Thread: Limitations repairing a modern vehicle chassis

Insurance companies, particularly when it's not your company, will try to bluff you, into accepting their second offer, but the reality is that you have them by the short and curlies. Insist on a repair and all out of pocket expenses, or threaten to go to court.
The secret is to scare the company into believing it's going to cost them more money.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Insurance companies, particularly when it's not your company, will try to bluff you, into accepting their second offer, but the reality is that you have them by the short and curlies. Insist on a repair and all out of pocket expenses, or threaten to go to court.
The secret is to scare the company into believing it's going to cost them more money.

It's interesting that I deal with my insurer who is dealing, on my behalf, with the other party's insurer. In theory my insurer isn't paying although I guess a lot of 'back scratching' goes on within the industry.

If surrender it I have no negotiating power but if they write it off I'm breaking the law driving it. If it's an uneconomic repair I can't insist they repair it.

I've spent the evening preparing my case by looking at the market.
The value offered is about correct without the HD towpack & electric brake controller, these add approx $2.5k.

I'll see how I get on tomorrow.

Colin

The assessor won't get back to me and RACV are sending emails telling me that the payout has been agreed ?!
I suggested they are bullying me so I'll see how that goes down.

Replacement ordered at a loss of over $3K.
On the plus side low kms & 1 year younger than the one being written off.
On the downside it's white and I have to get to Albury to collect it once payout received.


People tell me I shouldn't complain, I'm English so what do you expect !
Next the Ombudsman.....


Colin

Don't cave into the bastard, Colin.

Sorry to hear of your issues Gromit.
Interesting that they proposed to replace the chassis, and I assume retain the same chassis VIN?
How is that different to buying a new chassis for my series from the UK (and retaining the same chassis number)??? All advice is that this is illegal?

Chris

Originally Posted by cjc_td5

Sorry to hear of your issues Gromit.
Interesting that they proposed to replace the chassis, and I assume retain the same chassis VIN?
How is that different to buying a new chassis for my series from the UK (and retaining the same chassis number)??? All advice is that this is illegal?

Chris

Hi Chris,
It would have had a new chassis number and the registration details would have been changed.
Not economically viable as they'd have to provide a rental for up to 8 months plus imagine the labour & potential pitfalls of moving everything over to a new chassis.

I asked if it would be a repairable write off and was told no, statutory write off, sold for parts only.

Seems a shame immaculate condition (except for rear bumper & chassis !) Just had a 45Km service. Excellent farm vehicle, still drives OK......I wonder what it would sell for ?


I read on a UK forum that you can get your chassis number on a new LR chassis but..... you'd need to show you'd cut out & destroyed your original chassis number.
Not strictly approved here I guess but it seems to be possible.


Colin

In a similar vein a friend had a relatively minor bingle with a park fence, the airbags didn't go off but his 6 month old 300 series Toyota was written off as the chassis was bent on one corner as due to the chassis having different tensile steel in different sections wasn't able to be repaired in Australia.
He got another brand new one under his insurance minus the excess.

Originally Posted by oka374

In a similar vein a friend had a relatively minor bingle with a park fence, the airbags didn't go off but his 6 month old 300 series Toyota was written off as the chassis was bent on one corner as due to the chassis having different tensile steel in different sections wasn't able to be repaired in Australia.
He got another brand new one under his insurance minus the excess.

Unfortunately mine is 2.5 years old and old for new is only up to 2 years !
But it highlights that the weight saving by using high strength steels increases the cost of insurance cover.
So you save fuel and the manufacturer can advertise a lower fuel usage but you pay more for insurance.........


They take the car off me tomorrow as, strictly speaking, it's unroadworthy. They wanted me to drop it off, I told them that was inconvenient so begrudgingly they are sending a tilt-tray to where I work now.
They are going away to re-consider their offer which I feel is about $2K light.
Rental car FOC until they pay out then I have to take the car back within 24 hours !!
So, money in your bank and you then have 24 hours to get a replacement vehicle. If you don't have money saved to start the process of getting a replacement I guess you take a couple of weeks holiday and/or borrow a car ??

I know the insurers are running a business but why when someone totals your vehicle why do you end up out of pocket ?

I'll see how it goes from here.

Colin