Question re Insurance Write Offs

[VladTepes]

Well in light of my recent tribulations I went to the assessment centre for my insurance company and the assessor guy said that LR bits are so expensive and "it's a 14 year old car after all!" (thanks for your sensitivity mate) that he reckons they;ll just write it off.

Well I am NOT happy with that of course and its far from certain at this point still has to go to the panel place for proper quote etc, however I thought the best thing to do would be BE PREPARED.

So I have a question: What's the deal with insurance write offs ? I would assume that if they pay out on this one that it would be classified as a "repairable write off" meaning that if repaired it could legally be re-registered. If so, are they likely to sell the vehicle back to me ?

I do like this vehicle and would hate to see it go - especially as its got all good gear on it - compressors, locker, dual batt, aux fuel tank etc etc etc

All advice gratefully received but please note that I;m after advice and useful information here - if you want to have a laugh at my expense then do it somewhere else.

Thanks

Vlad :(

[Tusker]

There a few points here.

1. Dis you declare all the goodies? If not, it follows that aren't part of the insured risk. The goodies are yours not theirs.

2. If its a mainstream policy, you'll have to bid for it at auction I daresay. If the policy is with of the specialist/enthusiast brokers, then usually you have first rights over the "wreck".

Keep us posted.

Regards
Max P

[dobbo]

When I went though the insurance company last year I talked with the assessor and expressed my desire to have the vehicle returned to me repaired as opposed to written off.

Plead with the man.

It worked for me.

[Outlaw]

Yeah main thing is to say there option isn't good enough and you want it repaired... I wrote my one of at the same place as yours and battled for 4 months to get them to payout on it as originally said they wouldn't... I forced it to an independant rep who got the ball rolling.

A roll onto the side shouldn't do too much so push push push ;)

[solmanic]

Dis you declare all the goodies? If not, it follows that aren't part of the insured risk. The goodies are yours not theirs.

What if you remove any bits even if they are listed on your policy? Whose to say that they weren't busted prior to this and you didn't bother with a claim because it would have killed your rating? :wasntme:

[Phoenix]

When Rebecca wrote her lazer off (she was rear ended) it was a repairable write off. The insurance company have her the option of repairing it or getting a payout, she chose to have it repaired. Just keep pushing them saying you just want it repaired.

If the assessor is even 1/2 way honest there shouldn't be enough damage to warrant writing it off.

[BMKal]

My young bloke was recently involved in a prang - the other car was at fault. The quote to repair Shaun's Honda Civic was $10K which apparently was pretty close to the book value of the car. The insurance company gave him the option of either rapairing the car and they will pay for repairs, or they would return the vehicle to him as is and pay him out the $10K. They made it pretty apparent that their preferred option was the second choice.

He accepted the car back and their cheque for $10K, has since wrecked the Honda and got about $5K for motor / gearbox / wheels / suspension and a few other bits & pieces he managed to sell, and we have given the body away to someone who wants to make a trailer out of it.

I'm not sure if this is the normal practice of insurance companies, but have been told that it is more likely when it is not your own insurer who has to pay for the damages.

Don't know if this helps, but hopefully you might be able to negotiate something along similar lines.

[Gromit68]

It shouldn't be a problem - I wrote off a Stage 1 V8 with Just Car insurance once - it was a simple rollover and the vehicle was towed away (at their expense), then over the phone I said I wanted the wreck back. Within a week or so the wreck was delivered to my home address. Easy.
I put a new roof and windscreen on it and away I went.

[LandyAndy]

Hi Vlad
If you are a good long time customer of your insurance co they are normally very happy to "do a deal" over the write-off.
If JamesH doesnt reply,send him a PM he did it with his 110.
Some companys are pig headed.A mate in town hit a tree in his near new VY dunnydoore.It was an estimated $150 short of the write-off figure,he offered the $150 to write it off,they refused and fixed it.Soon as its finished in the repair shop its getting traded on a newie.He is real peed off with them!!!
Andrew

[adm333]

I think it will make a difference depending on whether you have a "Market Value" or an agreed value policy.

With an agreed value policy of x$ it is likely to be higher than the market value and probably more likely to get repaired.

With a market value policy, they will use an index such as red book or glass guide (or may even have their own)

If the repair quote is within x% of this index value it would more likely to be written off.

[sclarke]

Vlad, your a lucky fella.....

2 things might happen... the payout if you go down that road might be alot higher than what you paid.....

or it might not be...

BUT you can demand that they fix the 130 if its close to writing off...
Tell them its a great car and you cant replace it for the "payout" figure.

Most insurance dont want to loose, accually all dont want to loose... so if you demand they fix it, then they most likely will.
If not they pay you out say $20k, then it goes to auction and they get $3k, so it owes them $23k... plus auction fee's ect....

Or they fix it for $8k and they make you happy and themselfs happy....

I only know this as my Wife used to work for AAMI, and i used to work for a panel shop.

[Barra1]

Vlad,

I went through this about 18 months ago. I'm concerned about the "extras" on your vehicle. Most of my "extras' were declared and the insurance paid out on those - cheque direct to me.

However, I had to fight tooth and nail for the "extras" that were not mentioned on the policy. My son and I had gone to the wrecking yard and removed these - but the insurance company would not pay until I proved the "extras" were not original equipment and/or mentioned on the policy as "extras".

It was not a pleasant experience fighting the insurance company.

And then, after approving the claim they agreed that I could make an offer for the "extras" that were listed on the policy - which I accepted - I was able to buy back the "extras" at 50% of the insured value.

I hope things work out for you and you can purchase the wreck if it is written off.

[George130]

:eek:
Let us know how it goes.

[mudmouse]

Yep, worked for me once too.

You've been handing over the cash for your premiums for a while, so hit 'em up - whats to lose.

Good luck! :)

[JamesH]

Hi Vlad

I've been down this road and know how you are feeling; sick in the guts.:(

I crashed mine on the beach as you know and i drove it home expecting I would be making a claim, getting it fixed like the meccano set it is and that would be that apart from embarrassment and loss of no claim bonus.

Well it sort of turned out that way but the assessor wrote it off and would not budge. We got the quote and it was $12k not allowing for chassis damage. Insured for $14 which was too close and that was that. They were very helpful about me buying the wreck, they got a quote from Pickles and sold it to me for that amount. It did not go for auction.

I rebuilt itusing second hand parts where necessary, did not even bother with the bonnet at all and basically came out of it cash neutral, well not exactly but I redid the clutch onand the timing belt and cooling hoses etc while the engine was out.

For me the issue was the crease in the firewall and the fear of chassis twist. If the firewall was not damaged then the engine would not have come out and so on.

Some people said, take the money, and buy a new one but this car I knew the history of. It was low milage, and it had lots of the $$$ gear attached to it that you mentioned you had. I had declared all my extras on the policy so i could not get around that- they owned the lot. So I rebuilt it and I think it was the right thing to do.

The worst part was waiting for the repairs, sending it over the pits, and knowing it is on the register as a written off car which would effect re-sale value (not that i will sell it).

Today I guess i am living happily ever after but I still see the daylight through the bottom front of the passenger door and i still see gap between the bonnet and front fender and I kick myself for being an idiot :twisted:and curse my luck at creasing that firewall.:mad:

Oh and the insurance company told me to take my cheque and never darken their doorstep again. Company policy, a total loss and they show you the door. After 12 years and never a claim! Had no interest in getting any of their money back. I was a hoon and that was that.

If you have not done what I did and bent something har to get at, and no impact therefore no chassis damage - fingers crossed you will be ok, they will repair that's my prediction. But you're smart to prepare for the worst but remember you WILL eventually come out the other end with your car, relax on that count.


Good luck.

[abaddonxi]

No love for insurance companies, been through this twice.

Last time car was stolen, paid out after three weeks or whatever the time limit is. Few weeks later the car was recovered, insurance company sent us off to police station to retrieve pretty much whatever we wanted.

Insurance company offered the car back to us at price they expected at auction - works for them, more money back if we buy it rather than having to do all the auction overheads. Didn't buy it back because I reckoned their wholesale price was too high, and I think it had a head gasket problem. Called the auction house after it sold and it went for close to what they offered it to me for.

If you know exactly what's wrong and right with it go for the buy back. In this case the insurance company was easy to deal with and straightforward. Other time it happened they paid me significantly less than replacement value, dudded me on prior damage, made me get rid of the wreck, and took money off because they 'gave' me the wreck. That's what happens when you are the victim in an old car without comprehensive.:(

Good luck with it.

Cheers
Simon

[jmkoffice]

Mate, get two quotes from each of your chosen panel beaters. One to fix it privately with second -hand parts and the second for making an insurance claim. You will be surprised with the difference in quotes. My D1 was written off when it toppled over, only because the roof got damaged. From what I saw on Sunday, you could probably do it privately through a panel beater, priority being the windscreen surround, windscreen, door glass and rear canopy glass. The roof and door panel can be done in time, remember you drove it home....I assume it went ok.

Johann

[tombraider]

There a few points here.

1. Dis you declare all the goodies? If not, it follows that aren't part of the insured risk. The goodies are yours not theirs.

2. If its a mainstream policy, you'll have to bid for it at auction I daresay. If the policy is with of the specialist/enthusiast brokers, then usually you have first rights over the "wreck".

Keep us posted.

Regards
Max P

Sorry Max...

Wrong and Wrong!

If you claim it, the vehicle, as it was at time of accident is the insurance companies.
They have the right to order you to put removed bits back on.
You are allowed to remove personal items only, like cds etc..., thats it.
I have personally seen this happen.... And know of other instances


As for buying back, even main stream policies have different options... Some will auction, others offer the owner 1st call...

[DeeJay]

Sorry to see the predicament you are in.
I know that in Vic the insurance companies have access to the Vicroads stamp duty register and will double check the stamp duties paid as against claims made.
Lets say I sold a Landie for $3,500 and the guy who bought it says to me, put $900 sale price on the vehicle reg transfer form to save me some duty.
If he insures the vehicle for market value - say $2,500 or lets say $4,000- you get the idea- and he then he writes that vehicle off and makes a claim, the insurance company will pay him out $900 as they will claim thats the value of the vehicle as thats what you paid for it.
Either that or he can fess up to fraud. Plus I can get into trouble for agreeing to it.
Regards,
David

[wovenrovings]

With my dad just last month they wrote the landrover off and gave him the option of buying back, with RACQ. My sisters Landrover, also written off will go to auction I think, with Suncorp. I think they were both repairable writeoffs.

[cucinadio]

mate what insurance company are you with?

cheers

[adnic]

hi mate
depending on who it is the policies on salvage are varied.
tom n s got his rangie back for $400 & they paid out the policy so he sold it on to mick garner who fixed it & put it on the road despite it being a total non repairable write off.
i'm sure that was suncorp.
good luck anyway.
ad

[VladTepes]

thanks for your good wishes all - I will let you know how I go - should hear my tomorrow.
You will know as you will hear either the sigh of releif or screaming - wherever you may ne !

[CraigE]

hi mate
depending on who it is the policies on salvage are varied.
tom n s got his rangie back for $400 & they paid out the policy so he sold it on to mick garner who fixed it & put it on the road despite it being a total non repairable write off.
i'm sure that was suncorp.
good luck anyway.
ad
He best be real careful, because last report on one of the current affairs shows went into this and once it is deemed a non repairable write off the appropriate numbers are put onto a database and if you have an accident your insurance is gone. Not to mention possible charges for ghosting.
:o

[VladTepes]

it's NOT non-repairable. That part would be fine.

[Killer]

Good luck Vlad, maybe we should make it a AULRO project if they write it off on you.

Cheers, Mick.

[VladTepes]

* Sigh.... *


That was a big sigh of relief !!!

I just spoke to the panel shop and they tell me they are repairing the vehicle, which is, of course, EXACTLY what I wanted !!!


They have to source a new door from Sydney but most of the other panels (roof etc) they can repair, and glass can be replaced, sidebars bent slightly back into shape. I'm SUPER HAPPY about this !

:thumbsup::clap2::woot::BigThumb::TakeABow:

[Outlaw]

Congrats VLAD.... a very good outcome :D

[incisor]

excellent outcome mate....

let me know when the carton is cold!

[Grizzly_Adams]

Yay! :BigThumb:

[JamesH]

Yay! :BigThumb:

I second that. Really pleased for you, Vlad.

PS where is the post where you announced the purchase of this vehicle and told all about the bits it had?

[VladTepes]

excellent outcome mate....

let me know when the carton is cold!


Hmm forgot about that.. thanks for the reminder.
Offer stands !

[VladTepes]

I second that. Really pleased for you, Vlad.

PS where is the post where you announced the purchase of this vehicle and told all about the bits it had?

I think I mentioned it somewhere but can't find the thread at the moment. Didnt have TIME to tell about all the biuts as I went staright to Fraser (old truck, trip report pending) and first time out once back did THAT to the 130 !

I'll do a full 'members rides' thing in due course.

[one_iota]

What a relief Vlad. :)

Good result all things considered.

[adm333]

Great news mate :)

The alternative did not make sense AT ALL.

Is the canopy being repaired or replaced ?

How long to wait ?

[VladTepes]

Repaired of course.

No idea how long - don't really care either, given the alternative

[Killer]

Pleased to hear, Vlad. I hope the Panel beaters do a good job for you.

[Killer]

Pleased to hear, Vlad. I hope the Panel beaters do a good job for you.

Cheers, Mick.

[abaddonxi]

Brilliant.

Cheers
Simon

[George130]

Good to hear.

[LandyAndy]

WHAT
VLAD THE LANDY SLAYER HAD A SURVIVOR???
Good stuff Vlad,look after it when it comes home:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D.
Andrew