Insurance buy back?

[cameronboy]

Some little yob :evil:about two weeks ago walked over my year 2000 c200 c class automatic. To impress his mates on our works cctv system
Its a four door saloon elegance in smoke gold. In almost perfect condition a few small rust pits on the front driver wheel arch.
The c200 now has bonnet light scratch, roof multiple small dents and two almost undetectable small dints in the boot lid.
The dent man said he couldn't repair the dent to the roof. but could make it 100% better than it is.
I have been told the repair under insurance will coast around £3400 estimate it will require bonnet roof and boot repair. The roof will require cutting off and replacing which is a major repair although is light cosmetic.
They are suggesting it will be cheaper to write the car off than repair as if they get problems re cutting the roof and didn't look write post repair it would lead to prohibitive costs.
To be honest i can live with the cosmetic damage rather than write it off as i work as a district nurse so its possible further cosmetics may accrue in time due to the areas i work in and around on duty.
My main question is if they offer a buy back solution how much should i accept.
1. if they offer to settle without doing the repair
or if they suggest a write off. Cash and walk away?
Market value before damage would set this car at £4900. Its low mileage 64000
A full service history. I have recently replaced the maf. Mot and serviced as well as two new front tyers.
It drives like new with full service history. any thought welcome
ps if my estimate for the cars value pre damage is wrong please advise me. It has air con and is automatic.
I would like to keep it on the road if possible. They don't make cars as good as this anymore
thanks cameronboy

 

[Micman]

Hi

You say it has bonnet light scratch, roof multiple small dents and two almost undetectable small dints in the boot lid.

Damage doesn't sound that bad, just more annoying than anything else. Surely the best course of action is to source a few independent quotes to rectify the dents in the roof as best as possible, and also look into having the scratch repaired on the bonnet (maybe a bonnet respray?).

Then tell your insurance company the price you have from your preferred repairer and see if they will authorise the claim.

If not, and you really can't live with the damage, fund the repairs privately without using the insurance company.

If you leave it just to the insurance company they will always go for a worst case repair bill - hence the reason you have been told they have to chop the roof off and replace the whole section!!! Sounds rather over the top to me!!!

They will probably end up telling you it's beyond economic repair and write it off when all it really is is simple cosmetic work. Seems silly to take the car off the road when there are no mechanical problems or damage.

 

[cameronboy]

Thats the problem I suspect they will say its beyond economical repair. I am fully comp with protected no claims so what i am looking for if they offer to buy the claim back what price should i accept? or what should i accept. To the insurance company its a cosmetic write off but still very road worthy and a pleasure to drive.
Car value approx £4900 bottom as it was near a perfect example. Repair £3000-3600 if they make me an offer what should i look at. Access £250
If they offer me to keep the car plus £2000 then I can bank £2000 for any future mechanical repairs i have still got a perfect running c200.
I am looking for a guesstimate of what i should accept
(a)as a complete write off no car and walk away
(b)or an insurance buy back as per example above. I just want a fair deal i am not going to push for every last penny but i don't want to get ripped off

 

[brandwooddixon]

If I were you I'd have a good look at the current market values and push for the amount needed to purchase a similar vehicle to yours.

It's common practice for insurance companies to offer just under trade in value, which is less than the market value if you were to replace it.

 

[Xtractorfan]

I doubt if your own insurance company will allow you to 'buy back' the vehicle, this generally only happens when your vehicle has been damaged by someone else and their insurance company is paying, Your insurance company is more likely to give you a settlemt in leiu of repairs, this normally happens when a vehicle is deemed to be worth more than the book price or when the customer wishes to retain the vehicle and have a cheaper repair carried out. You should make the company engineer / claims department aware of your position as regards your vehicle, and do not allow the vehicle to leave your care or sight until you are satisfied with the decisions made. And please remember the vehicle belongs to you, not the insurance company or the garage, and you make the decisions with regard to your vehicle.

 

[cameronboy]

Thanks for that.
I do like the car The engineering is excellent even if the interior is a little jaded by some younger cars. It drives just like new in fact the engine is loads smoother than some more recent cars i have driven.

 

[Xtractorfan]

Yea u probably wont be able to replace it with a similar vehicle for the money they pay you, so in your case it is always worth haggling with the insurance company for the best deal, good luck

 

[johno2004]

I had similar situation a few years back and i wanted to keep the car so i said to the isurance company to make a cash offer against the repair bills and i would fund the rest they gave me 50% of the estimate and i banked cash and just got car tidied up to my satisfaction.

Its worth asking as its better for them to pay 50% than full write off price.

Worth asking them

 

[Xtractorfan]

If you haggle with them they will normally pay out the estimate as agreed by the engineer / assessor less your excess and less 10%...so its alwys worth negotiating with them

 

[Xtractorfan]

And one other thing you should be aware of, the vehicle doesnt need to be Motd, some companies deduct another 10% or even refuse to pay out as the vehicle wasnt deemed roadworthy as it doesnt have a current MOT,, technically when you insure a vehicle you do not need an MOT to do so..and legally an MOT only deems the vehicle to be roadworty at the actual time of the test...

 

[Aussie Nick]

I would concur with Johno.