Car written off

roper1664

Hi all, my '02 Mondeo 1.8LX has been written off. I was involved in an accident and the other party admitted responsibility.

Their assessor rang me today saying my car was worth €1200 and the repairs would be over €4000. The best they can offer me is €1000 plus my damaged car back (it is still driveable).

In March I spent a grand getting a new clutch, slave cylinder, flywheel and rocker cover gasket fitted.

Now I'm under pressure to find myself a car as quickly as possible.

I think the car is under-valued by the assessor as cbg.ie says value is 1700 and Revenue says 2000. I'm going to ring him back beore 4pm today. Can I argue this?

Will it be easy enough to unload my car at a scrap yard especially with the new parts on it?

Any other advice?

djimi

You can of course argue this. You need to go online and find as many examples of cars for sale as you can that are in as close a condition to yours as possible. Basically, you need to show that you are unable to replace like for like with the money that is being offered to you. You are not supposed to be left out of pocket or any worse off after a claim like this.

roper1664

Hi djimi, thanks for your reply. Yes, I feel like I am out of pocket and have been put under a lot of inconvenience already. I am going to have a look at some more examples as you said.

Also, I'm currently waiting to see a bill from the garage (hopefully).

Dilbert75

Don't be shy about claiming for a hired car while you're getting sorted either. If you have to take time off work to make arrangements, list that too.

dolallyoh

I did in my own mondeo - same spec and year last august. Got similar amount back (1k ish) Like you had already started to cost me a load - new clutch, 1000 worth of other improvements also etc. Took the 1k and counted it as a blessing in disguise.

roper1664

dolallyoh wrote: »

I did in my own mondeo - same spec and year last august. Got similar amount back (1k ish) Like you had already started to cost me a load - new clutch, 1000 worth of other improvements also etc. Took the 1k and counted it as a blessing in disguise.

I suppose that is one way of looking at it. Mechanically it was in great nick before the crash and I suppose it still is - it's just a shame.

Where did you off load your Mondeo if you dont mind me asking? p.m. me if you'd prefer.

dolallyoh

Insurance company sorted it out, towed it to some place in Donabate. Said I could have the car back also I think but didn't bother. Think the 1k included 250 for scrap for you actually only get 750 from the ins company.

roper1664

dolallyoh wrote: »

Insurance company sorted it out, towed it to some place in Donabate. Said I could have the car back also I think but didn't bother. Think the 1k included 250 for scrap for you actually only get 750 from the ins company.

Thanks, they said I can take the car too so I'll try and find a buyer so.

roper1664

Dilbert75 wrote: »

Don't be shy about claiming for a hired car while you're getting sorted either. If you have to take time off work to make arrangements, list that too.

They sorted me out with a temporary car but it took 3 days. I dont think they'll leave it with me for too much longer.

dolallyoh

roper1664 wrote: »

Thanks, they said I can take the car too so I'll try and find a buyer so.

Is it worth it ? Who will be looking for a 02 1.8l engine car ?

Guy:Incognito

I assume by revenue you are talking about the VRT calculator? The value wont drop below €2000 on that because the % for the minimum value of VRT is worked off that.

roper1664

They said they'd give me a grand plus I can take the car or alternatively sign the car over to them.

Ive seen Mondeos being broken for parts and people making close to what the car was worth. This one has a few new parts and alloys.

I don't have the time, knowledge nor space to do that but I'm hoping I can sell it on to someone else who will.

roper1664

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

I assume by revenue you are talking about the VRT calculator? The value wont drop below €2000 on that because the % for the minimum value of VRT is worked off that.

I was thinking 200 was a little on the high side, thanks for clearing that up.

djimi

Whats actually wrong with the car? €4k worth of damage sounds heavy enough.

To be honest, Im not sure that you are going to get a whole lot more than they are offering you either way. I just looked on Carzone and the most expensive 02 Mondeo 1.8 is going for €1500, and thats from a garage. What were they offering you without the car?

JohnBoy26

Your lucky to be getting that much tbh as those mondeos are worth peanuts.

roper1664

djimi wrote: »

Whats actually wrong with the car? €4k worth of damage sounds heavy enough.

To be honest, Im not sure that you are going to get a whole lot more than they are offering you either way. I just looked on Carzone and the most expensive 02 Mondeo 1.8 is going for €1500, and thats from a garage. What were they offering you without the car?

The man on the phone (assessor?) from the insurance company said car was worth 1200 but they'd give me the car back as is plus €1000.

The garage (Ford main stealer) have been awful and the main person dealing with this is never there (I'm pretty sure he's just saying that as I was outside the garage when insurer rang him and I had just seen him walk into reception and the insurer rang me back to say they couldnt get a hold of him either). I think they knew the car was a write-off from the off and don't want to waste their time on me. I'm waiting on them to get back to me now with a copy of the bill. I dont know how it added up to 4 grand, must be chassis damage.

djimi

Being perfectly honest, if they say the car is worth €1200 then theyre probably not too far off the mark. Id maybe try and argue another hundred quid out of them, but unless you can show several examples of several cars going for more (which I cant find, but then I dont know your car) then Id say youre better off cutting your losses, unless you have someone lined up to buy the car for scrap for a decent amount. There are plenty of 2002 1.8 Mondeos on Donedeal for less than the €1200 they are offering you, and not many for more than that.

Chimaera

Get a quote from an independent panel beater for repairing the damage. A grand plus the car back might actually get you on the road again. Main dealers will quote for returning the car to 'perfect' condition. If you don't mind the car being less than perfect cosmetically, you might get it back on the road for a tiny fraction of that repair quote.

Toyotafanboi

Chimaera wrote: »

Get a quote from an independent panel beater for repairing the damage. A grand plus the car back might actually get you on the road again.

can't believe it's taken two pages for someone to say that.

if i'd just spent 1k in mechanical repairs and i knew and trusted the car, this would be my first move. 1k cash plus maybe a small bit more from yourself could see the car right if you take it to a good independent panel beaters.

would like to see pics of the damage, provided it isn't structural the above could well work.

roper1664

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I'm going to hound the garage in the morning for the bill and find out if the car is road worthy and safe or not. If safe, I'll drive it. I'll look into getting a repair cheaper else where as others have mentioned.

When I first got the news I thought the car was undriveable and felt pressure to buy something ASAP. Hopefully the garage will reveal that it's safe tomorrow and I'll post on here.

If all else fails, I'll be looking for another banger.

dieselbug

Be aware, once the insurance company write off your car, they will NOT cover YOU to drive this car again.

The insurance will not insure you in a car they have written off to you and paid out.

I have seen this before.

Check it out with them.

kfog

If you have receipts for work done to the car make sure you mention this and use it to get a better value. Also ask to deal with the insurance company directly if you are not happy with the valuation you are given from an independant assessor, you are not obliged to take the first value you get.
You are generally asked to find three examples of cars similiar to your own as a valuation so make sure you get the same spec/milage etc..

roper1664

kfog wrote: »

If you have receipts for work done to the car make sure you mention this and use it to get a better value. Also ask to deal with the insurance company directly if you are not happy with the valuation you are given from an independant assessor, you are not obliged to take the first value you get.
You are generally asked to find three examples of car similiar to your own as a valuation so make sure you get the same spec/milage etc..

thanks dieselbug and kfog i will take your advice