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[pscocoa]

Friend's son in law got his 2006 Vectra Elite (only 48000 miles)hit with a glancing blow at front and insurance co. Want to write off and pay him £3000. A body shop thinks they can fix it for £1200 but reckon it would be classified Cat D.

How does he go about buying back the car from insurance co - does owner have first option on it?

At end of day he will have a car with a stigma attached but if money is right then repairing write off maybe best option.

[Andy B]

....

How does he go about buying back the car from insurance co - does owner have first option on it?
 ......

He already owns the car   

[henryd]

....

How does he go about buying back the car from insurance co - does owner have first option on it?
 ......

He already owns the car   

Untill the insurance company pay out,it becomes there's then unless he has agreed a buy back price

[Andy B]

....

How does he go about buying back the car from insurance co - does owner have first option on it?
 ......

He already owns the car   

Untill the insurance company pay out,it becomes their's then unless he has agreed a buy back price

Exactly. It's always the 3rd party insurers that want to write cars off in these situations because it's easier for them .... not you. Until they pay out ..... providing you accept the offer ...... he doesn't need to buy something that he already owns.

[woolley11]

As the other posts have stated, it's still his car.

Generally if you say you want to keep the salvage and as long as the insurers don't slap a Cat B or Cat A (cars must be broken and scrapped with these two categories) on it then you can make deal with them for the balance of the value they will give you less an allowance for the damaged car.

Hope this helps.

[Martin_1962]

I ran a cat C for 5 years, a new bonnet & wing fixed it, and I could not be bothered to de cat C it, then all sorted to do it over XMAS and someone slammed into the side.

Got top book, buy back for £65 and have made enough breaking it

[chrisgixer]

He needs to speak to the insurer and insist its repaired first off.

Failing that it must be worth more than 3k!

But to answer you question he needs to tell them he wants to buy back the wreck. If its still in his possession that's good. If its in storage that's a worry as cars have been known to go missing in such circumstances. Even though he owns it.

Ime. Say they value it at 3k, he'll get that cash, less excess and scrap value, and the car back.

He then has that lump sum to fix the car. It will then be cat d or whatever, and the value will be marked down accordingly from then on.


But it sounds like they are avoiding the repair. Cheaky baskets. Insurers are all too keen to write off ime.

Its HIS car! Not that they would have you believe it.

[Stemo]

He needs to speak to the insurer and insist its repaired first off.

Failing that it must be worth more than 3k!

But to answer you question he needs to tell them he wants to buy back the wreck. If its still in his possession that's good. If its in storage that's a worry as cars have been known to go missing in such circumstances. Even though he owns it.

Ime. Say they value it at 3k, he'll get that cash, less excess and scrap value, and the car back.

He then has that lump sum to fix the car. It will then be cat d or whatever, and the value will be marked down accordingly from then on.


But it sounds like they are avoiding the repair. Cheaky baskets. Insurers are all too keen to write off ime.

Its HIS car! Not that they would have you believe it.

It's all in the small print. They can do as they like.

[pscocoa]

Thanks to all - he is a fairly young guy and is not sure what he wants. Will pass on ideas.

[chrisgixer]

He needs to speak to the insurer and insist its repaired first off.

Failing that it must be worth more than 3k!

But to answer you question he needs to tell them he wants to buy back the wreck. If its still in his possession that's good. If its in storage that's a worry as cars have been known to go missing in such circumstances. Even though he owns it.

Ime. Say they value it at 3k, he'll get that cash, less excess and scrap value, and the car back.

He then has that lump sum to fix the car. It will then be cat d or whatever, and the value will be marked down accordingly from then on.


But it sounds like they are avoiding the repair. Cheaky baskets. Insurers are all too keen to write off ime.

Its HIS car! Not that they would have you believe it.

It's all in the small print. They can do as they like.

Actually, no, they can't.

[Stemo]

He needs to speak to the insurer and insist its repaired first off.

Failing that it must be worth more than 3k!

But to answer you question he needs to tell them he wants to buy back the wreck. If its still in his possession that's good. If its in storage that's a worry as cars have been known to go missing in such circumstances. Even though he owns it.

Ime. Say they value it at 3k, he'll get that cash, less excess and scrap value, and the car back.

He then has that lump sum to fix the car. It will then be cat d or whatever, and the value will be marked down accordingly from then on.


But it sounds like they are avoiding the repair. Cheaky baskets. Insurers are all too keen to write off ime.

Its HIS car! Not that they would have you believe it.

It's all in the small print. They can do as they like.

Actually, no, they can't.

Yes, they can.

[chrisgixer]

Sigh..... You'd let them away wit it certainly, Mr More money than sense.

[pscocoa]

Just looking at prices I think he has an argument to push for more money as settlement given mileage.

[05omegav6]

There's three ways of dealing with it...

1. Make no claim, and swallow the cost. Upside no 'stigma', downside out £1200.

2. Claim through third party insurer, get several quotes and car gets fixed to everyones agreement. Depends on third party admitting full liability... they may even agree a cash settlement car not written off.

3. Claim through own insurance on the basis that third party is liable. Car gets written off, probably Cat C as that's the mentality at the moment. They buy the 'wreck' from him by way of paying the suggested £3k. He then buys the car back for it's salvage value. If the car is still driveable and in his possession then it is a virtual exercise. He keeps the car, receives £2750 ish and gets the car repaired. Yes it will be a Cat C, and will need a fresh MoT and VIC before it can be used on the road again (if the car is still insured with the same insurer ) they might knock cover down to 3rd party only until they receive the VIC certificate.

To put a couple of myths to bed...

1. The salvage value is the price that Copart buy the car from the insurer for, typically scrap value unless the car is rare or specialist.
2. Once written off, always written off, the VIC check is purely to ensure the legitimate identity of the car. The fresh MoT that is required is a demonstration of roadworthiness... ie a poor repair might fail the MoT.
3. If the car is still in possession and still driveable then you have more options in reality than if the car is in an insurance pound. If the insurers have it, best bet is to get all your property from the car, take the money and run. They could turn round and say 'Here's your £3000, less £250 salvage value, less your £300 excess, less 10 days storage (at £50 per day) £500, so an actual payout of £1850. Still with a £3000 claim on the policy. If not at fault his excess will be repaid.

If there is any question of liability, ie less the 100% third party admission, and he still has the car, then my advice, from experience, would me to notify the insurers, and make no claim. Worth checking with the insurers as they may already have written the car off prior to making there offer. This was how my Omega was written off the first time. Technically it shouldn't be written off until the claim is agreed and settled, but insurance companies are nothing more than self serving onanists, and do things their own way. Even if the claim is not made, once the car is already written off, that cannot be reversed

[pscocoa]

Thanks Al