QP accident woes & poss insurance write off - ADVICE PLEASE!

[Pramrod]

My 2005 QP (Duoselect, 67,000 miles, standard no GT or Sport) was hit in Aspley train station car park. Someone hit the front passenger wing and drove off.
Didn't look too bad.
British Transport Police have tracked him down. Looks like he doesn't have insurance.
Contacted Aviva, they assigned M&A Coachworks (specialist) to assess the car.

It's coming back as a total loss. Repairs estimated at £10,100 (incl VAT) - see attached.
M&ACoachworks put the PAV (pre-accident value) at £7800!
I bought her from Nareman at Nuvola 2 years ago for £19,995. Plus spent £950 on getting the calipers painted red.

Nareman thinks the PAV is harsh (you don't say!) And says £10k might be more reasonable. But I think the insurer has to put in a position to by a similar car from a similar dealer (and there is no way Nuvola or similar aren't going to sell a quality QP, even at the age and mileage, for £10K!)

To make matters worse I didn't take legal cover.

I am hoping to argue up the Pre-Accident Value to £13k.
Get a cash in lieu settlement (for say £8k), and I get "good enough" repairs done for £2k-£3k. That would see me ahead.

Worse case I guess is they offer me £7800, then I have no car - and it doesn't even cover the car loan.

I haven't heard from Aviva yet. Not panicking but it's a pretty horrible situation. Loved that car.
Stupidly I didn't go for Legal Cover on that car (I have on the BMW). Arrgh!

And the damage looks like nothing.
See photos for the damage.

I'm asking M&A Coachworks if the headlamp and bumper really need replacing or if they can be made good enough.


The car was with M&A Coachworks while I was on holiday. As you can imagine this has been a real bummer to come back to.
(I am sitting with a decent little brand new Merc A class 180d courtesy car - and they aren't getting that back until this is sorted)

Would very very much appreciate input from you guys.
a) Pre-accident valuation
b) Repair work options
c) Strategy on the whole situation

Cheers

 

[Saigon]

Pramrod, In the definitions section of my existing policy, it clearly defines in black & white the "Market Value" as the cost of replacing your car with one of the same make, model, specification and condition. I would imagine that is the standard definition. So look around for the same model QP, same specification and same condition and use that price as a reference. Hope you get things sorted and dont accept any first offers, (or second) hold out.

 

[allandwf]

That is the clause I used to argue my case too. It is a 2002 Alfa V6, took a hard hit to left front. I was initially offered £1500, then £2000, eventually upped to £3000. They would not budge past that. I asked them to just get me a similar car then. They called in an independent assessor, who I was told, their decision would be final. He valued it at £6500. It took a long time, lots of evidence, some specialist garages even furnished me with values of cars sold, not asking prices. Hang in there.

 

[Contigo]

Is there any chance of a Cat D and buying it off them? You can document the work carried out (no way is that a 10k repair) at your chosen repair show and then win by keeping the car and pocketing the difference. All my cars I get the chance to buy them for £25 if written off .

 

[azapa]

I can't even see any damage! It looks better than our family daily driver! Assuming the headlight is OK I can't imagine a top rate body shop requiring any new parts at all. 1K all in tops?

 

[Devonboy]

Have you got an itemised breakdown of the repair estimate? A new headlight on eBay at present is just under £3k but suspect you could get used or a better price....worst case - take the pay out and buy the car if you are confident it’s superficial (and will buff out )

 

[2b1ask1]

The issue is again that the GLASS guide is so way off market value for this marque, it had my 4200 at high 7k in great condition and thankfully I had an agreed value of £16k and was easily able to demonstrate from the market place the valuation was correct or even conservative. The GLASS guide is what they will have used as they are lazy. StNd form and push for an insurance assessor to see it.

 

[safrane]

You ahould be able to take the car to any approved body shop of your choice and remember they will be quoting for new parts and if you read the small print it may say 'reconditioned' parts.

I am sure you could get that done for less than £4k including parts...ask them if you ca and offer to surrender the hire car as that often costs more than the repairs.

Or tell them not to bother...don't claim and pay for it yourself...will cost less in the long run.

 

[Contigo]

Or tell them not to bother...don't claim and pay for it yourself...will cost less in the long run.

This man speaks the truth.

 

[Pramrod]

Or tell them not to bother...don't claim and pay for it yourself...will cost less in the long run.

Why will it cost less in the long run? I'm not at fault. It won't impact my protected no claims.
My insurance is supposed to return me to pre-accident condition/situation.

I'm interested to negotiate a cash in lieu settlement. Give me £8,000 and I'll sort out the repairs. They'll save on courtesy car hire and will no more responsibility (who wants to start repairing a 13 year old car?).
Isn't that the way to go?

 

[Contigo]

Why will it cost less in the long run? I'm not at fault. It won't impact my protected no claims.
My insurance is supposed to return me to pre-accident condition/situation.

I'm interested to negotiate a cash in lieu settlement. Give me £8,000 and I'll sort out the repairs. They'll save on courtesy car hire and will no more responsibility (who wants to start repairing a 13 year old car?).
Isn't that the way to go?

Regardless if you are at fault 99.9% of the time it really doesn't matter as it will affect your premium. If you accept renumeration it may mean the car is registered as a Cat D once repaired as surely a payout means total loss?

 

[Contigo]

WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Do your homework. Look online and ask at local dealers what similar cars are worth.
• Get written confirmation of these values and print any internet pages. Tell the insurer you are being realistic and explain why you believe your car is worth more than the settlement.
• Remember that adverts from car dealerships can have inflated prices. The Ombudsman says: ' Consumers should be aware that the price advertised by motor dealers is often a starting place for negotiation rather than an indication of the correct retail price.' LOOK at the trade guides such as Parker's, Glass's or Capcalc.
Not all are available to the public.
• Don't let the insurer bully you.
• Avoid cashing the settlement cheque. If you need the money then tell the insurance company in writing that you are only accepting it as an interim payment.
• Check the small print of your policy to see how long you are entitled to a courtesy car.
• If you own a classic car consider taking an agreed value policy. These apply where the car is unlikely to devalue because it is an antique or has collector's value.
• Your final port of call is the Financial Ombudsman. This free complaints service will investigate and try to negotiate a suitable payment for you.

 

[Contigo]

From Honest John

Think of Cat D like this example:

A car is worth £6,000, but sustains some minor cosmetic damage.

The damage will cost £2,500 for an insurance repair that includes the cost of a courtesy car for the owner while the repair takes place. Repairers have network agreements in place based on "average repair cost" where they will inflate repairs needed to avoid repairing and make it a constructive total loss.

The insurer can sell the car off as it is for £4,000.

So the insurer 'writes it off' as a Cat D "constructive total loss", saving itself £500, even though the car may be perfectly drivable and suffers only cosmetic damage.

 

[safrane]

Only seen phone photos... but looks like a wing, minor bumper bump and poss a bracket on a light.

a small body shop could reuse all the parts and do the repair and paint for a couple of grand... thats not that much and less than the loss you state.

 

[Gazcw]

Can you not use legal cover from the other vehicle? I was under the impression you could. I may be wrong and need to take cover out on mine if I haven't got it. I have it on one of my vehicles but not the other.

 

[alfatwo]

So what does legal cover give you haven't got already?

Dave

 

[dgmx5]

Also, whilst the ****** does not have insurance, that is not the same as him not having assets. You may be able to recover your losses from him through a civil claim in the county court if you can trace where he lives and establish whether or not he could pay any judgment e.g. if he owns the property he lives at.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Also, whilst the ****** does not have insurance, that is not the same as him not having assets. You may be able to recover your losses from him through a civil claim in the county court if you can trace where he lives and establish whether or not he could pay any judgment e.g. if he owns the property he lives at.

On which note, and while this thought doesn't sort the repair out, on the basis that driving without insurance is a crime, I assume the **** who did this is being prosecuted?

 

[Pramrod]

British Transport Police are prosecuting - this driver has a list of offences and at least two police forces had him on their list.

With Aviva it looks like Legal Cover is per car and not per policy (arrgh!) So I'd double check your policies on this.

Comprehensive with Aviva does cover you for an uninsured driver.

 

[jemgee]

Whilst I have not seen my insurers estimate I have recently had a first offer of 12k for my 2006 Sport GT with 48k miles

I went back to them and first of all they said the offer was based on the highest valuation of a QP which was Parkers c £12,200 max - Glass was c £10,600

I queried that mine is a Sport GT.

According to their info from HPI it is just a QP. So I told them that all the paperwork including service book and the V5 just says QP but details from Wiki eg 20" wheels, grille and ali pedals are the Sport GT model so I sent them pics of my car including the Sport GT badge also the factory fitted extras eg gsm phone, cd changer, heated seats and parking sensors. They asked me yesterday to send pics of the V5 and they will be making an enhanced offer including the Larinis etc.

I found 2 almost identical cars and have sent them these
https://www.adgsevenoaks.co.uk/used-cars/8883779-maserati-quattroporte-v8-sport-gt/
https://www.pistonheads.com/classif...e-sport-gt--low-miles--immaculate-car/5816193