MG ZR - Insurance Company Write Off

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Mon 10 Jan 2011 20:38
MG ZR - Insurance Company Write Off - Confused2011

Hi All,

Someone drove into the back of my car last week and the insurance company has advised me that it is uneconomical to repair and it is a write off. However I would prefer them to repair the vehicle as it was not my fault and we would not get enough money to buy a similar car. So I have been looking online and came across this quote on Moneysavingexpert.com and was wondering (hoping!) that it still applies as it was written in 2008:

"Honest John (referred to earlier) always advises in these circumstances that a third party's insurers have no ability to write off your car. You are entitled to have your car repaired to its original condition, at the third party insurer's expense, irrespective of cost - and irrespective of whether they consider it economically viable. You shouldn't lose out as a result of a non-fault accident where the third party is not disputing liability."

If it is still correct does any body (such as the Association of British Insurers) back it, just so I can quote it to the insurance company!

Any help you can give would be much appreciated.

Tashya

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Mon 10 Jan 2011 21:18
MG ZR - Insurance Company Write Off - injection doc

Insurance companies have been writing off a lot of Rovers due to difficulty in obtaining some parts!

The problem for the repairer & ins company is the cost when a car it grounded waiting for parts & scourcing.

I would imagine this is part of the issue ( pardon the pun)

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Tue 11 Jan 2011 07:21
MG ZR - Insurance Company Write Off - LucyBC
I think the quote is somewhat in error.

There is no obligation for the insurance company to fix your car if it is not economically viable to do so. They have the option of repairing or paying you the fair value of the vehicle.

However they cannot force you to have it written off - it is your car and you can decide what happens with it.

The best way of dealing with a case like this is to get them to pay you the value less what they would have got for salvage and you have the car fixed by someone you appoint using aftermarket and second hand parts using the amount you received for the vehicle to fund the repairs.

There are many excellent smaller garages who will be prepared to do this for you.
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Tue 11 Jan 2011 12:56
MG ZR - Insurance Company Write Off - TeeCee

Seconded.

My father did this some years back with (coincidently) another Rover. He took the writeoff from the insurers and bought the car back off them for the salvage cost. Then he went to a local body shop and got 'em to do a deal on fettling it up for cash, using a bonnet, headlamp, grille and rear bumper assembly* from a scrappy. It wasn't a "Rolls-Royce" job, but it was good enough that you had to know where to look to spot it**!

He ended up making a tidy profit on the deal and went on to run the car for another 10 years!

*Exhaust pipe in road flung up from preceeding car took out the front. An inattentive following vehicle put paid to the rear end, the tailgate and rear valance were straightened by the repairer.

**Panel alignment between the leading edge of the N/S front wing and the donor bonnet was slightly "off".

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Thu 20 Jan 2011 21:39
MG ZR - Insurance Company Write Off - The Gingerous One

Thirded.

I had a 3rd party run into me on a roundabout when I had right-of way.

I took a cash settlement from the ins co. and kept the car (for another year).

So it's all perfectly possible.

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