and also, once the vehicle has been written off the vehicle technically belongs to the insurers.
Just make sure they do use their usual excuse, and offer you trade value for the car. I had this once. My car was worth �2000, and they offered me trade at �700. They did not realise that I am a fleet manager and have access to all sorts of info, espcially the glass guide. Whe I told them that they should not be offering me trade value, as I am not a trader, they then gave me the full �2000. As buyer you can not walk into a dealer and pucrhase a vehicle the same as yours for trade, thats why always ask for the full value.
Are you insured with Direct Line? Because they are the worst at this sort of thing!