Can I challenge a vehicle write-off payment?
Unfortunately my daughter's car was written off following an accident for which she was at fault. The Insurer's settlement offer is some £2k below the retail replacement cost for the same model & mileage. It will not budge on its offer.
Surely a comprehensive insurance policy should put the driver back in the same position prior to the accident, but her insurer seems to consider a value based on trade-in is acceptable.
I guess this is not an isolated instance, but is there any advice you can give on this issue. She is not looking for betterment, just true replacement value. All this despite the car being insured for its initial purchase cost.
Surely a comprehensive insurance policy should put the driver back in the same position prior to the accident, but her insurer seems to consider a value based on trade-in is acceptable.
I guess this is not an isolated instance, but is there any advice you can give on this issue. She is not looking for betterment, just true replacement value. All this despite the car being insured for its initial purchase cost.
Asked on 25 June 2026 by Pendleman
Answered by
David Ross
If you have not done so already, we would suggest writing a formal letter of complaint to the insurance company which includes several examples of equivalent models for sale that are as close as possible in terms of model, specification, age, mileage and condition as supporting evidence. If this approach is unsuccessful you can then take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, who will examine your evidence and look at trade guides in respect of vehicle valuations in order to come to a decision, and if they agree that the valuation is unfair they will instruct the insurance company to adjust the figure to either the highest figure available in trade guides or in line with the valuation supported by other evidence.
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