Seeking advice - car insurance

[6poundshower]

Hoping someone here can advise as I've googled and not found an answer yet.

I bought a car about 8 years ago, paid £2k cash for it second hand. The kind of car that is old but reliable, great on fuel efficiency. Hardly ever goes wrong. Usually needs something small doing to pass the MOT but that's OK.

I've never had an accident that's been my fault. But in the time I've had this car, several others have hit me from behind, and one recently scraped the side of my car. It's cosmetic, doesn't affect how the car drives and I don't care how it looks really.

I informed the insurance company, as understood that's what I'm supposed to do. Sent pictures. Using the pictures only, they informed me my car is a write off. And here's where I need the advice -

Without any further discussion with me, they have instructed a salvage company to pick up my car from my home, and take it away. And have offered me a sum of money in place of the car. But I don't want that. I like my cat. There is nothing wrong with my car. I don't even want the scrape repaired.

So my question really revolves around the fact I paid for the car, they don't own it. Can they just demand I hand it over and take it away? With the second hand car market being the way it is, I'd currently be paying more for one more than I did 8 years ago and the sum they're offering won't fit cover it. A new car could have faults whereas my current one is great, still serving me well. It seems nuts to scrap it. I don't want any of this but don't know where I stand.

The salvage company has now got in touch saying I need to call them so they can arrange pick up. I don't want them to pick up. In the short term, I'd be stranded without a car, I'm a single parent and without anyone to drive me or kids around, even to look at new cars. I wouldn't be able to get to work, school or anywhere else including to buy a new car, without a huge amount of hassle. So can they do this?

I have emailed but the insurance company hasn't replied. I will call them today but don't know what my rights are. TIA.

I don't know the answer but in your position I'd ring a consumer helpline and look on the honest john and money saving expert websites. It's ridiculous but that's insurance companies for you

You can offer to buy it for salvage value, which will probably be a few hundred pounds, but your insurance company may insist that they take it away for assessment anyway, citing the safety risks of 'hidden damage'. I don't know if they'll just let you buy it and keep it, but that's what you need to ask for.

If someone else hit you, their insurance company needs to pay for your costs. Which are the reduction in value of your car, your insurance excess and the cost of providing you with a courtesy car for any time your car is off the road.

But in reality for lower value claims, your own insurance company will do what they have with the salvage and then they'll sort it out (or not!) with the other party's insurance company.

The same thing happened to DP. Someone hit his car while it was parked and before he'd had time to think about it, the value of his car minus the excess on his own policy was paid into his bank account and the salvage people took it away. He wishes he'd fought it, but I was secretly pleased as the (automatic) gearbox was on it's way out, so they did him a favour really.

But his insurance company didn't bother to pursue the claim with the third party so DP was down his excess, and had a claim against his own policy that wasn't his fault, so after about 2 years of him chasing it, sending photos etc, we used resolver.co.uk to get them to sort it, which they finally did, but only after 2 renewals that were more expensive than they should have been, due to him having a claim on his record that wasn't a claim, just his insurance company being shit.

You're right to not want your car repaired due to the shortage of parts. A relative has been driving round in a courtesy car for about three months after they crashed their car into a wall because the parts required aren't available. It's quite likely that the cost of this long term hire will be bourne by his own insurance company and go on his own driving record as a massive claim.

You just tell them that you don’t want to make a claim and you don’t want the car repaired.

This! For a scrape down the side of an old car, which didn't affect or stop me driving it, I wouldn't have claimed or involved my insurance company at all.

Not the question I know, but in 8 years how have several people run into the back of you? Do you keep slamming your brakes on in front of people or something?

"Written off" generally means that the cost of the repairs would be more than the current value of the car so the insurance company won't cover them. But you can tell them you don't want to make the claim and get the repairs done yourself.

Yes you can, a family member did this, but he knows about cars and could get it fixed himself to roadworthy standard. I think you effectively buy it off the insurance company, then you have to register the vehicle as category C or something to indicate it was written off by them but repaired. Someone with more knowledge might be able to tell you exactly what to do

Thank you (almost) all. I've now called and spoken with 2 customer service staff, who looked into it on their system and sounded shocked. Apparently my car isn't in the category it should be, shouldn't be termed a total loss and they immediately cancelled the request to salvage. So it's a good thing I didn't just cooperate with that. Someone messed up but I haven't got to the bottom of who or why.

They are offering me a lump sum, not small either. And I get to keep the car. And they will continue to insure it. I'm so glad I called!

It happens
I got rear ended on a roundabout - she didn't see me apparently
And on a motorway where he said he was hit from behind too (he wasn't)
And then someone punched my car and caused a massive amount of damage to it then
That was all in 5 years and apart from those I've been driving 21 years and no accidents

PeloFondo Why did someone punch your car?!

I also had a run of incredibly bad luck. Two cars in a row stolen. Third written off when somebody crashed into it while it was parked. Fourth written off in an accident that was the other driver's fault. Fifth, went over a pothole and the engine basically fell apart.

No incidents for a good seven years now, touch wood.

He was stood in the road (this is about 1am I was coming from work) flagging me down. I slowed and he came to the drivers side and luckily I had my doors locked. He tried to get in my door and when he couldn't, he punched the a pillar. Brand new car, 700 miles. Lost all my no claims (free insurance with car, wasn't protected) and about £2000 as they had to remove the windscreen to fix it

I followed him when he ran off, rang the police and kept following him until the police turned up and arrested him. Apparently he had an argument and wanted to hit something
He paid me £100 compensation at £5 a month....

Fun times!

PeloFondo £100, ffs. Good on you for not letting him get away with it, shame on whoever didn't compensate you property!