Think I've written off my car! 😔

[DSM10000]

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’.

I don't think the retention charge is unreasonable.

A private number plate is a personal choice not a requirement and as it needs to be administered it is perfectly reasonable for there to be a fee.

 

[Ted]

I completely agree.
I put ‘free’ in quotes as it is covered by the retention cost

 

[ChrisEdu]

Got a valuation of circa £2650 from Motorway. Spoke to my indie, he reckoned £3k - £3.5.

 

[DSM10000]

Got a valuation of circa £2650 from Motorway. Spoke to my indie, he reckoned £3k - £3.5.

You need evidence from several sources that these are fair prices though.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Sounds about right.....Motorway bid trade money, you are insured for retail money. The whole point of insurance is to put you back where you were before the incident....if the money they offer wont do that, within reason, they are not holding up their part of the deal. As said above, get a few ads for cars as close to yours as possible and use them in your argument....bearing in mind that advertised prices can be higher than the price they actually sell for....and your insurance company will argue that. Above all, even if you are happy with what they offer, never accept the first offer...they trying to make sure they pay out the least they have to....they are a business that trying to make a profit at the end of the day .....there is always a bit of wriggle room!

 

[Kongshavn]

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!

Retention certificates issued currently are valid for 10 years. This has increased over the years. The fee is for the transfer, either to a new vehicle or onto a certificate, if im not mistaken. The certificates can be renewed 28 days before they expire. All the relevant info is available on gov.uk. Hope this helps

 

[Germgh0st]

Retention certificates issued currently are valid for 10 years. This has increased over the years. The fee is for the transfer, either to a new vehicle or onto a certificate, if im not mistaken. The certificates can be renewed 28 days before they expire. All the relevant info is available on gov.uk. Hope this helps

You're right, it's been upped to ten years. That's good as I'll be putting mine on retention soon

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

It costs £80 to transfer a registration number. You can transfer it directly and immediately on to another car, or transfer to another car at a later date (held on a retention certificate for up to 10 years) for the same cost.

I’m fairly sure that transferring number plates used to cost £80 when I bought my first one in 1993, so it doesn’t seem unreasonable 30 years later. The additional cost of retention has been removed in that same time frame.

 

[ChrisEdu]

Sounds about right.....Motorway bid trade money, you are insured for retail money. The whole point of insurance is to put you back where you were before the incident....if the money they offer wont do that, within reason, they are not holding up their part of the deal. As said above, get a few ads for cars as close to yours as possible and use them in your argument....bearing in mind that advertised prices can be higher than the price they actually sell for....and your insurance company will argue that. Above all, even if you are happy with what they offer, never accept the first offer...they trying to make sure they pay out the least they have to....they are a business that trying to make a profit at the end of the day .....there is always a bit of wriggle room!

If that's case, going by what's for sale on AT, should be looking at more like circa £4k-£5k.

 

[Teego]

I would look at ebay. Not just current ads. Look at the sold listing for values.

 

[AMGeed]

Sorry to read your unfortunate news Chris.
Hope you get a favourable offer from your insurance company.

 

[ChrisEdu]

 

[ChrisEdu]

I would look at ebay. Not just current ads. Look at the sold listing for values.

Current ads are circa £5k for something similar.
How do you view sold listing?

 

[Trickythemerc]

I would buy that back from your insurers and fix it.

 

[ChrisEdu]

I would buy that back from your insurers and fix it.

My indie was saying that it would probably cost too much, not knowing what damage has been done to the steering system and wheels.

I could probably live with the bodywork for the time I intended keeping it anyway.

If I get a chance, just for the hell of it, I'll do an iCarsoft scan and remove the front wheel to see what I find.

 

[Doodle]

My indie was saying that it would probably cost too much, not knowing what damage has been done to the steering system and wheels.

Did you drive it home afterwards? That would be a good indicator of any issues there.

If you've just surfed the barrier and not hit any hard ground objects on the way through, I would be surprised if it's anything more than cosmetic.

 

[Teego]

Current ads are circa £5k for something similar.
How do you view sold listing?

get an ad up then look down the left hand side for search options. Its down the bottom somewhere.

Then just stay calm and slow down the process with your insurer.
The body doesn't look badly damaged. You could get that done at a small bodyshop for £1K.
You can check the wheels yourself. In the pix they look kerbed but it's only £60 each for a refurb.
As for steering, take it down the road and see how it feels. If it feels good it's probably OK. Or go somewhere like Formula 1 Autocentre or any reputable tyre dealer and get the tracking checked. That's usually free then £60ish for alignment on a decent rig.
So far that's £1180 to fix the car.
And remember, the insurer will deduct your excess from any payout. And your NCD will be affected on our next policy.
If you want to keep your private reg, put it on retention now. If it's worth £80 to you just do it. Then it can go back on your car if you keep it or go to a new one.
You'll have to do the maths.
Good luck.
PS. If the car is good and you know its foibles,if any, you may not want to take the risk of getting another "mature" car which could be a can of worms.
All this reminds me of "The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy" where Arthur Dent asks the god-like computer "What is the meaning of life, the universe and everything?" Only to be told that the answer is 42.

 

[clk320x]

I don't think the retention charge is unreasonable.

A private number plate is a personal choice not a requirement and as it needs to be administered it is perfectly reasonable for there to be a fee.

Agreed.

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Personally that seems like quite a straight forward fix. A decent PDR man will have most of that out ready for paint.
The wheels look straight? Are you sure the suspension is damaged? Even if it was, it’ll probably just have bent an arm etc…

 

[DSM10000]

Current ads are circa £5k for something similar.
How do you view sold listing?

Advertising price is one thing, selling price is another.

I really cannot see an E Class diesel from 2006 selling for £5k plus unless it was exceptional in condition and specification.

 

[DSM10000]

Agreed.

Personally that seems like quite a straight forward fix. A decent PDR man will have most of that out ready for paint.
The wheels look straight? Are you sure the suspension is damaged? Even if it was, it’ll probably just have bent an arm etc…

The car would need a lot of paint once the bodywork was fixed. Presumably the entire right side from rear bumper to front.

It is worth getting quotes though and if you do then make it clear that the work is private and not insurance funded