Do I just scrap my run down car which has been vandalised?

[LongDistanceLife]

I have a 2006 Honda jazz in bad condition, MOT due in August. I have just got home to two windows smashed. Would it be best value to scrap it and buy a new (to me) car? The insurance has a high excess.

I don’t have parents or anyone else to advise me.

Windows shouldn't be expensive to sort. I would fix it. Better the devil you know.

You haven’t given us much to go on. What do you mean by bad condition ?
I would guess that almost any replacement is going to cost more than two replacement windows. Also check your policy - some have different excesses for different types of claim.

Cars are really expensive right now do it depends how much money you have available and how long you expect your current car to last. Hondas have a good reputation but obviously you car is getting old. Do you feel it will past its MOT ?
Sorry about the vandalism- absolutely hate it when people do that

2nd hand cars command high prices at the moment. Even ones that are teenagers.

Look online at Autotrader's website to see how much it would cost to buy the same age car to replace it. You might just find it really makes it worth repairing and so helps you with your decision.

You really don't have to make that decision without any hard facts on which to base it.

Let your car insurance know about the damage, and take it from there. If it will cost too much to replace the windows (I'd be surprised, windows are usually quite simple to replace) they will offer you something as the write off cost.

Let us know how you get on. Good luck.

It’s possible it could cost a lot to get it through the MOT. it’s ended up hundreds for the last two years and there was an odd sound not too long ago 😬. The bodywork has a number of scratches and dents.

I do have the money to buy another used car currently (5,000-8,000) but was trying to limp the one along until the car market calmed down.

All cars need servicing not just an annual MOT. At £5-8k you aren’t going to avoid that.
Hondas are generally reliable but no car can go with proper maintenance.

I have a 23 year old car Honda. Still a great car. They will go forever if you take care of them. As a poster said above - better the devil you know. I'd fix it.

Really hate to state the obvious but most policies have a much lower excess for window and windscreen replacements. Used cars are really expensive at the moment and windows aren’t quite the massive job they seem. Look at your insurance policy terms properly first before even considering scrapping the car. Then, if you have no cover, get a quote for the windows doing… still likely to be considerably cheaper than scrapping and buying a new one.

In the absence of any known massive faults or issues I wouldn’t scrap for minor damage at the moment.

I'd get quotes for windows to be fixed.

I'd also possibly consider doing a free mot check now so you know how it's looking in terms of road worthyness.

I'd look at how much your age and make of car is going for versus how much you'd get for it as scrap.

THEN I would price up options on a "new" car.

After I and those figures I'd then decide.
Not very impulsive but I am what I am. 🤣

Oh and I'd not consider an insurance claim for smashed windows. Wouldn't be worth it.

That’s precisely what the glass cover part of the policy is for, normally with a very small excess.