How to avoid an insurance write-off?

September 20, 2007 8:31 AM

How can I avoid an insurance company writing off my car?

My (British) car is a 1991 Astra, worth about £250 apparently. Last night, while parked, it was hit by another driver and the steering seems to be seriously damaged. The other driver accepted liability and her insurance company have had our car towed away to a garage.

Given the low market value of the car, it seems very likely that the car will be declared a write-off. This will make me very sad, since the car was in fine condition, was well looked after and is perfect for my needs. I think it will be hard to replace it for the market value.

I would far rather have my car back repaired than a cheque for £250. Is there anything I can do to avoid the car being written off? I'm completely blameless in the incident -- can I use this fact to put pressure on the insurance company to repair the car?

posted by beniamino to travel & transportation (13 comments total)

I believe you can " buy back" the car from the insurer. Take the check and simultaneously buy it back. You should be able to negotiate a suitable arrangement--they do not want it either. Agree to settle for a lesser amount and then fix it. What I do not think you will be able to do is to have them pay to repair it for more than the the book value. Good Luck
posted by rmhsinc at 8:45 AM on September 20, 2007

Perhaps things are different there, but why make an insurance claim at all if you don't want what they'll offer? Can't you just get your car repaired and leave the insurance company out of it?
posted by winston at 8:48 AM on September 20, 2007

Can't you just get your car repaired and leave the insurance company out of it?

That's what I did under similar circumstances. (BMW 2002 with 15K miles valued at $400?) Don't forget to include the costs of increased premiums if you make a claim.
posted by StickyCarpet at 8:59 AM on September 20, 2007

You could also talk to the other party about how much their rates will go up, and offer to settle for something from them directly.
posted by StickyCarpet at 9:00 AM on September 20, 2007

winston: I guess I wasn't all that clear. As rmhsinc implied, what I want is for the insurance company to repair my car, even if that costs more than the market value of the car. I don't want to invest the time and effort required to go and buy another used car, nor do I want to take the risk of buying a used car with questionable history.

StickyCarpet: I'm claiming on the other driver's insurance & she is unquestionably at fault. So I don't believe there will be any effect on my premiums. Given that, claiming is bound to get me something back. I would like the 'something' to be my car, repaired.
posted by beniamino at 9:13 AM on September 20, 2007

So I don't believe there will be any effect on my premiums

Beats me how UK insurance is, but I can assure you, on this side of the water (North America) the first one's usually free if it's not your fault. The second one maybe, if it's been a while. After that, even if it isn't your fault, your insurance will go up. Substantially more than 250 UKP. The insurance company will figure that you must be doing something to put your cars in peril (even if it is legal).

Just a warning... But it's too late now as the claim is in.
posted by shepd at 9:23 AM on September 20, 2007

That can't be right shepd, beniamino is claiming on the other driver's insurance. How would her insurance company even know about her claim in order to put up her premiums?
posted by merocet at 9:58 AM on September 20, 2007

That can't be right shepd, beniamino is claiming on the other driver's insurance. How would her insurance company even know about her claim in order to put up her premiums?

Insurance companies in the US, at least, routinely run C.L.U.E. reports to see if the people they insure have been involved in accidents that have not been reported to the insurance company. If an accident shows up that the insurance company doesn't know about(settled with other company, etc.), they will add it to their file. Then, when the policy renews, the new claim is factored into the rates.
posted by cj at 11:07 AM on September 20, 2007

If the car is in fact worth more than £250 (and the repair estimate is not too much more), you can probably go to the insurance company with some kind of evidence as to its value (for instance, prices for the same car for sale). If the cost of the repair would significantly exceed the value of the car though, then I'd think you are out of luck.
posted by ssg at 11:08 AM on September 20, 2007

Not in the UK, but...
When my son was rear-ended in our truck, the guilty party's insurance company declared the truck a total. Then they offered us a settlement that was, basically, a check for the value of the truck, minus some minor fee. It was more than enough for us to have the truck repaired.

Perhaps you can get that deal?
posted by Thorzdad at 12:25 PM on September 20, 2007

Did you sign a piece of paper and give it to the other drivers insurance company, saying that they could write off your car? No? Then they can't do it.

Your OWN insurance company can write your car off, because in the fine print of the terms and conditions, you agree to it, but the other driver's can't.
posted by Solomon at 1:00 PM on September 20, 2007

You're not going to get more than what the insurance company thinks your car is worth. But perhaps you can convince them to pay that amount towards the cost of repairs.
posted by winston at 2:08 PM on September 20, 2007

merocet, I had a fender bender. Said fender bender was settled between me and the other person without going through insurance. I received a ticket regarding the accident, which I fought and won. Then a letter in the mail for several thousand dollars a year insurance increase. How did they find out when one is innocent (and therefore presumed to have no record) until proven guilty (which I wasn't)? I never got in any trouble over it, since they informed me before I would have had to inform them. AFAIK, anyways. {Yes, the accident was my fault, but that's not what's important here}. I am very certain the other guy didn't mention it to anyone.

It was all because of what cj mentioned. As I say, over there in the UK insurance companies might not be the black art they are here to deal with. But once burned, twice shy, I say.
posted by shepd at 7:21 PM on September 20, 2007