I don't want my Impreza written off following an accident.

I have a 2001 Subaru Impreza YS AWD 1597cc Manual which has been reversed into at at the front. The quote for repairs is £2300.

The third party has taken full liability but I am worried that the insurance company will write the car off as the cost is higher than the book value. However it has only done 49000 miles and I have had it from new and it is good for many more.

I don't want to lose it. How can I avoid it without having to pay anything? Is the third party liable for the difference between what the insurance will pay and what the cost is?

Asked on 20 April 2013 by corscombe

Answered by Honest John

The third party is only liable to put you in the position you were in before the damage was done, and the courts have interpreted this as paying you "market value" (private sale or trade value) for your car. If you want to keep the car you have to do a deal with the insurers not to write it off and to pay you the balance of their liability for you to try to get it fixed. Unfair, but that's the way the courts have ruled.

Tags: legal and consumer advice insurance

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