"Drievable Loss" please help!

[jvanzyl]

Hey guys,
So I was rolled into by a Ford Transit with an unused handbrake.

Complaints handler provided a courtesy car and has been in contact with the defenders insurers.

Complaints handler just called to say that their engineers have inspected the photos I've provided and have said that it's a "drivable loss" due to their estimate of the vehicle being £1500 and the cost to repair being too high. Oh and that means that they'll have to come and collect the courtesy car.

I have refuted their estimate as "rubbish" and told them to get back in touch with Adrian Flux who have all the modification listed and the estimated value of the car at £4700 due to the cost of the parts etc.

Does anyone know what my rights are in this case? If the claims handler says it's too expensive, surely that's not their call? Surely the defendants insurers have to stump up the costs regardless??

[Carolyn]

Call your insurer and insist that they deal with it.  That's part of the service you pay for.

The guy who let his van roll into your car is liable for the entirety of the damage.

[jvanzyl]

Thanks Carolyn - just got back off the phone from them. Their engineers valuation is basically not worth anything, as it's more about whether my car is drive able and therefore needing a courtesy car.

So basically the're picking up the Mini on Monday and I'm still waiting for the defendant to admit liability.

Going to have the car independently assessed by my local garage and body shop so that'll help hopefully.

[james_ly]

Any structural damage? They might make it a CAT-N write off, where you buy the car back and make a bit of profit (but then have a registered write off car)

[jonbill]

From what you've described (I'm guessing bonnet, bumper, maybe crash bar and a light or two) I wouldn't have involved insurance. I'd have told the bloke that he's done a couple of hundred quid of damage and does he want to just give you the money.

[shnazzle]

Try the "payment in lieu" option if you are intent on using insurance. 

I agree with them that the cost exceed the market value of the car. Remember they include EVERYTHING as a cost to them and use only new parts and approved dealers. 
So parts, painting, fitting, shipping, garage profit margin, storage, etc etc. For a bumper and exhaust you're looking well over 70% of the market value.

So, payment in lieu, or DIY. Sad fact of life for our cars.

[paulj]

Whilst you are "waiting for them to admit liability" all and any information, photos or facts that you can offer to your insurers will help them force the hand of the other side.  Keep pestering YOUR insurer to force the matter, otherwise they may not.

[jvanzyl]

Hey guys - thanks for the input. Very helpful!

I spoke with the claim handlers again and they have decided to support my case... I essentially told them that "yes you could buy a 2001 roadster for £1500 BUT it wouldn't be the same as mine due to the upgraded parts."

They agreed and asked me to provide a total of the parts (new) that it would take to produce a car like mine.

So I've tallied it all up and blown the supposed £4.7k valuation out of the water before I've even added in what a garage would charge to do the work. You're basically looking at £10k of parts and labour... eeesh..

anywhooooo... so I'll send that over to them tomorrow and see what happens...

[jvanzyl]

Right - so my options are either walk away or allow them to write my car off as a driveable loss and try and get the £1500... in which case I'd then have a Cat whatever car and £1500... I guess at the end of the day the car itself isn't worth that much so I'd probably part it out in order to recoup some of the costs...bah

[shnazzle]

Right - so my options are either walk away or allow them to write my car off as a driveable loss and try and get the £1500... in which case I'd then have a Cat whatever car and £1500... I guess at the end of the day the car itself isn't worth that much so I'd probably part it out in order to recoup some of the costs...bah

I'd take the cat D/N + 1500. 

How much do you think the repairs will set you back? I'd aim to spend no more than 500 tops. 1k in the bank! 
That's a lot of mods

[jvanzyl]

Right - so my options are either walk away or allow them to write my car off as a driveable loss and try and get the £1500... in which case I'd then have a Cat whatever car and £1500... I guess at the end of the day the car itself isn't worth that much so I'd probably part it out in order to recoup some of the costs...bah

I'd take the cat D/N + 1500.

How much do you think the repairs will set you back? I'd aim to spend no more than 500 tops. 1k in the bank!
That's a lot of mods

I suppose - but what will my insurance renewals be in future I'm assuming the fact that "I've been involved" in an incident will push it up anyway..

[Carolyn]

Right - so my options are either walk away or allow them to write my car off as a driveable loss and try and get the £1500... in which case I'd then have a Cat whatever car and £1500... I guess at the end of the day the car itself isn't worth that much so I'd probably part it out in order to recoup some of the costs...bah

You feeling sorry for yourself?  Part it out??  Don't be silly.

Take the money,get it fixed, carry on having fun.

[1979scotte]

I agree with Pat and Carolyn
Was going to post earlier whats wrong with cat N/D these days we all know a slight scratch can write a car off.

Renewals will still probably be less than that huge gas guzzling S4 you've got for practical reasons 😂

[Mikeymead]

I had a van that was written of in a bizzare parking accident, the van was old but low milage, got it back and used the payout to do it up with used parts. Kept it for an other 4 or so years till we just scrapped it this year. Didn't really affect the insurance much afterwards.

Having spent so much money and time on your car it would be a crying shame to part it out now. Are you ever likely to sell the car on, if not then so what if it's cat N/D.

[Chilli Girl]

You must keep it John, you've put so much work into it and who cares if it's called a Cat N.  It's a car for keepers and it belongs to you and no-one else, you deserve it!

[Mikeymead]

Just thinking today, what was the outcome of this or is it still pending?

[jvanzyl]

Just thinking today, what was the outcome of this or is it still pending?

Nothing as yet... Still waiting...:-/