OK here we go,
Wife had a slight knock in Sainsbury car park. Just wondering if I should even bother looking at it or just take it to a garage, get an estimate and
hope its a write off.
Basically the damage is, bumper ripped off, o/s headlamp snapped all its fixings, wing ripped in half (plastic), inner wing splash guard broken, under
engine tray broken, other plastic from behind the bumper broken.
It's a 2004 Renault megane 1.9 with 130,000 miles on it. I this likely to be a write off or do you think they would repair the damage listed and
anything else they find upon panel removal??
Anyone work in a body shop that could advise please. before I drag it off to a local bodyshop.
Thanks
Andy
I'd be amazed if that wasn't a write off... and equally amazed if that was caused by a "slight knock". There's probably more damage you haven't seen.
The value will be pretty low, a few hundred quid I would think.
If nobody else was involved(!) I would be inclined to sell as is or repair at home. the expense (now and for the next few years) of an insurance claim
may not be warranted.
I'd agree that that is a write off. Doubt that the other party would offer you enough cash, so I guess claim for it, maybe fix it yourself.
it was becoming a money pit recently any way, so might not be such a bad thing, just the ball ache of getting it sorted, and then finding a replacement.
Cost of parts will be more than the value of the car so insurer's will bin it pretty quick I would have thought.
if you have the time/inclination you could patch it up and run it till it dies, saves affecting future insurance premiums (assuming no other parties
involved)!
As Mr nick205 says ///
I never thought that there might not be another party! If she's done it herself, then I wouldn't dream of claiming. You could bodge it for several hundred quid, which is what your insurance would go up by each year probably.
So would my policy be affected as I have a protected no claims?
They'd still put your premium up. Just reporting it would, even if you didn't claim.
Protected NCD means just that. They protect the discount. They do NOT protect the base price of the premium. So they may load you 50% for the accident, but still give you 60% NCD. You will pay more, plus the NCD may not be transferable, so stuck with existing insurer. Yep, they have you either way............
It's not worth not claiming, by the time I have got second hand bits, spent time fitting it back together, getting it a new mot which is due
soon, plus it already need most of the steering arms replacing, new egr valve, clock spring and n/s window motor might as well just say oh well, had a
claim and pay the price.
Not much choice really.
Break it for parts?
Protected NCD is a joke (IMHO), as described above, they will increase your premium one way or another. I refuse to pay the extra for protected NCD.
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Protected NCD is a joke (IMHO), as described above, they will increase your premium one way or another. I refuse to pay the extra for protected NCD.
I have actually been surprised recently about insurance companies actually repairing vehicles you would have thought they would have writen off - guy
at work, 04 Plate Skoda Octavia Estate, 240,000 miles, hardly a cherished vehicle inside or out - a van drove into the OSF, ripped half the bumper
off, smashed the headlight cluster, and dented (read destroyed) the wing and door...... repaired, no questions asked
Someone drove into the wifes parked car about 3 weeks ago - T reg MK4 Astra, 90,000 miles but a complete shed, bumper and all plastics etc underneath
destroyed on OSF, wing dented, headlight scratched beyond repair......... being repaired no questions asked this weekend
Both cars I would have said would have been insurance write offs previously - who knows!!
There is a gap in the insurance market, some usually owners who cherish an older but not classic car would be willing pay an extra lump on their premium to ensure (with in reason say £1,000 over the valuation of the vehicle ) the car is repaired rather than cat c or d written off. As most of these owner are going to be older low risk drivers it would pay.
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Protected NCD is a joke (IMHO), as described above, they will increase your premium one way or another. I refuse to pay the extra for protected NCD.
If it was my car, I'd just take it to the scrappy. Get whatever cash they hand you and forget about it! Any involvement with the insurance company will cost you more than the car is worth so tell them nothing.
there have been changes mentioned in the media and also seconded by a mate that works at a body shop, that the insurers are specing the use of
"recycled" body panels etc. So therefore they are appearing greener, able to buy parts for less and also repair more vehicles.
Not sure if it is relevant here though,..
Not worth claiming, the car isn't worth the insurance hike you'll see over the next couple of years. I'd go as far as to say it'd
be madness to claim.
I've recently submitted a complaint to the insurance ombudsman regarding NCB, lack of consistency (got 12 years NCB with one company, move to the
next and they only recognise 5, move to the next and they only recognise the 5 from the previous insurance) and the fact that the NCD protection is
not a viable product - By protecting a discount rather and increasing the premium behind it they're effectively ripping off customers who are not
capable of seeing the contradiction.
[Edited on 25/4/13 by coyoteboy]