Just crashed, when do I ring insurance?

Eggs For Dinner · 20-11-2018 10:30pm

You won't get depreciation on any vehicle over 4 years old
The maximum you will receive is the market value of the vehicle
You can take a cash settlement for the repairs (net of VAT) at any figure up to the market value

20-11-2018 11:39pm

I kinda got the impression that the insurance company were just going to pay the repair centre directly. And completely skip over me.

seamus · 21-11-2018 10:34am

Deleted User wrote: »

I kinda got the impression that the insurance company were just going to pay the repair centre directly. And completely skip over me.

This is generally standard procedure because it's easier for the insurance company. And it means they know there's no fraud taking place.

You have, in general, a right to choose your own repairer, and be compensated for the cost of those repairs. But the insurer won't make it easy. They are only obliged to pay out the cost of returning you to your previous position.

So if the cost of repairing the vehicle (and hiring the car) is for them, say €2,000, but your quote comes in at €5,000, then they can refuse to pay it. The work can be done cheaper, so legally there's no obligation on them to pay the higher figure.

Likewise, "pocketing the cost of the repairs" - they give you €2,000, but you have a mate who'll do the repair for €1,000. You've now profited €1,000, which is not what insurance is supposed to do.

Typically if the cost of the repairs is more than the economic value of the car, then the insurance company take ownership of the car and give you the money. I've never heard a scenario where the insurer gives you cash and leaves you with a broken car.

If you do think that the actual repairs will be more than the value of the vehicle, then ring the insurer back up and make that counter-offer; they write off the vehicle and give you the money.

21-11-2018 6:06pm

I rang a main dealer, and they priced a bonnet and bumper (without grill, inserts, lights, etc.) at over a grand, unpainted and with no fitting. Add in the two light clusters, grille, sensors, etc. and I'd say you're spending about €1,500 - €1,600 before a person actually lifts a finger to do any actual work. I've googled and apparently airbag replacement can be over a grand in itself (unsure how much I believe that though, all US $ examples).

My car is worth €3,000 I'd say. Will surely be considered an economic write off.

mgbgt1978 · 21-11-2018 6:35pm

Eggs For Dinner wrote: »

You won't get depreciation on any vehicle over 4 years old
The maximum you will receive is the market value of the vehicle
You can take a cash settlement for the repairs (net of VAT) at any figure up to the market value

Has that changed since 2013 ?
Back then my son got an extra 10% on top of the damages claim for a 1994 Mini. Claim was against Allianz, if that makes a difference.

Eggs For Dinner · 21-11-2018 8:05pm

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

Has that changed since 2013 ?
Back then my son got an extra 10% on top of the damages claim for a 1994 Mini. Claim was against Allianz, if that makes a difference.

No, hasn't changed in many years. Having said that, Insurers sometimes classify allowing a little extra in a claim as depreciation if circumstances warrant it and to avoid a situation escalating

seagull · 22-11-2018 3:00pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I rang a main dealer, and they priced a bonnet and bumper (without grill, inserts, lights, etc.) at over a grand, unpainted and with no fitting. Add in the two light clusters, grille, sensors, etc. and I'd say you're spending about €1,500 - €1,600 before a person actually lifts a finger to do any actual work. I've googled and apparently airbag replacement can be over a grand in itself (unsure how much I believe that though, all US $ examples).

My car is worth €3,000 I'd say. Will surely be considered an economic write off.

You can sometimes argue with an economic write-off decision depending on how far over it is. My car was borderline with an initial decision to write it off and I managed to persuade them to repair it.

22-11-2018 6:12pm

seagull wrote: »

You can sometimes argue with an economic write-off decision depending on how far over it is. My car was borderline with an initial decision to write it off and I managed to persuade them to repair it.

To be honest, I'm not overly fussed about which way that decision goes, but my concern is more that if they claim it's a 'write off' i'd rather get to keep it than give it up.

It's not the best yoke in the world, but I'd rather have it there and then I have a bit of time and breathing space to get another car, rather than having a loan car for a max of 2 weeks (as ive been told) and then have to go and buy a new car out of my own pocket whilst i wait for the insurance companies to have a think about the value of my car, and lowball me on it repeatedly.

All in all, the car i had, had a decent spec level, and I like the car itself. I'd prefer it was repaired the more I think about it, but unless it's being repaired by a single chap on minimum wage, I don't see how it'll not cost more than the car is worth.

somesoldiers · 22-11-2018 7:45pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

To be honest, I'm not overly fussed about which way that decision goes, but my concern is more that if they claim it's a 'write off' i'd rather get to keep it than give it up.

It's not the best yoke in the world, but I'd rather have it there and then I have a bit of time and breathing space to get another car, rather than having a loan car for a max of 2 weeks (as ive been told) and then have to go and buy a new car out of my own pocket whilst i wait for the insurance companies to have a think about the value of my car, and lowball me on it repeatedly.

All in all, the car i had, had a decent spec level, and I like the car itself. I'd prefer it was repaired the more I think about it, but unless it's being repaired by a single chap on minimum wage, I don't see how it'll not cost more than the car is worth.

I wrote my car off a few weeks back, category D so barely.
I was offered the full market value of the car made up of salvage value, this was bid on by local salvage companies I was not involved,which I could take or leave and get it repaired myself and the balance minus my excess was paid to me.

My car had high mileage, was a few years old out if warranty and starting to give trouble. I too was worried about it popping up as crashed on websites so I took the salvage.

This was off my own insurer though it was relatively painless, until I go to renew next year and lose my NCB..

Just crashed, when do I ring insurance?

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