So my beloved 2 yr old freelander got rear ended. Insurance have insisted it to be fixed, even though im not happy as i feel it will never be the same again. Can anyone advise me what issues i need to be aware of that need to be fixed as im no expert in this field?

Worst thing is we intended to keep this car for a long time but now probably have to sell car after being fixed and i can no longer buy a new freelander again

Click image to enlarge

Not good sorry to hear hopefully there was no serious injuries. What is the level of damage caused? Will the car now be registered as accidental damage? I'm estimating it will be a 5/6k repair bill if you choose an LR dealer to mend it. If you still have finance on the car then you can keep it until it's paid off and then flog it? If it's paid off then depending on how you feel you will know what is best to do! What vehicle hit it and at approx what speed?

Rdgs
Nut MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

Car is only categorised if written off by insurance company - so not applicable if they chose to repair. Insist that repair is done by LR approved body shop/garage, that way your warranties are still valid (std and anti corrosion) 2014 SE Loire Blue SD4 Auto (MY15)
Gone - 2011 GS Baltic Blue, Retrofit Electric Leather, Side Steps, 19"SC's, Roof Rails, TT Sat Nav Mod, Retrofit Premium Audio, Retro fit 2013 Xenons with DRL & Sig Strip (Clutch at 47k)
Gone - 2007 GS Narvik Black, Privacy Glass, 19" SC's, Side Steps,Roof Rails, Roof Spoiler, Lamp Guards, Retrofit Electric Leather (Clutch at 115k)
Gone - 2007 SE Santorini Black (Clutch at 120k)
BT IID (best money ever spent on a car)

That right repairer and it will be good as new, doesn't look like major damage from pic 2014 SE Loire Blue SD4 Auto (MY15)
Gone - 2011 GS Baltic Blue, Retrofit Electric Leather, Side Steps, 19"SC's, Roof Rails, TT Sat Nav Mod, Retrofit Premium Audio, Retro fit 2013 Xenons with DRL & Sig Strip (Clutch at 47k)
Gone - 2007 GS Narvik Black, Privacy Glass, 19" SC's, Side Steps,Roof Rails, Roof Spoiler, Lamp Guards, Retrofit Electric Leather (Clutch at 115k)
Gone - 2007 SE Santorini Black (Clutch at 120k)
BT IID (best money ever spent on a car)

A few years ago someone rear ended my wife's Renault Megane, it didn't look much at the time and initially I didn't think it was worth making a claim as the rear plastic bumper had popped out back into shape. However when I looked at the spare in the boot I could see that it was squashed in as the rear bulkhead had moved. The bill came to about £1400 but the insurance people said that unless the repair is more than about 60% of the car's value they wouldn't write it off. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Sorry to hear about that - hope no- one was hurt. That looks to be a serious body shell distorting shunt - the impact will ripple along and may cause alignment problems right through the bodyshell and floor pan. If it were mine I would as mentioned insist on a LR main dealer repair. I would however sell it immediately the work is done! In my experience main dealer bodyshell repairs are nowhere near as good as new. When my VW was repaired by the main dealer it was rusting out within a year. When my XJ was repaired -by a Jag main dealer I had to take it back twice for further repairs and by the time I sold it, it had been repaired again by a specialist. A twit drove into my Freely2 driver's door when my car was new. I had it repaired and re-sprayed by Harwoods bodyshop. The repair looked ok when new - although there was obvious overspray in places but now several years later the colour of their re-sprayed door is nowhere near a match for the rest of the paintwork. I think any repair to such a serious impact is going to cause problems down the line for someone.

I have no idea, however having recently been in an accident that wasn't my fault (although that probably doesn't make a difference) I do know that you can choose a repairer of your choice for the repairs and so I would probably insist on the local LR dealer do the repairs as in theory they should know what things to look out for that another repairer might miss. You may also be able to negotiate a courtesy car that is more of a like for like vehicle. Good luck!

Ours was rear ended "ooo er mrs" about 4 years ago. Hard enough that I had to drive off the bonnet of the Nissan that hit me. His insurance said write off, I none to delicately pointed out that it was a G4 and if they could supply another G4 FL2 I would accept it.

Anyway back to the point, we pulled the rear (both rear windows went at this stage!) and then sent it to an "expert" to respray. 80K later she still drives as good as the first day. The only problems we have had are:
1. the fuel tank sensors -which may or may not be related to the accident.
2. the paint has faded badly - and experts business has closed.

Trust me if fixed properly the shell is as tough as old boots, mine has been regularly off-roaded, pulled several tonnes out of ditches, and generally used as a Land Rover should. We used genuine parts during the rebuild, all bought from the local dealership, right down to replacing every clip that came off.
Mines a Cat D, not that it matters as I have no intention of ever selling Clementine. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

Quote:

His insurance said write-off...

And boy did they twist and delay - I went for their driver personally, no not with a shotgun, but started proceedings on my own, without "involving" my insurance, his insurance then had to deal with me and not my insurance.

They weren't interested until the bill for the hire car (SAAB convertible £500 pw) hit them after the first 6 weeks, they were then more amenable. I wasn't interested in personal damages as there weren't any, so they EVENTUALLY paid out 3 months later, the car was written off - I didn't realise it but they CAN write off your car without your permission, they just inform the DVLA and it's up to you to fight the DVLA. The DVLA were on the side of the insurance company, so I gave up in the end, as I kept the car, and got the full market value++ Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

That doesnt seem right?

Perhaps there is more to this one than a straightforward no fault accident, because a third party insurance company cannot ordinarily write your car off after a no fault accident without your permission. They have no right to do so.

Their client caused damage to your vehicle, and it is their client they insure - not your vehicle. Your claim is against their client for the damage the client caused to your vehicle, for which the insurance company will pay for as per the terms of their policy with THEIR CLIENT.

They cannot arbitrarily say, "hmm, well - the damage caused by our client was quite a lot really wasn't it? What we'll do is write your car off and give you some cash".

That's not their decision to make - it's not their car, and they are not insuring it.

If you were claiming off your own insurance policy then fair enough as you are bound by the terms and conditions of your policy.

But we're wandering off topic now I guess....

Thanks guys for the responses, luckily noone was seriously injured just muscular pain, we was picking up inlaws from heathrow so boot space was packed with suitcases which probably helped. We was only travelling at around 30mph as we was queuing to get off the slip road towards Gatwick and a easyjet mini bus who was behind us for some reason decided to ram into us.

Spoken to our side of our insurance and asked it they can push for a write off but they said the bill for repair is coming out at around £9K and car is worth £20+, so no it has to be repaired. Car itself is still under finance but when time comes we have decided to get rid of it will never be the same again. Just very sad that production for the Freelander has stopped as it was a great car.

My thoughts go to the poor family who buys the car next, probably will pay over £20,000 for it mostly on finance. The joys of buying a used car

Jim NI wrote:

That right repairer and it will be good as new, doesn't look like major damage from pic

choccymonster wrote:

Quote:

His insurance said write-off...

I realise Andy131's incident happened a few years ago, but it highlights an interesting point; one which is commonly misunderstood.

If you were not at fault then, irrespective of whether your vehicle is a G4 or an emerald encrusted Maybach, the offending party's insurance company CANNOT insist your car is written off.

They can OFFER to write it off (which may or may not be acceptable to you), but they cannot insist that it is written off. If you insist it is repaired, then they must do so. Irrespective of cost.

As the innocent party, you are claiming from the offenders insurance company - not your own. As such the terms and conditions set forth within a typical insurance policy (such as the value of damage which constitutes a mandatory write off) do not apply, as you have no contractual relationship with them.

This is absolutely correct. If you are claiming off your own insurance there is normally a clause that they can repair or write off, but if you are not at fault and claiming against the other persons insurance you do not have such an agreement and they are obliged therefore, if you insist, to put the car back to the condition it was prior to the accident regardless of cost.

They have insured their client against the damage he/she has caused and are obliged to place you (as the innocent party) back into a position before said damage occurred.

The offenders insurance company will twist, and struggle and whine and try and strong arm you, however if you stick to your guns they have no redress. They CANNOT insist the car is written off - irrespective of the amount/value of damage caused.