insurance query

[thamika]

I had an accident, I ran into the back of another guys car. So I called my insurance and they told me that I should take it to get a quote. Which i did, the bumper is dented and one of the head lights are cracked. So they now say that it is a total loss - but i have gotten my own quotes of between 300 and 500 to fix it and pass it's MOT which expires next week. Can I tell the insurance to forget it and fix the car myself, or would this cause allot of problems with the DVLA and VOSA, my car is in perfect order no engine damage at all and it has been fully serviced about 6 months ago, new brakes. It is a 1997 Toyota Corrolla 5 door auto hatchback.

[TWR]

you have no need to contact DVLA about the car, that comes if the car has been written off, contact your Insurers explain you intend to sort out the damage yourself, go to any scrap yards, get the right colour bumper, get a headlight for under �100

[Buenchico]

As TWR states, you've no need to worry about any form of 'officialdom'.

A cracked headlight should cost very little to replace. (I had a Mondeo headlight lens blasted out by a stone about a year ago. It cost me a tenner for a replacement headlamp from a breaker's yard, and about the same again for my local garage to fit it). Similarly, a replacement bumper (from a breaker's yard) shouldn't cost much. I'd expect to get the whole lot done for about fifty or sixty quid.

Chris

[denis567]

Going off at a tangent here, but as Chris and TWR mention going to a scrappers/breakers yard, have other people noticed that a lot of these yards have disappeared. Where I live there used to be 7-8 such yards within a few miles radius, now there are none.

[New Judge]

Going off at an even further tangent, what does "gotten" mean?

I have seen it used a few times recently on AB and I don't know what it means.

[chas2008]

just withdraw the claim,it shouldnt be a total loss until such time any claim is settled even if it was it would be catagorised a/b/c/d, and from what you say it would be c or d,which can be returned to the road and wouldnt invalidate any future insurance as long as they are aware

[TWR]

Just to add,more than likely you may know but anyway, should AB members have cracked Bumpers / headlights/ any thing to do with your mechanics, DO NOT PANIC there are sites on here that will help you & del at a small cost, Eg/ Colour coded Bumper / Mirror, do jump for the easy option the dealers they will rip you off all it takes is a few phone calls to you local scrap yards if no joy, there is many many sites on the web that are UK based, for one, 247 car spares it does not matter what car it is also 4X4s, type in your details, make of car, CC ? (1000 cc 0 1400 CC Ect, A lot of people do not know these terms that's why I have put the CC in, You can save your self Hundreds of pound I know, I have been around cars like many on here & used scrap parts, the only thing to watch if you bye a replacement Engine, get a Warranty often this is 3months that gives you time to replace the engine and DO CHANGE THE BELT/ & check the chain, get the new unit compression tested for piece of mind, I hope this bit of Info might help someone.

[TWR]

Just to add Thamika, you say the Bumper is dented, that can be repaired by heat treatment, also the headlight glass in some cars can be replaced, what car are you talking about here?

[Hammer]

Scrapyards seem to be disappearing these days, but there are some good websites that do the same job. Put your details and the part you need in and sit back while all the breakers contact you with their prices. Pick the cheapest one and hey presto!
I've used www.partsgateway.co.uk a few times with no problems

[chas2008]

lets be honest a dented bumper doesnt make the vehicle unroadworthy or undrivable.

[TWR]

Its the Insurance taking the ps Chas, due to the cost of the repair.

[gouldc]

Obviously we have no idea what the exact value of the car is - if it's of low value, then roadworthiness doesn't come into it sadly, it's purely economics. Lokoing at the guides, it's anywhere between �200 and �1000 dependent on the exact model.

If the car is declared a total loss, the it will be entered onto MIAFTR - I would suspect as either a Category C or D (it won't be an A or B).

if it's D, don;t worry about it, but if it's a C, this means that the DVLA will already be aware (as will VOSA), and you enter VIC (Vehicle Identity Check) territory - not a massive deal, but a bit of a pain in the backside - best read about it on the internet. More issues with not getting tax reminders of new documents than anything else.

You can tell your insurer to forget about it, but we have an obligation to update MIAFTR when we're made aware a vehicle is a total loss regardless of whether you claim or not.

[gary2411]

by the sounds of it your insurance company thinks it will cost more than the car is worth you can try and buy it off them but they might not insure you with that car as they deem it a right off best of luck though