Insurance payout isn't enough to compensate me fully for my car - is this fair? | Ask Honest John

Insurance payout isn't enough to compensate me fully for my car - is this fair?

I own a 2003 Suzuki Liana which has been written off by my insurance company after it was hit from behind. The garage they sent the car to said the repairs would be approximately £2700. The other motorist has accepted full liability for the crash. I feel that it is the responsibility of the insurance company to restore me to the position I was in before the crash. However, they have offered me only £1000 and although I accept that this reflects the list price of the car, I cannot see that that I will be able to replace my car with one of a similar age, mileage and maintenance record for £1000.

Asked on 9 August 2012 by KV, Moreton, Wirral,

Answered by Honest John

Unfortunately case law has determined that compensating a driver with 'market value' for a written-off car does "put them in the position they were in before the damage was done". So unless the Supreme Court overrules this, we are all stuck in this potentially unfair situation.

Tags: insurance claims accidents write offs

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