next time you see it its at co part. most insurances seem to use them to do estimates/write off vehicles.
son had his mondeo rolled into on a car park (owner just had vehicle didnt realise how to engage handbrake so car rolled about 30 feet and stopped in the rear bumper of sons car)
they told him it was a write off paid him 1600 pounds knocked off salvage value of 250 and he pocketed the rest. he gaffer taped the bumper and is still driving it 6 months later. (other party admitted so no excess happy days)

by the way he only gave 950 for car in the first place so hes happy
 
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I'm quite sure its a write off.

How long does it usually take to get a settlement? Weeks or months? I'm going to have to get a temporary car somehow. I have been told that the AA or Beam who I am with use a company called Ax who can provide a temporary car. Not sure how much that would be.
 
pigeonguyuk said:
Had Mine written off 2010 Honda Accord - Inspectors report using genuine honda parts and paint for new door and power wing mirror and blending to car £5200

Car was purchased for £3800 on credit with 117k on the clock.

Car was written off by inspector, he valued car at £3500 as it was upto 133k miles and was 10months of usage for me. He valued the car at £500 scrap. I bought car back and got the £3k difference.

If the write off value seems too low then get prices for similar year/spec/mileage and provide that to the insurance company. However, as used car prices are though the roof if when you insured the car the "inflated" market price of cars if more than the insured value they dont have to offer you more than that figure

I got a new door and wing mirror, whilst not perfect condition, i fixed the car for £150, this included putting it through a new MOT..even thought it it passed the first MOT 2 days afer the accident the insurer forced a retest as it was written off after that mot date.
Click to expand...

Yea this is what's driving insurance costs up, they factor in repair costs from the most expensive absolutely taking the **** places, and surprise surprise, it costs more than the car is worth.

I'd do what you did in that scenario, why be precious it's just a car, now you got the best part of £3 in your pocket and a car that still works fine.
 
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