Toyota Yaris - Write off insurance claim - HELP :-)

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Thu 3 Jun 2010 19:22
Toyota Yaris - Write off insurance claim - HELP :-) - mouser

Another driver ran into my car and has taken responsibility. I've got a V reg Toyota Yaris 99,000 miles and a few advisories on the MOT but passed in April.

I've been told by a 3rd party 'Claimfast' that my car is uneconomical to repairand they don't deal with such claims. The other driver has admitted responsibility for the accident so I've contacted their insurance company. They asked me 'how much do you think the cars worth?' so I pulled a finger in the air estimate of £1500. The insurance company have offered me £1500 and I get to keep the car. They were way to quick and keen for my liking. Could anyone advise me as to what the catch is likely to be and if that's a good deal? Should I ask for more?

Thanks!!!

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Fri 4 Jun 2010 06:40
Toyota Yaris - Write off insurance claim - HELP :-) - madf

Try buying a good Yaris for under £1900.

Look on Autotrader.

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Fri 4 Jun 2010 08:13
Toyota Yaris - Write off insurance claim - HELP :-) - LucyBC

What was the extent of the damage?

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Fri 4 Jun 2010 11:16
Toyota Yaris - Write off insurance claim - HELP :-) - Westpig
The insurance company have offered me £1500 and I get to keep the car.

Never lose sight of the facts:

1, You own the car and if you wish to, always will do. An insurance company 'allowing you to keep it' should not be on the agenda, they often do this, but if you stick to your guns they will back down, it's a damned cheek. Who are they to dictate to you the owner, whether or not you can keep your own car?

2, You are the innocent party in all of this and should be put back to the position you were in before the accident...they know this of course.

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Fri 4 Jun 2010 12:37
Toyota Yaris - Write off insurance claim - HELP :-) - LucyBC

There is no obligation at all for the insurer to agree to repair the car if they deem it uneconomic to do so - by which I mean they cannot get the repairs undertaken for less than the value of the car. If this happens they will write it off.

In these circumstances they can either:

  1. pay you the full "real" market value of the car by which you could obtain another of the same age, model and condition. This will not be as much as the forecourt "sticker" price. In this case they effectively buy the car from you and they recover the salvage value - either by sc***ping it or selling it to someone else to repair;
  2. pay you the full "real" market value of the car and let you buy your car back from them at the estimated salvage value so you can have it repaired somewhere which is cheaper than they might use - or repair it yourself; or
  3. pay you an estimate of the full real market value of the car with a deduction of the estimated return they might get for sc***page and let you keep the car.

In your case they are offering you deal 3. There is an advantage in 3. in that the car may avoid being listed as a category D write off which significantly affects the resale value. So if the car is repairable in a manner that is economic for you but not for the insurer then it might be a good deal.

So if they offer you £1500 and keep the car and a good Yaris goes for £1900 they are effectively valuing yours for salvage at £400. If you like the car and could get the necessary repairs done cheaply to put it back on the road in reasonable condition then it might be a good deal. If the car was seriously damaged then the chances are you should tell them that you want them to deal with the salvage and get them to pay you the full market value.

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Fri 4 Jun 2010 11:21
Toyota Yaris - Write off insurance claim - HELP :-) - pyruse

Search for cars the same as yours on Autotrader; it only takes a few minutes.

That will tell you what it would cost to replace the car.

Then claim that.

There's no way the insurers should be accepting your figure anyway - they normally send an inspector to look at the car and give a valuation.

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