Write-Off Options

[Robothobo]

Hello

 

I'm after a bit of advice please.  My HR was hit on the driver's side, on a roundabout. The other driver has admited fault.

 

However, their insurance company has written it off as a CAT N. They are offering me £5681 (Value of the vehicle less the value of the salvage £1794.00) valuing it at £7475. Does that seem like a fair price? It's done 80,000 miles. Does anyone have experience haggling in these cases? I won't be able to buy another one like mine for £5681.

 

Apart from the money, I'm not sure what to do. I keep the car and take the money.

 

So I have two options - 

 

1) Repair it - I am pretty sure I can buy a second hand door for a hundred quid or so, the rear panel obviously needs work, and a respray will be required across that side. If I repair it, this does mean I have a CAT N car which will affect re-sale.

 

Or

 

2) Say goodbye to the car and have fun with something else. I've had it for ten years and it has been brilliant but I now have a family and although we have a family car I think I will need four seats in my next one.

 

Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar thing happen to them and what they did.

 

Thanks

 

[Keith D]

If a car is written off the insurer owns the salvage don't they?  Or did you ask for the salvage?

[Robothobo]

Their email says - As our client has no legal or financial interest in your vehicle, this remains your property to deal with as you see fit.

[ZMANALEX]

I would haggle on price.

 

Try them at £6500 and you keep the car which gives you a bit of wiggle room to perhaps settling on £6000 and you keep the car.

 

That is if you really want the car and there are no other faults like airbag deployment etc.

 

Simple enough repair to the quarter panel and stick on a second hand door, job done.

 

Expect the repair and paint to cost circa £2000.00 including vat and paint and all materials.

 

 

Cat N is a classification used by UK insurance companies to describe a car that has been written off due to non-structural damage: 

 

 

 

• Selling

  It's legal to buy or sell a Cat N car, but the status must be clearly stated. 

   

   

   

• History check

  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) must be informed that a car is a Cat N write-off, but this information isn't in the car's logbook. A history check can confirm if a car is listed as Cat N. 

   

   

   

• Replacement of Cat D

  Cat N replaced the Cat D write-off category in 2017. Cat D was used to identify vehicles with light or cosmetic damage. 

• Explanation

  The "N" in Cat N stands for "non-structural". This means that the car's frame or chassis is not damaged, but other parts of the car may be, such as the brakes, electrical components, or body panels. 

   

   

   
• Repair

  While the car can be repaired and driven again, it may not be driveable right away. Some safety-critical parts may need to be replaced. 

   

   

   
• Buying

  Cat N cars can be cheaper than similar cars that haven't been damaged. However, they can be difficult to sell because there are fewer potential buyers. 

   

   

   

 

 

 

 

 

[LRF4N]

Is deducting the salvage value normal?

 

Only had this once myself and they paid market value, not market value less salvage value 

 

They valued it lower and I used examples of ads to show market value was higher and we eventually agreed a higher/fairer price

 

 Not sure on the option to buy back as I didn’t use this but I’d start by checking your policy and seeing what they should be paying out. I’ve only heard of market value or a previously agreed figure 

[Robothobo]

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate them.

 

I like your idea of haggling on price at £6500, ZAMANALEX.

 

I do think the cost of actually buying a real world replacement should be argued.

 

It is the other party's insurance company that is paying out so I don't think my policy comes into it in that case. I might speak to mine and see what's what but I don't want to pay any excess. 

[HEADPHONES]

So sad to see Zeds written off by insurance companies as uneconomical to repair due to their low used prices.

 

I got a cousin overseas who rolled his BMW 328i THREE times in an accident.

Every panel was damaged, airbags all deployed etc.

Due to its high residual value at the time in Malaysia the insurance refused to write it off an repaired it.

 

I'm pretty emotionally attached to my Zed so if the numbers work I'd get mine repaired.

If there was alot of corrosion underneath or there was anything major due on the horizon like new clutch/flywheel etc, it may be an opportunity to just accept the offer and move on.

All the best with whatever path you choose 

[mr v6]

I was in a similar situation many years ago. Bought a car, hyrolocked the engine, insurance paid me what I paid for it & gave me the car back. I put another engine in it & it was fine for another 9 years till I scrapped it. Don't accept their first offer. You've nothing to lose by being a bit cheeky.

[DAN@ADRIAN FLUX]

Hi.

If you have any issues with insuring a cat N vehicle then please feel free to drop me a line.

Regards,

Dan.

[Robothobo]

Thanks everyone. I asked for more money and the claims handler came back with a firm NO. I've done some searching Parker's etc and don't really think I will be able to get much more. Worth a try but I'll take the money.

 

It would be a terrible shame to scrap it. This will sound strange coming from someone who drives a 3.5L V6, but I do care about the environment. I think we should keep cars on the road for as long as they are safe.

 

I can certainly make the numbers work so will see if I can keep it or at the very least, get it sellable.

 

Since the incident I have been looking at the new Civic Type R, wow what a machine (in reality probably too expensive for me), and out of left field,  Ford Rangers (second hand). Pick-up truck is a scratch I've been wanting to itch.

 

Does anyone have expeirence taking off the outer panel of the door? I might just buy a (new) panel, fit that and then get it resprayed.

 

Edited December 9 by Robothobo

[LRF4N]

They may say no but hold your ground and show them you won’t take no for an answer

 

The first offer is always too low but you need to stick to your guns, they will give more

 

Use as many examples as you can with similar mileage/age/spec examples and make your case for a fairer payout

[LRF4N]

Also do your research into how they get their valuation- this article says what I said earlier, it’s market value prior to the incident, they shouldn’t be taking off a large chunk because it’s now written off

 

https://www.moneysupermarket.com/car-insurance/what-happens-if-my-car-is-written-off/

[GranTurismoEra]

Can find a replacement door and spray it. Quarter panel shouldnt be more than 400 to repair. I reckon if you can get a door 700-800 all in. Unless you go to a well known reputable place. They charge you as insurance jobs pay more and it might not be worth their time. Get a door few on Ebay. 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/387551216870?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=5M8MjHo0Q3u&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=qLgmErXZSUu&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Edited December 10 by GranTurismoEra

[Robothobo]

19 hours ago, GranTurismoEra said:

Can find a replacement door and spray it. Quarter panel shouldnt be more than 400 to repair. I reckon if you can get a door 700-800 all in. Unless you go to a well known reputable place. They charge you as insurance jobs pay more and it might not be worth their time. Get a door few on Ebay. 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/387551216870?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=5M8MjHo0Q3u&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=qLgmErXZSUu&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Thanks for that link. The seller made me an offer so I got it for £161.

[GranTurismoEra]

Half way there. I had a similar accident with the rear wing on 350Z. Its fixable and a good bodyshop can straighten it out. I had mine repaired for £400 (backstreet). Not sure how much they charge these days. Hopefully similar or less for a tidy job. Shop around 

 

Port the bits you need over. Job done. 

Edited December 12 by GranTurismoEra

[rabbitstew]

"They are offering me £5681 (Value of the vehicle less the value of the salvage £1794.00) valuing it at £7475."

 

Are you sure you have read that correctly? My Dad had someone reverse into the front of his car a few weeks ago - very minor damage - dented front wing and scratched bumper. The other drivers insurance immediately wrote my Dads car off and offered him 2 options. They would take the car and give him the market price for it so he can buy an identical car - which was £3,700. Or, they would give him £2,500 and let him keep the car and do whatever he wanted with it. So he could scrap it, sell it or whatever. My Dad decided to keep the car and a very reputable local body shop repaired it for £500. So he is £2000 up on the deal, but may get slightly less for the car if/when he sells it as its a cat N or whatever its flagged at now.

 

Looking at car sales, the £3700 valuation of the car was pretty much spot on, so he didnt haggle but previously its been my experience that the first price they give you is very low and you have to provide them with evidence via adverts etc as to what it would really cost to replace your car like-for-like before they give you a correct market price.

 

On another note, I was quite surprised how quickly the insurance company wrote off a perfectly good car with only £500 of damage, no wonder premiums keep going up. But I guess they figured transport costs to their "approved repairer", hire car costs etc etc would soon add up.