I have just been involved in an accident where I was hit from behind. My car is 8 years old so of low financial value and I suspect that the body work damage will be too costly for the insurance company and they will want to write it off (the car is worth only £1000 ). The car has been taken away to the repair shop .

Can I ask the insurers not to write the car off but simply to return it to so I can pay for the repairs or is it too late? It is otherwise mechanically sound, regularly serviced, very reliable and worth far more to me that £1000 especially if I have to buy a replacement.