My car is a write-off...

[Choc Drop]

I was in a car accident a few days ago, and my car is clearly an insurance write-off, but my mechanic can repair it. I'm trying to stop my insurance company from taking my car away for assessment (as I know I won't get it back), and I can't afford a new (or used) car, my current car was only worth a few hundred before the accident, my job is 20 miles away with no bus service. I'm a temp so this works against me if I apply for a loan, but even then I don't bring in enough per month to take on loan repayments. Does anyone have any suggestions for what I should do?

[Starsky]

If the accident was your fault (or it was just you) then you could always NOT make a claim. However, if you believe it was the other party's fault then you'll have to let your insurers inspect the car. Even if they insist on taking the car away it's still your property until you accept a payment from them for the car so if you decide you want to keep the car ( and NOT accept their payment offer ) they'll be obliged to return it (but read the small print - the return could be at your cost). If you do decide to get it repaired you need to be aware that the company has an obligation to tell the DVLA that your car is a write-off. In a leaflet that came with my V5 it says from 07.04.03 any such vehicle has to undergo a Vehicle Identity Check by the Vehicle Inspectorate before it can be returned to the road. I can't imagine that's going to be a quick process. I have known people to have had the car repaired before the insurance assessment but that's just plain naughty........

[Obo]

I had a polo worth about �600 which someone kindly took for a spin and left in a ditch (joy riding in a polo.. how sad is that?)... I had to claim against my own insurance and was given the option of writing it off or having a similar amount of money towrds the repairs which I thought was a bit odd!

[Hamish]

This might answer both questions espectially Obo. Our car was an insurance write off after someone decided to park it in a car park and run the engine at full throttle untill it broke the cam shaft. The insurance co. therefore decided that it would prpbably cost more to repair the car (to their standards) than the car was worth. We took the money and boght a new car as it was probably going to need a new engine. depending on what has happened to the car will depend on weather it is still road worthy. For example damage to the Chassie (requires a special test) will make the car dangerous to drive and therefore a write off and illigal to drive on the roads.

[cupra]

Remember that car insurance should 'put you back in the same position as you were before a claim'. If you believe that a payment would not get you another similar car, shout as loudly as you can - look in local papers or 2nd hand car mags, gather some prices and go to them with this evidence (but don't offer a A1 condition car as an example if your's was beaten up!)

[ukkid76]

A write off only means that the repairs are going to cost more that two thirds of the list price of the vehicle so a simple scratch on a rear wing could write off some cars, and a damaged car can be repaired no matter how badly damaged or twisted it is it just depends who does the repair as to how safe it is when finished. If your car is likely to be written off you can contact the insurance company and ask them to send out there insurance assessor he will tell you there and then what he is prepared to pay out on the vehicle, if you want it back he will then deduct the difference and off you go with your car to your friend for a repair but you must do your home work before the assessor comes around and find out independently what the vehicle is worth and the amount of money you are prepared to accept the assessor will want to give you the bare minimum (the less he gives you the more he saves the insurance company and the more brownie points he receives at the end of the month!!!) some insurance company's will insist on doing it there way but with a little persuasion on your part you should be able to get them to come to you either way it could take a few months to sort out.

[treaclefight]

been in same position, kept stating that i had to get the car fixed, it was valued at �250 quid and that was the first offer they gave me. i sent it clips from autotrader / loot showing that i couldnt reaplce the car for less than �500 and the insurance company paid out �500. i got the car through an MOT and back on the road for �600 total within 2 months. it can be done, just keep saying that you don't have a choice. it costs the insurance company a fair bit of money to get rid of a car, they will let you dispose of it for that reason alone, but if you can get it through an MOT you can put it back on the road, just dont expect anyone to want to buy it! good luck

[Choc Drop]

Thanks very much everyone. Your information has really helped me out. With any luck, I should be able to get my same car repaired and back on the road within a month or so, and at the expense of the insurance company hopefully. Of course, no thanks whatsoever to the idiot with no insurance who hit my car in the first place!

[treaclefight]

no insurance i hear you say, then check out the motor insurers bureau, and dvla may be able to help too, the point being that there is a compensation fund for people who are the victims of unisured drivers....damned if ican remember the name of it right now, but its out there somewhere