The mobility scooter got away with a small scratch on the bumper.

Saw another KIA almost identical a while back, I just thought thats how they came.

Most insurance companies will write off all cars where airbags have been deployed. Regardless of how much other damage there is.

They will not take the chance on repairs to such an extensive safety system.

Regarding the payout from the insurance company. I would not be too worried. There is a high possibility that you will be offered the amount you paid for it as a first and final offer.

The reason being, there is certain protection in place for people who have a total loss within the 1st 3 months of ownership. Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

tonyc wrote:

Difficult to say - as an example - my wife has just done £3200's worth of damage to her car, got it back last week and she decided to sell it - best offer £2,800, I was convinced they would write it off so I had the arguments ready from Autotrader - a list of 10 "for sales" between £3.5k and £4.5k - seems a pity it wasn't written off now!

We had a vehicle at work about three years ago, involved in an RTA, we really wanted it written off as it was two years old with 120k on it, but the insurance company insisted on repairing, they spent £6500 on repairing it in the March, it developed a problem engine block in the May of the same year, it had already had a new engine fitted at 60k with the same problem so we had knew it would be another new engine in the region of £5000 so it was traded in against a new one, trade in value £4500.

Well it was a write off. Cost of repair to all damage approx £9K. Insurance are seriously taking the P*** with the payout, offered me £13000.

If the first offer is £13k, I do not think it will take much to get it where you want to be  (GONE) FL2 2008 SE (manual) Santorini Black, the expensive one
(LEFT WITH) 300tdi Defender 90 the cold, reliable & sensible one

Looks nasty - but at least occupants were ok. 2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

If full repair was only £9,000 why is it written off?

If the payout is not enough to buy a replacement then if you liked the car and its spec why not just press for the repair?
I've repaired accident damaged cars for over 40 years; the photos show what is really minor damage; if it wasn't for today's safety spec of airbags it would have been repaired anyway.
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You have to appreciate that it's only economics that's causing them to write it off!
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Please keep the forum updated.
Kind regards Fred 2010GS Auto ex Celeb, Santorini Black, 2011 facelift , spoiler, spats, mudflaps, LED footwell lamps, Witter detach,
Other cars:-
1958 & 1959 Austin J40 Pedal Cars under restoration (I make many J40 parts)
If you have an Austin J40 or Pathfinder Pedal Car looking for a new home pls PM me.
2009 Meriva

I had a Lexus RX 300-SEL and got hit by a little Peugeot 104 which was a writeoff. It skidded into me on the ice a few years back pushing my car into a 6 ft ditch. The damage was £9000 and repairable. The point is once a car has been repaired after a fair size accident one is never really happy driving it again. Took 18 months before his insurance accepted fully responsibility by which time after medical bills- solicitors ( my passangers as well) etc it must have cost them near on £90,000 . Even went as far as a court date being set before they backed down, they thought little man v big company we would bully him. Unfortunately they came unstuck and it cost them a pile of money.

So one has to ask onesself do I get it repaired and not be happy in it or do I accept the insurance company's payout and get another car. Personally I got another car but that was my choice.

Realspeed Ex 2010 Freelander2 GS-e Diesel manual Silver owner

Probably depends on the insureance company as well. In my FL1 I hit a deer (well, the deer hit me but he didn't have insurance). The repair bill was £6K and the NFU went ahead with the repair, although it was touch and go. That was with a 5 year old car - I had had it 2 years and paid £10K. Interestingly the prices had dropped but looking around after the accident the prices had gone up so to get an equivalent was going to be at least £9K.

Good liuck.

I've had forty years of buying and repairing write offs and been happy with all but one! It's all down to if you really like the car. You are always going to get less money than the replacement will cost so get it repaired!
It's only the airbags cost that's made it uneconomic for them - airbags and dashboard is an easy screwdriver and spanner job, just time consuming.
My freely is the first non write off for me and even this one came with a wrecked engine!
Regards Fred 2010GS Auto ex Celeb, Santorini Black, 2011 facelift , spoiler, spats, mudflaps, LED footwell lamps, Witter detach,
Other cars:-
1958 & 1959 Austin J40 Pedal Cars under restoration (I make many J40 parts)
If you have an Austin J40 or Pathfinder Pedal Car looking for a new home pls PM me.
2009 Meriva

What did you hit Nombie? (Or what hit you?) 2013 Dynamic Santorini black
2011 XS Lago grey
2007 HLS Stornoway grey
sometimes towing an Elldis AVANTE 574.

Boycey wrote:

If full repair was only £9,000 why is it written off?

Your policy will be for market value, as you only bought it in jan you should be ok at getting nearer to what you paid. Unless the insurers can prove you can replace for like for like at £13k which is very unlikely.


What insurance company ?