Crashed Car - Uneconomical to Repair

jayok

Speaking to a guy here that was rear-ended recently, the liable insurance company, that is, the one that covers the driver who rear-ended him, have decided that his car is uneconomical to repair.

Instead of repairing his car, they are offering him a book value on his car. Now, the book value of the car is less that what he (or I even) would guesstimate the car is worth to him. With just the book value in his pocket, it would be difficult to get a similar spec, model that was as well cared for. As such, he will have to add his own funds to the book value offered to get something as good.

My question then is - can he demand that his original car is restored to he pre-accident condition? i.e. Tell the insurance company that he doesn't accept their offer that insist that their client damaged his property and that he wants the original vehicle repaired? Why should he be forced to scrap his car or add his own funds?

mickdw

What he can do is ask if they will give him book value less the salvage cost of the car thereby allowing him to keep the car & have it repaired himself with the funds.
He should find out a realistic repair price & see if the book value less salvage cost will get him back on the road.
Typically a car can be repaired perfectly for substantially less than the original insurance repair quote as that quote would have allowed for all new genuine panels whereas the sensible repair might be to fill a panel. A scratched alloy would have meant a new alloy was priced for on the quote.
Dont under estimate the possible low price of similar cars for sale though. I wouldnt be taking the carzone price as the best price.

unkel

jayok wrote: »

My question then is - can he demand that his original car is restored to he pre-accident condition?

No.

He can reject the offer of the book value though and enter into negotiations. He should get some backup though, i.e. take the lowest or average price of the same make / model / year car from carzone.ie.

jayok

unkel wrote: »

No.

Why? The 3rd party has damaged his property, why is it unreasonable to expect the said property to be repaired?

L1011

jayok wrote: »

Why? The 3rd party has damaged his property, why is it unreasonable to expect the said property to be repaired?

Because 'replacement' by means of payment is deemed equally as acceptable.

He can argue about the value of said payment, though.

Trampas

Can he ask the insurance company replace like for like?

Same year and spec?

L1011

Trampas wrote: »

Can he ask the insurance company replace like for like?

Same year and spec?

No, although some insurers do actually do this in some cases. Albeit going on threads on here, more commonly when they assume an attempted insurance job for cash - single vehicle collisions, suspicious thefts/fires etc; not clearly legitimate claims.

Barr

jayok wrote: »

Speaking to a guy here that was rear-ended recently, the liable insurance company, that is, the one that covers the driver who rear-ended him, have decided that his car is uneconomical to repair.

Instead of repairing his car, they are offering him a book value on his car. Now, the book value of the car is less that what he (or I even) would guesstimate the car is worth to him. With just the book value in his pocket, it would be difficult to get a similar spec, model that was as well cared for. As such, he will have to add his own funds to the book value offered to get something as good.

My question then is - can he demand that his original car is restored to he pre-accident condition? i.e. Tell the insurance company that he doesn't accept their offer that insist that their client damaged his property and that he wants the original vehicle repaired? Why should he be forced to scrap his car or add his own funds?

Why would he want a car repaired that was so badly damaged - an Insurance company wrote it off.

If he wants his car restored why doesn't he keep the salvage and use to money to fix it up himself.

Del2005

Barr wrote: »

Why would he want a car repaired that was so badly damaged - an Insurance company wrote it off.

A car doesn't need to be badly damaged to be an insurance write off. On some cars if you dint all the panels it'll be an insurance write off, yet the car will still be perfectly safe and drivable.

Insurance companies quotes are based on replacing all damaged parts with genuine new parts. Most people will source any replacement parts that can't be fixed from breakers or go spurious.

If he wants his car restored why doesn't he keep the salvage and use to money to fix it up himself.

But never except the 1st offer from the insurance company, fight for more money as others have said with similar cars from the web/dealers.