Do I have to accept my car is a Total Loss?

[honeydo]

My R reg Clio was damaged back in April in an accident where I was stationary in a car park and the 3rd party reversed into my door and wing. The centre pillar was also damaged. After the worst ever customer service from 'More Than' and 6 months of this woman disputing the collision was her fault, she has now admitted liability. The Clio is now at the vehicle repairer's premises and I've just heard it's likely to be a Total Loss. As it has only done 40,000 miles, is so reliable, economical etc. I really want to have my car repaired and continue to use it. Is there any way I can force this to happen? Also what happens with the depreciation incurred since the accident in April and today's value? If anyone has experienced similar I'd be really grateful to hear from them.

Category C and Category D Registered Cars

[RATTER15]

It will not be worth repairing! I imagine that they have written it off, meaning it will cost more to repair it that the car is worth in financially. One way around it would be to buy the car back once you have been payed by the insurers and have the car repaired privately. The garage will have charged the insurance company far more than it would charge a private individual, maybe shop around for prices.

I think you will need to have the car inspected by an engineer after all the repairs to make sure it is safe to be on the road.

Generally speaking you are better to just get another car with a warranty.

[jake-the-peg]

That's not quite true.

Insurers tend to right off cars as what is called category D if they will cost more to repair than 60% of the vehicles cost.

A category C is more than 100%.

Youre in good company!
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Motoring/Questi on304133.html

As I said in that thread - if the repair estimate is close and you want a repair, and if the original quote is from a main dealer you'd be best to see if somebody from a local independant bodyshop (see your yellow pages) will come out and give a quote.

[RATTER15]

I stand corrected.

Dammit I hate being wrong!!!!

[POOING]

i beg to differ with jake the peg. my daugthers car was category c which was very minor damage. recorded category a is 100%

[jake-the-peg]

No category A is no part of the car can be reused - usually reserved for fire damage and the like

B can be repaired but only I think in very special cases and requires a license I think - normally spares.

Cat C is repairable but over 100% - of the value

Cat D is normally >60% value but less than 100%

I think there is now a Category X which refers to cases like stolen recovered - typically where a car has been stolen and the insurance company has paid out but the car has then been found.

Off course minor damage on a low value car can still make it category C.

http://www.lostmyshirt.co.uk/write-off.htm