r/CarTalkUK • u/Individual-Cut-5296 • 1d ago
Advice Car potentially being written off!!!
Hi guys, I need some advice. My 2012 VW Polo has been involved in an accident with an ambulance, which has accepted full liability. My insurance company initially said the car should be repairable, but they’ve now decided to write it off and are offering me £3,000. I’ve had the car for seven months, it drives well mechanically, and I was planning to keep it for another three to four years. However, a few body shops have quoted me £200 to £400 for the cosmetic repairs, so I’m wondering whether to push for an independent garage to repair it instead.
I’ve also noticed that insurance quotes increase by around £700 if the car is recorded as a write-off, compared with around £200 for an accident claim without a write-off. I’m considering getting an independent assessment before deciding whether to accept the payout or buy the car back. What would you do? I also want to know I bought the car without knowing it was Cat S or Cat N so my friend was saying that may be why the premiums may be higher. There’s also a lot of rust under the car but again i’m not a mechanic so i’m considering taking it to a mechanic to get it checked to see if it’s worth it’s just hit 100,000 miles. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
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u/No_Shopping476 1d ago
Push for it not to be written off, and receive a settlement instead. If they absolutely have to write it off, ask to buy back (for a lot less) and live with it or get it fixed.
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u/SimonBlades89 1d ago
I believe only Cat S can have an effect on your premiums. I’d bet this would end up at a Cat N if it went that way. Just do research on the value of similar cars as insurance tend to low ball you.
You also have the option to buy the car back from the insurance if you’re happy to have the car repaired (or leave as is)
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u/Individual-Cut-5296 1d ago
apparently if I buy it back from them they won’t fix it I will still need to fix it.
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u/Equivalent_Cable_416 1d ago
You'll be purchasing it as salvage at a price to reflect this.
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u/Individual-Cut-5296 1d ago
Hmm yes.
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u/Equivalent_Cable_416 1d ago
It's very minor damage. I'd be getting a dent man to remove the arch damage and then a smart repair to tidy it up. It's a 2012 car and not worth spending any more than is absolutely necessary
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u/Individual-Cut-5296 1d ago
Yes , but why are they willing to write of the whole car.
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u/SimonBlades89 1d ago
Because the cost to repair is over the value of the car. So for them it’s cheaper to write the car off and pay you out, instead of repairing it.
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u/Individual-Cut-5296 1d ago
So, am I better off buying it back or just taking the payout?
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u/SimonBlades89 1d ago
Well if they write it off, you’ll be offered what they class as “fair market value” but it’s likely to be on the low end. The buying back is completely up to you, are you happy to continue driving the car with a bit of light damage?
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u/Equivalent_Cable_416 1d ago
Because it's a 2012 car. By the time they have provided you with a courtesy car, repaired the damage, legal costs etc etc it's just not worth it for them. Any repair has to be approved and to a certain standard. Say they just do a cheap repair and you aren't happy with the colour match and the whole thing spirals Into the whole side of the car being painted
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u/Jonn300990 1d ago
Hi, insurance approved repair shops will generally have around about the same cost. As they will all be doing the work at the same labour rate on the same estimating system.
If you choose your own repair centre. They will likely choose a higher labour rate as they are non approved and dont have to abide by an agreed contract with your insurer.
If yoive had quotes for 200 to 400 like you say - thats really cheap and the quality of work might be poor. Though might be acceptable enough to you.
Have your insurers given you an offer to keep the car as a category N? Id personally be asking for that. You will keep the car. Get a decent lump some. Which you can either keep or pay to repair the damage. Personally its a 2012 car and the damage isnt too bad. Id be leaving it and running the car into the ground.
Honestly anything around 10 years old, unless really low mileage, will likely be a right off these days. Source - im an estimator
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u/Individual-Cut-5296 1d ago
But I’m planning to keep the car for longer. Do you think it would even be worth buying it back? And thanks for your advice!
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u/jrw1982 Golf R | Octavia VRS | Model 3LR 12h ago
I dont understand how you're getting quotes higher when the car is written off....how do you know because insurers dont ask if a car is categorised.
Get it written off, get the £3k and buy the car back from them. Then dont even bother getting it repaired. They will sell it you for salvage price, around £300.
If you tell them you want a buy back your insurance will just continue as it is.
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u/Individual-Cut-5296 11h ago
Hmm, apparently, if I want to buy it back, my insurance gets cancelled, and I can’t add the written-off car back onto my insurance.
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u/p_thursty 11h ago
Cancel your insurance then, it doesn’t void the policy before that point.
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u/Individual-Cut-5296 11h ago
Would I get a refund for rest of the months left?
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u/p_thursty 10h ago
Unfortunately not, they’ll say that you’ve actually used the policy so they won’t refund you anything. But if it does get written off and you want to keep it that’s your only option.
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u/jrw1982 Golf R | Octavia VRS | Model 3LR 11h ago
Have they actually said that because that makes no sense?
My mate has had his car written off twice in the last 18months and both times bought it back and his insurance just carried on.
He's not repaired either damages either.
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u/Individual-Cut-5296 7h ago
No this is what i’ve read online I honestly don’t know, but im preparing for the worst.
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u/jrw1982 Golf R | Octavia VRS | Model 3LR 7h ago
If you ask to buy back and continue the policy I imagine it'll be absolutely fine. The internet is awash with misinformation and "AI" generated nonsense.
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u/Individual-Cut-5296 5h ago
I deffo agree with AI being wrong lol. I’ll ask them tomorrow, but first I need to make sure it’s even worth the fight. I don’t want a car that’s gonna break down in a year I only wanna keep it if it can last a long time with proper maintenance and care.
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u/scuderia91 NB MX5, Passat CC 1d ago
The insurers repairers are always going to have to get the car back to original condition so for example they’ll likely replace that whole bumper plus painting and properly blending it makes it expensive.
They won’t use the sort of small place you’re talking to that’ll just repair the existing panels. So I think your only option would be to buy it back and get the repairs done yourself.