Buying back my write off?

What should I do?

My landy was hit whilst parked at the side of the road last Friday, luckily the idiot left his bumper complete with number plate at the scene and the police happened to be driving by and retrieved it and later arrested him for failing to stop! Therefore I have all the third parties details and have passed these onto the insurance company.

Damage to the landy was not too bad, bumper bent and wing caved in. It was taken to accident repair garage by insurance company and assessed. They have confirmed that it is only the wing and bumper, no chassis or mechanical damage.

Today received call telling me it has been deemed a write off, no surprise there, uneconomical repair, catergory D. An offer of £1200 was given.

Obviously I want the landy back and have spoken to the insurance company who are saying they have a policy not to sell vehicles back but will look at the case further.

I was under the impression that normally you can buy the vehicle back at salvage value or take a reduced offer and the vehicle.

Any one have any input on this, I will if the only option cancel the claim and just take the landy back, but would rather get some money as well.

Fooking insurance companies really wind me up .

Anyone got a nearside wing for sale?

Weird how they won't sell it back as salvage? When our's was written off (cat C), I was told they'd take £700 for it but as I'd had the chassis checked independently (2nd smash) I knew it was time to let her go

They'll have costed on new LR parts, paint shop costs, labour, hire car and storage of the Landy (the repair cost on ours was £3200 , value was £1300 according to them).

Definately worth getting her back if it's only minor damage though, as a breakers will buy her off the ins co. fix her up and sell her on within a couple of weeks anyway

the vehicle is yours not the insurance companies, they have no legal right to the title of the vehicle unless you assign it to them.

Ask the insurance company for a cash in lieu settlement. Tell them you want to keep the vehicle no matter what. The vehicle is then NOT recorded as a loss. They will value the vehicle at x amount (say £3000) they value the salvage as x amount (say £1000). They then give you the difference (£2000) to spend as you wish, either on vehicle repairs or a new three piece or whatever you want but as far as both parties are concerened it is all settled.

redhand said:

the vehicle is yours not the insurance companies, they have no legal right to the title of the vehicle unless you assign it to them.

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Int it the case that the £1200 offer is conditional on assigning the vehicle to them tho. They are, in effect, buying it for £1200. You dont have to sell, or you can decide it is worth more.

The Mad Hat Man said:

Int it the case that the £1200 offer is conditional on assigning the vehicle to them tho. They are, in effect, buying it for £1200. You dont have to sell, or you can decide it is worth more.

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We refused the 1st offer of £1300, found examples in autotrader of Disco's in similar condition, year, mileage etc. and after giving them some grief on the phone got £2400. So it pays to haggle if you decide to get shot of her.

The £1200 is their interpretation of the retail value of the vehicle. It must be enough to allow you to replace the vehicle like for like, assuming you described it correctly to them when taking out the insurance. However if you decide that you wish to keep the vehicle. Then they have to decide what the scrap value of the vehicle is. This is where a low valuation works for you. because obviously if it isn't worth much retail, then it's worth buggar all as scrap. once you have negoitiated a scrap value they have to deduct this from the retail value and pay you the difference.

Got a call back this afternoon with what I wanted to hear . Although they say that it is not company policy (this was emphasised several times?) they have made the decision to allow me to essentially buy the landy back at salvage value. Offer of £1200 still stands, market value of vehicle, minus salvage value of 15%, minus £120 excess leaves me with the landy back and £900 in my pocket. Did think about haggling but decided not to push it, as think I got a good deal. Was surprised at the valuation of £1200 without haggling, thought this was pretty reasonable, for an insurance company, the landy is a 1987 2.5 NA solid but rough looking. Reckon I've come out of the situation alright should be able to fix her up and still have plenty of beer tokens left!

Never take the first answer you get always push them for what you want and sometimes you get it!

For those that like piccys

Good result then well done.

Looks like £100 worth of ebay parts to get it back to how it was and £800 for a respray to get it back into tip top condition.

a few years ago i laughed at the valuation of my 110 CSW it was an 89 in MINT condition inside and out, they offered 2K (that was 4 years ago)
but i had a mate who use to work at an insurance company and he told me if it is a non fault claim you can demand your car repaired if it isnt a cat A or B right off.

In the end it was repaired cost nearly 4K to put right

that pic dont look very bad.No where near a right off

What's with waking the thread?:doh:

I had a Rover 75 written off 12 months last September in St Helens, transported the vehicle home, had it accesed and written off, filled paper telling them I did not want to retain salvage. But now month's later the car is still here, and I've no idea what to do with it.

Andy.

Send them a letter stating you want x amount for storage from when they paid out and due to tax increases the new amount will be x until vehicle collected

I had thought of that, but they'll just tell me to keep the car, only major problem I see is the car has been signed over to them.

Andy.

write them a letter giving them x days to remove it or it will be removed at ther cost of x that might get it shifted one way or another.

In that case it is their (note spelling ) property. Yu need to send the a recorded delivery letter saying that the storage costs are X and if not paid within 2 weeks, you will be claiming through the small claims court AND disposing of the offending item.

I'd be more than happy to keep the car as it's a 75 and I use one daily, however I don't want to be out of pocket, as they don't give me a discount. I will do as suggested and try and find the address of the company and not the broker and see if I can get some cash out of them.

Thank's, Andy.