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Buying back my written off car...
zetec - 17/1/08 at 10:18 PM

Just before Christmas my 2001 Focus got hit while parked. it drives fine still. Needs new outer bumper shell, steel inner bumper, rear panel and spare wheel well is a bit bent, tailgate needs small dent fixing....Just been told by the repair they might write it off . If they do I could fix the bumper and live with the dented rear panel and spare wheel well as it is hidden and local repair on the tailgate would be a couple of hours with filler/spray. If I did buy it back and fix it can I just carry on driving it or will I need to get it checked by DVLA (as it would be a cat "C" salvage?). I only use it for work and general run around ..

Any advice?

coozer - 17/1/08 at 10:27 PM

Just try and keep the car at home. If the insurance company get their hands on it and write it off they will dispose of it via a salvage company who auction them off.

I drove around in a Cat C for 8 years and sold it on with no problems.

robinj66 - 17/1/08 at 10:51 PM

A cat C write-off may need a VIC. The only way to be sure is to phone the DVLA at Swansea.

Cat D write-offs do not need a VIC

[Edited on 17/1/08 by robinj66]

Mole - 17/1/08 at 11:12 PM

Thing is if they pay you out they can usually insist on taking the salvage. Some are more flexible than others. If you decide you want it make sure you let them know asap. They tend to be pretty keen getting the salvage agents instructed.

niceperson709 - 17/1/08 at 11:46 PM

the engine would be good for a seven....

Peteff - 18/1/08 at 12:41 AM

Contact them and ask if you can keep it, they gave my friend his car back and even delivered it gratis.

CraigJ - 18/1/08 at 01:25 AM

Cat C cars DO need a vic check, its nothing to worry about though. Ive repaired a few and put them back on the road with no problems, The check is just to make sure you havent stuck a damaged cars ID on a stolen car.

RickRick - 18/1/08 at 08:12 AM

someone pulled out on me on my motorbike in summer, and they basicaly dumped it in my back yard! just what i wanted the bent remains of a scruffy cb500

Hellfire - 18/1/08 at 12:27 PM

Theoretically it will need a VIC. However, if you are the owner of the vehicle and you negotiate to take the damaged vehicle as part of the payout from the insurance company, there is a good chance that the damage will not be recorded on the DVLA's database. Therefore it won't be flagged for a VIC.

You can then repair the damage, continue to drive it around and no-one will ever know its history.

Phil


[Edited on 18-1-08 by Hellfire]

snapper - 18/1/08 at 12:58 PM

I have don this before, the buying back from the insurance company was the least of my worries.
I fixed it, scrap yard rear axle and new brakes, discs etc, then had a body shop do the sill, door and rear quarter.
The very proud of myself i went to get insurance, no one would insure me without an engineers report and the engineers were not realy interested in a private job. When they did come round it cost £150 8 years ago and to protect their reputation they went over it with a fine tooth comb, worse than an SVA.
I personally would not do it again.

Dangle_kt - 18/1/08 at 01:06 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mole
Thing is if they pay you out they can usually insist on taking the salvage. Some are more flexible than others. If you decide you want it make sure you let them know asap. They tend to be pretty keen getting the salvage agents instructed.


I've not had that experience. I've had two bike wirtten off by idiots, both times I waited for them to offer me an amount for the bike, at which point I would suck my teeth and say:

"I find that offer an insult!! I have seen lots of adverts selling replacement bikes at much more than that (generally add on a thousand)"

Let them sweat, and then hit them with, "We could agrue about this for weeks, sending classified adverts to each other to prove its worth more, however if you;d be willing to give me the bike for free on salvage retention I;ll except your offer."

DONE!

NS Dev - 18/1/08 at 05:38 PM

I did this a few years back when my Opel manta was hit from the rear.

I simply told the insurance company in no uncertain terms that they would be writing it off and I would be keeping the salvage.

They told me the salvage company were coming to collect it and I replied that they would have difficulty in doing this as the car was not at home and I wasn't about to tell them where it was.

Need less to say they then told me an assessor would be in touch, which he was, then I told HIM where the car was, he inspected it with me there with him, declared it a write off, rang the insurers and they agreed £75 for the salvage, paid me out the full value less the salvage and the car never moved.

The shunt was a fairly heavy rear ender, the boot (it was a coupe) had basically gone.

I did the same thing with the insurers over the courtesy car. They wanted it back as soon as they had settled on how much to pay out, but before I actually had the cheque!! Said somebody would be round to collect it.

I said, great, no problem. The car isn't there but no doubt someone will make the nice chap a cup of tea! Again they had little choice in the matter and I kept the car until I had replaced my own car, only then did I tell them where the courtesy car was.