Can I keep my damaged Mazda 6 if it is written off, and get it repaired myself?

My locked 2007 Mazda 6 TS 5-door auto parked on my driveway was struck by a car veering off the road at speed. After demolishing part of my neighbour's wall and part of my hedge it bounced off the rear of my car and ended up in my front garden, its front wheels having demolished part of my other neighbour's wall. The driver has admitted full responsibility and is insured with the RAC. My car is driveable, with all lights, etc. working; the main damage is to the rear door, which is jammed. Zurich, my insurer, has had my car driven to its accident assessors at Harlow to see if it is repairable. My worry is that if it is said to be a write-off, the compensation will be insufficient to buy an equivalent vehicle. Am I entitled to ask for the return of my car so I can get local repair quotes, while being able to use the car to get around in meanwhile?

Asked on 3 August 2013 by JG, Potters Bar

Answered by Honest John
Yes, you can demand that your car is not written off. It remains your property to decide the future of. If the insurers want to write it off you can probably come to a compromise whereby they give you the write-off vale minus the salvage value and you can use that money to get your car repaired locally. Unfortunately UK courts have ruled that you are only entitled to the 'market value' of the car, which is private sale price, not dealer price.
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