Background knowledge here - I bought a Ford Focus 2.5 years ago, 4 previous owners but in very good condition, well looked after, reasonably low mileage for the age. Cost around £2,500.
In the past year, 3 separate assholes drivers have driven into me in a city centre near work. All 3 considered non-fault, as from behind and I was stationary at lights etc.
This time around, there are 2 very tiny gouges on my back bumper, but not even a dent - so minor damage, but I still reported it, expecting them to want to look at the underneath again.
The insurance company are telling me the following:
- the car is not worth repairing
- they think the market value of the car is now £1000
- whereas they estimate the visible damage would cost more than that to repair
- they want to write it off as category D
- they are offering about £670 in cash to me
- they won't send an assessor, and any assessment of the car beyond the visible damage would be for me to take care of
- they will still insure me
- if I'm hit again (or in any other accident) I would be offered even less, but cash again - they will no longer repair the car
I love my car and do want to keep it if possible. It's driveable.
I looked on Autotrader - cars around the same year/model seem to be selling for higher than the figure they gave, around £1,500+
Does anyone have experience of this - should I go back and ask how they arrived at the market value/ask for more? - do I have to accept what they are saying about the car now being category D? - are there any other options?
Thanks for any advice!