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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How do you know when a car is an insurance write off?

29 replies

Iamtheoneandonly2018 · 31/10/2018 21:46

Someone I know had car stolen. Only just passed driving test few months. 5 year old car. Not the best condition- think scratches / scrapes but for 19 year old driver/ first car- fine. Drivers side front wing split in 2 ( pic to follow). Driver not going through insurance as £800 excess. Am just wondering what people's thoughts are on cost/viability of making safe or would it be a write off?

How do you know when a car is an insurance write off?
OP posts:
siakcaci · 31/10/2018 21:48

The value of the car is the most important factor. Without that it is anyone's guess.

Thisismadness · 31/10/2018 21:51

If they’re not going through insurance then no one is going to write it off. Do you mean is it safe to drive? Generally a write-off is when the the cost of repair is more than the value of the car if that helps.

Dementedswan · 31/10/2018 21:53

When the cost of repairs is more than the cars value then it is written off usually. Exceptions are if the chassis is damaged I think.

19lottie82 · 31/10/2018 21:55

Yes, a write off is when the insurance company deem the car not financially viable to repair.

It’s impossible to tell from that photo, but if I had to make a guess I would say it would be written off, yes.

Tillytrotter123 · 31/10/2018 21:57

I work for an insurance company. Where I work we pay up to 60% of the cars value, anything more is a write off. At only 5 years old I would think it would be worth repairing unless anything major is damaged.

Original poster
Iamtheoneandonly2018 · 31/10/2018 22:00

I suppose, thinking about it, I am wondering it is safe to drive. And does chassis damage mean it is unrepairable/ unable to be made safe?

OP posts:
Original poster
Iamtheoneandonly2018 · 31/10/2018 22:01

Car was around 3k I think

OP posts:
Foamybanana93 · 31/10/2018 22:01

I work in insurance so anything above 60% of the value of the car and it’s written off, you can buy it back from the insurers and get the repairs done yourself but they probably will want a new mot within a certain time frame to confirm the repairs are road worthy

Jammysod · 31/10/2018 22:02

You'd need to know the value of the vehicle (you could have a look at similar models on Autotrader to get a rough idea & repair costs. If the cost of the repairs exceed the value there is no point repairing.

RayRayBidet · 31/10/2018 22:05

If the structure of the chassis is compromised then it is not safe and cannot usually be fixed.
A garage would be able to tell you.
Our car got hit at the back by a bus which pushed us into the car in front. It happened at a weird angle which bent the chassis. The car looked like it was hardly damaged but it had to be scrapped as unsafe. The chassis damage made the steering veer to one side

Jammysod · 31/10/2018 22:11

I wouldn't drive it... Looks like the wheel took some impact (flat tyre) so may be more damage to that area. What did it hit? Did they catch the thief?

Original poster
Iamtheoneandonly2018 · 31/10/2018 22:13

Anyone on here a mechanic I could PM please? Thanks

OP posts:
whitechocolatefingers · 31/10/2018 22:13

Exactly how my car looked and it was a write off

Original poster
Iamtheoneandonly2018 · 31/10/2018 22:15

Jammysod, they haven't caught them yet. Not sure they will as if happened between 1 and 7am and no CCTV.
You never know though so here's hoping...

OP posts:
greendale17 · 31/10/2018 22:15

you can buy it back from the insurers and get the repairs done yourself

^Alot of insurers are not doing this anymore.

Original poster
Iamtheoneandonly2018 · 31/10/2018 22:20

It's thought they hit a central reservation/ curb ...

OP posts:
DeaflySilence · 31/10/2018 22:45

"Anyone on here a mechanic I could PM please"

I would guess that a mechanic may not be able to tell you what you need to know. Not from a photograph.

Couldn't you contact a couple of collision repair shops and ask them what's involved in getting a quote.

One thing (and perhaps @Tillytrotter123 could advise) are you sure the driver would have to pay all/any of the £800 excess in these circumstances? I'm probably 100 years out of date, but I seem to remember hearing there was something different about the insurance terms and conditions for theft damage.

Original poster
Iamtheoneandonly2018 · 31/10/2018 23:21

Dont mean to be rude but there's a reason I want to talk to a mechanic privately....

OP posts:
siakcaci · 31/10/2018 23:25

You won't get any answers from a picture. You could PM 100 mechanics, they will all tell you the same. The car needs to be assessed.

GreenTulips · 31/10/2018 23:31

I had a similar scrape car reversed into my wing dented not a hard bump. Cost of repairs was £1700.

This will probably be written off.

No they sure why he isn't going via insurance because if someone stole it it's a non fault claim

Original poster
Iamtheoneandonly2018 · 31/10/2018 23:36

( takes deep breath) FYI the answers I need are nothing to do with the information I've already put. I'm trying not to be rude but the info I need is nothing to do with the photo!
( Breathes out )

OP posts:
siakcaci · 31/10/2018 23:47

You asked if it safe to drive. You can't tell that from a photo.

siakcaci · 31/10/2018 23:50

Am just wondering what people's thoughts are on cost/viability of making safe or would it be a write off?

am wondering it is safe to drive. And does chassis damage mean it is unrepairable/ unable to be made safe?

This is what you have asked. And provided a photo.

No one can answer your questions with or without the photo. The car needs to be assessed. By a mechanic. In real life, not by PM.

Greatorb · 31/10/2018 23:57

My brother is a mechanic, if you wanted me to ask him any questions

safariboot · 01/11/2018 00:34

As mentioned, insurers write off cars if the repair costs are too much compared to the car value. My understanding is they work on the basis of "gold plated" repairs, which can mean fairly minor or mostly cosmetic damage can be a write-off. Equally so can serious structural damage that might not be obvious at first glance. That's why there are different categories of writeoff.