Car write off. Garage won't allow me to remove my tow bar

[Dreamingspires]

My car was reluctantly written-off this week (stolen and recovered, but internal damage too significant). I've agreed a settlement figure with my insurance company, which is on its way to my bank account. Insurance company are happy for me to remove my tow bar (they don't factor them into settlement amounts and so it hasn't been accounted for). They have confirmed this in writing to the main dealer garage my car was towed to. However, the main dealer says I can't remove it due to Health and Safety and insurance reasons.

I asked if they could do it as an alternative (at a cost to me of £144 for 2 hours labour), but they don't have time before the car is taken to the salvage company on Tuesday.

The tow bar cost me nearly £700 to be fitted less than two years ago.

Are they legally able to prevent me from removing my tow bar? I consider it to be personal property.

Any advice would be really appreciated. It's been an awful month and this is just about finishing me off. I can't afford another £700 to fit a new tow bar on the new car I buy.

I work in insurance and If the car insurance haven't included the tow bar in your settlement then that tow bar is legally still yours!

How much would they charge you to buy back the whole car?

I did this with my dads old car, it was written off because it was old and someone slashed the seats but mechanically it was fine.

It might be worth buying it back, removing the tow bar then selling as scrap?

Or could you pay another mechanic to go and remove it if they don’t have time?

That's what I think too. Tbh I'm annoyed with the insurance company that they don't include them in the settlement. Apparently they don't add value to the car, it is just a personal preference to have one or not.

They won't let anyone remove it due to health and safety and their insurance.

I suspect it's more because they don't want other customers to see a woman on her hands and knees in their carpark trying to remove her tow bar. I'd be using my own tools.

If it was a sign on my car that just needed unscrewing I bet they wouldn't have a problem.

Go back to your insurance company and ask for them to agree with the breakers (scrap dealer) that you get the tow bar back.

They have agreed that they don't own the tow bar so they can't instruct the dealer / breaker to dispose of it.

The disposal contract is likely part of the insurance company's deal with the dealership as final owners, they would need to file a destruction cert against the car. More important they have an ongoing relationship with the dealer so their request will carry more weight.

You request they either reopen the claim and pay you the £700 or find a way to get you the tow bar.

Thank you so much. I'll phone the insurance company this morning.

We claimed for items in the car that couldn't be retrieved, if I remember correctly. So an item attached to the car would be like that, surely?

I wonder if they’ve taken it already to sell on. Get it as it’s yours

I had this. I didn't push the point hard, but I didn't get anywhere. Sorry to not be more helpful, I hope yo get further than me!