Bye Bye CL203 😞

[JamRocky]

Sorry to hear about that.

Personally, I would recommend not getting your own insurer involved (other than notifying them of the incident as you're bound to do by the terms of your policy).

Instead, I would call up the other-party's insurer and submit the claim directly with them. Things usually work out quicker and more efficient this way.

They are also obliged to provide you with a hire car 'similar' to the car written-off, from now and until you receive the settlement payment from them.

And, start looking on Autotrader and eBay etc for CL203 for sale of similar age, mileage, spec, condition, etc, offered by private sellers (not trade), and collect screenshots of these ads. You'll need them later, trust me... been there, done that

I’m starting to learn this quickly. I’m afraid my insurer is dealing with it all with the other parties insurer and I’m making phone calls to everyone trying to tie it together. It isn’t working.
They have said that I should be provided with a comparable hire car, but it’s slow and tue Christmas break is making it worse. Goodness knows what they’ll give me when the time comes.
The amount I’m being given isn’t enough now to buy a similar condition and age CL203. I’m very unlikely to buy another one, but I don’t understand where they get the valuation from as it doesn’t tie in with actual prices online.
I’m new to this. It’s all a bit of a drag to be fair.

 

[Skd884]

Sorry to hear about that.

Personally, I would recommend not getting your own insurer involved (other than notifying them of the incident as you're bound to do by the terms of your policy).

Instead, I would call up the other-party's insurer and submit the claim directly with them. Things usually work out quicker and more efficient this way.

They are also obliged to provide you with a hire car 'similar' to the car written-off, from now and until you receive the settlement payment from them.

And, start looking on Autotrader and eBay etc for CL203 for sale of similar age, mileage, spec, condition, history, etc, offered by private sellers (not trade), and collect screenshots of these ads. You'll need them later, trust me... been there, done that

I am in the midst of a non fault claim and thanks to markjays excellent advice done exactly as above, my car has gone to a garage of my choice and is all but ready

We have had a brand new ford kuga as a courtesy car for nigh on four months and i know ours will be perfect as a dear friend of mine manages the garage where my car is at for repairs.

 

[markjay]

I’m starting to learn this quickly. I’m afraid my insurer is dealing with it all with the other parties insurer and I’m making phone calls to everyone trying to tie it together. It isn’t working.
They have said that I should be provided with a comparable hire car, but it’s slow and tue Christmas break is making it worse. Goodness knows what they’ll give me when the time comes.
The amount I’m being given isn’t enough now to buy a similar condition and age CL203. I’m very unlikely to buy another one, but I don’t understand where they get the valuation from as it doesn’t tie in with actual prices online.
I’m new to this. It’s all a bit of a drag to be fair.

I suggest that you talk directly to the other-party's insurer. Tell them that in the interest of a quick resolution you have not engaged an accident management firm and that it's in both your interests to prevent 'claim inflation' (which is what will happen if you do decide to engage an accident management firm). Send them ads of similar cars for sale (make sure these are ads from private sellers, not trade) and stick to your guns. Good luck.

 

[Darrell]

We have had a brand new ford kuga as a courtesy car for nigh on four months and i know ours will be perfect as a dear friend of mine manages the garage where my car is at for repairs.

4 months of courtesy car must add up. I’d love to know what that costs.

 

[Skd884]

4 months of courtesy car must add up. I’d love to know what that costs.

£53.35 per day

Fyi a e63 is £178.03 daily.

 

[Smart320]

Just refuse the offer , say it’s insufficient, send them copies of the highest price ads for nearest equivalent cars for sale at dealers ,( exact same model ) roughly same miles and the same year , they will up their offer , they generally try to get away with a low ball initial offer, hoping you’ll say yes.

 

[Smart320]

No reason to send private advertisements, you should buy from a car dealers where you will be covered by SOG ‘s act. Private sellers generally should be at lower price . You should get an offer that allows you to buy an equivalent car , not the value you could have sold it for as a private seller had it not been written off

 

[markjay]

4 months of courtesy car must add up. I’d love to know what that costs.

When you're making a non-fault claim, you have the right to hire a substitute car while your own vehicle is off the road, or until the claim is settled (in the event of a write-off).

Insurers have their own special deals with the car hire firms, and they get very good rates.

That's why insurers are very keen to supply you with a hire car, and very quickly, i.e. before you go and hire it elsewhere and send them the bill, which you have the right to do.

And, if you decide to appoint an accident management firm, then the firm will supply the hire car, and in turn will charge the insurer an extortionately high rate.

Which is why when insurers offer you their hire cars, it's actually the cheapest option for them, and they know it.

 

[Darrell]

When you're making a non-fault claim, you have the right to hire a substitute car while your own vehicle is off the road, or until the claim is settled (in the event if a write off).

Insurers have their own special deals with the car hire firms, and they get very good rates.

That's why insurers are very keen to supply you with a hire car, and very quickly, i.e. before you go and hire it elsewhere and send them the bill, which you have the right to do.

And, if you decide to appoint an accident management firm, then the firm will supply the hire car, and in turn will charge the insurer an extortionately high rate.

Which is why when insurers offers you their hire car, it's actually the cheapest option for them, and they know it.

My daughters 18 year old boyfriend was involved in a no fault accident 2 weeks ago on the first evening on heavy snow.

He got a courtesy car and his car has been declared a write off. I’m no expert but it didn’t look like £6800 worth of damage.

Surely the price of a courtesy car comes into play and helps to write the car off?

 

[Smiley]

You have some sound advice on here as above. Remember that the insurer in this case is not to protect you - it is to protect the third party from having to pay you. The insurer will try to limit the payout in every case - that's their business - the less they pay out the higher their profit. Also remember that, in law, you are entitled to be put back into the position that you were in right before the damage was caused - ie whatever it costs to buy the equivalent condition car is the amount - if they argue that it is too much then suggest that they source the car for you or they repair your car. You do not have to accept the market value of an old banger and for you to make up the difference. Good advice from markjay - deal direct with the other party's insurer and make it clear what you need to be put back in the position that you were in.

 

[markjay]

No reason to send private advertisements, you should buy from a car dealers where you will be covered by SOG ‘s act. Private sellers generally should be at lower price . You should get an offer that allows you to buy an equivalent car , not the value you could have sold it for as a private seller had it not been written off

Your basic claim to the insurer is that with the insurer's initial offer you can't go and buy a similar car, because their offer is too low.

If you provide the insurer with trade ads, the counter argument that you will likely get is that if you replaced your car with another car bought from a dealer, then this will constitute betterment rather than restitution, because the dealer car will come with a year's worth of statutory warranty as per the Consumer Rights Act 2015. And they will say that therefore their lower offer is actually fair (because it takes into account the additional warranty that you didn't have before).

The insurer however will not be able to make this argument when you are looking ar buying a car from a private seller who will provide no such warranty.

You can then take the price of the similar car that you found, up it a bit, and propose to the insurer to settle on your offer in the interest of a quick resolution (they will know that they are paying for your hire car while the negotiations are ongoing).

 

[markjay]

My daughters 18 year old boyfriend was involved in a no fault accident 2 weeks ago on the first evening on heavy snow.

He got a courtesy car and his car has been declared a write off. I’m no expert but it didn’t look like £6800 worth of damage.

Surely the price of a courtesy car comes into play and helps to write the car off?

Yes it does. The insurer knows that a write-off means quick settlement and then the hire car is returned quickly. A repair, especially when waiting for parts, can take months during which the hire car is being paid for. A write-off is cheaper for them, plus they get for the car whatever Copart gives them after the wreckage is auctioned to breakers yards.

 

[Darrell]

Yes it does. The insurer knows that a write-off means quick settlement and then the hire car is returned quickly. A repair, especially when waiting for parts, can take months during which the hire car is being paid for. A write-off is cheaper for them, plus they get for the car whatever Copart gives them after the wreckage is auctioned to breakers yards.

Pretty much as I thought.

The sad thing is that his insurance will probably go up through no fault of his own.

 

[Smart320]

The argument that buying from a dealer will provide betterment can also be used in reverse, you know your car has no mechanical faults , buying from a private seller brings risk of these without possibility of restitution!
The last car I was involved with in a similar situation was for my brother in law, he provided dealer ads to his insurers , 4 of them and got an offer which was substantially higher than the original and was the same as the dealer price for the car that most closely matched his . Also he provided ads which were within 30 miles of his home as he was not prepared to travel an excess distance to view and in fact similar car prices were higher in other geographical areas. It is all about being reasonable and being prepared to argue your case on this basis

 

[fabes]

As above, sound advice and steer.

Autotrader helpfully rate dealer prices so those are solid negotiating prices. I use them
You should have a courtesy car by now (for Christmas) else hire one yourself , sensibly, and charge it back to them.
They've had more than 48 hours to get you in one (if they haven't)

As said above, insurers do factor in car hire but also the price of replacement parts (and delays in getting them) means both cars are written off with the associated benefit of being worth a lot more as salvage donor cars.

I am 'in the industry' and had a ' stewardship' meeting with a major European motor claims manager this week after challenging him for writing off cars on our fleet and also not doing enough to recover on the occasional occasions my colleagues actually aren't at fault

 

[JamRocky]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I’ve added a note to my claim saying I’m not happy with the valuation of the payout as in todays market it will not be enough to buy me the same car again. I’ve given exact details of where I purchased my car, it’s maintenance history and condition. I’ve uploaded 8 adverts (all from private sellers) of the same model as close as I can find showing all of them are up to £1200 more than what they’re intending to pay out.
I’ve told them that I find it very unfair I’ve been left with no temporary vehicle and that both insurers are now closed for Christmas. I have said that I don’t want to, but I will involve an accident management company if I have to.
I am genuinely worried that I won’t get enough to get another similar car and it is very difficult for me having no car at all. All this and I’m the one that got driven into by someone running a red light!

 

[markjay]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I’ve added a note to my claim saying I’m not happy with the valuation of the payout as in todays market it will not be enough to buy me the same car again. I’ve given exact details of where I purchased my car, it’s maintenance history and condition. I’ve uploaded 8 adverts (all from private sellers) of the same model as close as I can find showing all of them are up to £1200 more than what they’re intending to pay out.
I’ve told them that I find it very unfair I’ve been left with no temporary vehicle and that both insurers are now closed for Christmas. I have said that I don’t want to, but I will involve an accident management company if I have to.
I am genuinely worried that I won’t get enough to get another similar car and it is very difficult for me having no car at all. All this and I’m the one that got driven into by someone running a red light!

You're doing all the right things.

However, I would try removing your insurer from the loop. They may or may not forward your comments to the other-party's insurer, and if they do, they might do it with some delay. It would be best if you could raise these points directly with the valuer or loss adjuster at the other-party's insurer, ultimately this is the person who is authorised to agree a deal with you.

 

[JamRocky]

You're doing all the right things.

However, I would try removing your insurer from the loop. They may or may not forward your comments to the other-party's insurer, and if they do, they might do it with some delay. It would be best if you could raise these points directly with the valuer or loss adjuster at the other-party's insurer, ultimately this is the person who is authorised to agree a deal with you.

This is still ongoing. I finally have a hire car, but the amount to pay out is still being reviewed. I have now provided proof of numerous adverts showing what they intended to pay out won’t even get me the same car. If I want a good example like the one I lost they would need to pay out almost double what they have. They said the value is computer generated, but it’s clearly totally out of touch with the current car market!

 

[markjay]

....They said the value is computer generated....

Nonsense. Been there done that.... It's 100% negotiable.

It's your first time, and they know it... the person you're talking to has being doing this all day, every day, for many years.

Stick to your guns, is my advice. You've got the rental, it's they who should be eager to settle now, not you. They are just trying to wear you down. But if they won't settle, it will go to court, which will cost them more, and they won't win if you produce the ads in court. Just make sure you're being reasonable with your demand and can back it up with ads. They'll eventually settle.

 

[JamRocky]

Nonsense. Been there done that.... It's 100% negotiable.

It's your first time, and they know it... the person you're talking to has being doing this all day, every day, for many years.

Stick to your guns, is my advice. You've got the rental, it's they who should be eager to settle now, not you. They are just trying to wear you down. But if they won't settle, it will go to court, which will cost them more, and they won't win if you produce the ads in court. Just make sure you're being reasonable with your demand and can back it up with ads. They'll eventually settle.

Thank you for the advice. I’m not a p!ss taker, just genuinely worried that I can’t buy another vehicle that is the same or very similar. Especially as I was not at fault. Doesn’t seem right, so we will see what they come up with. I’ve shown them genuine current adverts. They can do their own search and see. Fingers crossed they sort things out