What constitutes a write-off?

prometheus2012 · 14-06-2012 08:57PM #1

So, I was rear-ended earlier today. He was fairly flying it juding by the tyre marks on the road. I'm driving a 08 Mazda 6. Bumper was eaten, internal bar (presumably a roll/safety bar?) knocked inwards in a 'V' shape and the actual body behind that again was crushed in a V too.

So, what does constitute a write off? Any guidelines?

TBH I don't particularly want my car back. Not for the money, I bloody well love that car and looked after it like a child, but at the same time, it's now a crashed car no matter what, and I'll surely get screwed when I go to sell it.

colm_mcm · 14-06-2012 09:02PM

Beyond economical (by the book) repair
Cost of repair + hire car for you.+ waiting for parts etc versus cost of selling it to someone else to fix with used parts etc.

Cars are designed to crumple in areas like that, nobody would want a car back after seeing it damaged, but the idea is to be the car back to 100%.

If the damage is considerable then it'll be written off, otherwise they'll fix it.

prometheus2012 · 14-06-2012 09:05PM

colm_mcm wrote: »

Beyond economical (by the book) repair
Cost of repair + hire car for you.+ waiting for parts etc versus cost of selling it to someone else to fix with used parts etc.

Cars are designed to crumple in areas like that, nobody would want a car back after seeing it damaged, but the idea is to be the car back to 100%.

If the damage is considerable then it'll be written off, otherwise they'll fix it.

Thanks Colm.
If the chassis has been compromised, surely thats an argument against accepting the car back?

colm_mcm · 14-06-2012 09:08PM

Could be. You could get an independent assessment done on it too (at your own expense)

Is there any hire purchase or anything on the car?

prometheus2012 · 14-06-2012 09:13PM

There is about 2k outstanding on a car loan.

The way I look at it, why should I take a (repaired) crashed car back? No matter what, when I go to sell, its been crashed, and therefore worth significantly less, no?

colm_mcm · 14-06-2012 09:15PM

Nobody would accept any repair if this was an option in every case.

prometheus2012 · 14-06-2012 09:20PM

So, the alternative is; accept a repaired car which will inevitably be worth less early next year when I was changing anyway, and receive no compensation whatsoever for it?? Seriously?

scamalert · 14-06-2012 09:24PM

since it wasn't your fault you might have a chance to get your money,it only depends how many parts have to be replaced ,if its bumper and back axle ,chances would be slim,if theres wings involved and doors+stretching then money is yours.

prometheus2012 · 14-06-2012 09:28PM

To an untrained eye, it's a new bumper, possible new boot door, whatever the square steel bar is inside the bumper, and a V mashed into the well of the boot. I suspect the driver's seat may need to be replaced as it shot straight back on imapct and doesn't seem to be 'sitting' right now.

blindside88 · 14-06-2012 09:32PM

Beyond economic repair generally means The cost of repairing the car is more than 60% of the book value of the car.when my car was written off I was offers x amount and the insurer kept the car, or x amount minus the value of the car but I kept the scrap. Its hard to tell whether or not your car will be written off based on the information, did the airbags go off?

prometheus2012 · 14-06-2012 09:40PM

No airbags. My seat shot backwards.

As it happens, just yesterday, I was offered 7.5k on a trade-in against a new 6 in Galway and 11.5k for same in Dublin.

George Dalton · 14-06-2012 10:25PM

prometheus2012 wrote: »

So, the alternative is; accept a repaired car which will inevitably be worth less early next year when I was changing anyway, and receive no compensation whatsoever for it?? Seriously?

Unfortunately yes this is the case. Crazy I know but there it is.

Cuddlesworth · 14-06-2012 11:47PM

George Dalton wrote: »

Unfortunately yes this is the case. Crazy I know but there it is.

If you are either willing to fight your case or get your own insurance assessor, you can claim for the depreciation of a crash to a cars value. Assuming its not your own. I doubt most people think of it, hence why you don't hear much about it.

prometheus2012 · 15-06-2012 07:24AM

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Cuddlesworth, any idea how much an independent assessor would charge?

kuro2k · 15-06-2012 07:33AM

blindside88 wrote: »

Beyond economic repair generally means The cost of repairing the car is more than 60% of the book value of the car.when my car was written off I was offers x amount and the insurer kept the car, or x amount minus the value of the car but I kept the scrap. Its hard to tell whether or not your car will be written off based on the information, did the airbags go off?

I always thought if the cost of repair was greater that 25% of the book value the car it would be written off...... Almost sure I was told that by an assessor when he was looking at damage on my own jeep a few years back.

djimi · 15-06-2012 08:23AM

kuro2k wrote: »

I always thought if the cost of repair was greater that 25% of the book value the car it would be written off...... Almost sure I was told that by an assessor when he was looking at damage on my own jeep a few years back.

Definately not. If that was the case then probably the majority of car accidents would result in writeoffs!

Anan1 · 15-06-2012 08:42AM

prometheus2012 - From your description of the damage and the details you gave of the car i'd be fairly confident it's a write-off.

Cuddlesworth · 15-06-2012 10:58AM

prometheus2012 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Cuddlesworth, any idea how much an independent assessor would charge?

I don't. My insurance provides me with one for accidents in which I'm not at fault.

prometheus2012 · 15-06-2012 04:50PM

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

I don't. My insurance provides me with one for accidents in which I'm not at fault.

Thanks guys

rugbyman · 15-06-2012 08:20PM

when you get an offer from your insurance, go and try and trade the car in as is, let the garage have the claim money, the damaged car(which they will fix for less) and see how much you have to give with all this for anew car
Rugbyman

rugbyman · 15-06-2012 08:21PM

or dont give them the claim money
rugbyman

What constitutes a write-off?

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