Think I've written off my car! 😔

[grober]

Out of interest, what would people suggest a fair value for the car should be?

It's a facelift Sept 06 W211 E320CDi Avantgarde with approx 84000 miles.

Just curious so I don't get shafted by insurance company!

Look in the classifieds/online for similar cars to yours to gauge market value. Used car values prices soared during the covid pandemic but are softening a bit now. Be prepared to quote replacement examples on sale to your insurance company. documented service receipts may also help to establish condition of your car. they may be prepared to move "a bit " on their initial valuation but the car's age is against it.

 

[davymead]

Pleased you survived your ordeal Chris, that’s the only thing that matters.
Bear in mind that advice about any part of the process is as always readily available from this great bunch of folks on here, take your time to get things sorted.

 

[PXW]

ISTR there’s a wrinkle with the private plate - needs to be put on retention before the insurance co formally writes the car off - at that point it becomes their property, so it probably needs to be further up your list than might be expected. The car will I think just get the original registration reallocated.

Glad you are both well.

 

[st13phil]

ISTR there’s a wrinkle with the private plate - needs to be put on retention before the insurance co formally writes the car off - at that point it becomes their property, so it probably needs to be further up your list than might be expected.

^ I believe this is correct. Once the car becomes the property of the insurance co. you lose rights to the registration on it.

 

[SpikyMikey]

^ I believe this is correct. Once the car becomes the property of the insurance co. you lose rights to the registration on it.

How does that work, as you have paid for the right to display it?

 

[Germgh0st]

How does that work, as you have paid for the right to display it?

I imagine it's similar to selling the car with the plate on - rights to the plate get passed on with the car unless you pay to retain the plate.

 

[st13phil]

How does that work, as you have paid for the right to display it?

Answered by @Germgh0st

My understanding (and I'm happy to be corrected) is that you merely rent the "private" registration, and a condition of the rental is that it is associated with a particular vehicle that you own. If you transfer ownership of the assigned vehicle, the right to use it transfers to the new owner of the vehicle.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Answered by @Germgh0st

My understanding (and I'm happy to be corrected) is that you merely rent the "private" registration, and a condition of the rental is that it is associated with a particular vehicle that you own. If you transfer ownership of the assigned vehicle, the right to use it transfers to the new owner of the vehicle.

My understanding too. I have heard of a couple of people who lost their plates for a while following a total loss or write off, but they both got them back eventually (one was years if I remember right).

 

[ChrisEdu]

That's a real bummer. Always annoying as it's so hard to find something comparable without shelling out a lot more.

Precisely why I had spent money on her recently.

 

[ChrisEdu]

As said above, put the plates on retention via DVLA website - had to do this for a friend years back. There is a small fee, but the plates are no doubt worth it.

AT will provide guidance on retail as their 'Good Price' measure, accepted market valuations (ish)
The insurer of daughters boyfriends Corsa which he wrote off three months ago (after buying it from us ) matched what I had lined up from AT first time without challenge
But yes you can reject and have a little fun with them, if you've the energy or appetite for that though Chris.....

You can enquire on the buy back value of the car (wont be a huge amount, despite its weight as there isn't a huge demand for these I would expect compared to what is more mainstream these days) and then use the rest of the claim money to have used panels put on if a garage gives you a view on the underside repairs needed.

This latter is the gamble point though.
You buy it back sight unseen unless you can access the yard where it is stored to get personal belongings from it - the reason I used many years ago when our own car was written off...
If you can be driven there by a friendly and honest 'expert' , they could save you buying it to only have to scrap or break it yourself.

AT? Auto Trader?

 

[DSM10000]

How does that work, as you have paid for the right to display it?

But not the right of ownership. The registration belongs to the DVLA

 

[DSM10000]

AT? Auto Trader?

Yes.

Show receipts for the work you have had carried out recently. It may help.

 

[Trickythemerc]

Glad there were no injuries Chris. To keep the plate on retention is about £80.00 a year, think that is what I paid for one of mine some while back.

 

[Germgh0st]

Glad there were no injuries Chris. To keep the plate on retention is about £80.00 a year, think that is what I paid for one of mine some while back.

I believe it's £80 and that gives you a retention certificate valid for 5 years. That's what it was last time I did it anyway.

 

[ChrisEdu]

I believe it's £80 and that gives you a retention certificate valid for 5 years. That's what it was last time I did it anyway.

Thieving gits the government.
Still, if it's £80 for5 yrs not quite so bad.
Alternatively, I guess I could transfer it to one of the household's crappy Fords!

 

[Trickythemerc]

Think there is a charge for transfer

 

[ChrisEdu]

Yes.

Show receipts for the work you have had carried out recently. It may help.

Tried AT - can't get a valuation as over 15 yrs old.

I guess that must mean it's a valuable classic car now!

 

[ChrisEdu]

Think there is a charge for transfer

Damned if you do, damned if you don't!

 

[Ted]

Good news that you are all ok.
Bad news about the car - sorry to hear it and if it were me, it would get me down for a while.
Regarding the plate - it’s super easy to put it on retention online but don’t forget you will need to put the old plates back on and get the new V5 before it sells (had to do this when I sold the Jeep and it held up the sale for a few days until the new V5 came through - don’t know if this applies to a writeoff)
Hope things turn out well.

Edit: there is a charge for retention but putting on a new car is covered by the retention cost so is ‘free’.

 

[DSM10000]

Tried AT - can't get a valuation as over 15 yrs old.

I guess that must mean it's a valuable classic car now!

Just set the search parameters on AT to suit your car and see what is available and what the asking prices are.

I would then save the results on your computer as they will change as cars are sold.