Car Accident Advice. [Archive] - Used Car Forums

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maumol
10-19-2011, 08:24 PM
Hello,
I have a dilemma and some advice would be much appreciated. I was recently involved in an accident, where someone collided into the rear of my Fiat Punto. Unfortunately, all of the details the other party gave me were false; being an idiot and somewhat overwhelmed by the situation, I did not take the registration of the other car!

I informed the insurance company and police about the incident and I have since taken the car to a garage so they could assess the situation. The mechanic informed me instantly that the insurance inspectors would probably write the car off. The damage included a creased tailgate, broken bumper and fold/ creases in the chassis below the spare tyre. He gave me some options; the first included going through insurance write off, then buying the car back for a small sum, and use the extra money for repair. As this would be claiming on my insurance, I would have to pay a £400 excess as set out in my policy. I am a young driver and claiming will undoubtedly put my insurance up considerably. The mechanic said the car (Punto, 2002, 80,000 miles) could be worth £1,200.

He also suggested I could buy a new tailgate and bumper off ebay and the garage would fit them for a few hundred pounds. This work would include bashing out the crease in the rear. He informed me that the car should pass the MOT (which is due soon), but would need to look under the car etc to be sure.

Would this repair be enough to get insurance companies to re- insure the car though? They know the car has been in a collision and may be a write off. When insurance renewal is due, will valid MOT be enough? Will they check the repairs? What is the best course of action?

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

r.s.logan
10-20-2011, 10:46 AM
From what you describe , car will probably be written off .£1200 would be a very , very good price if you got it .In my experience , I would not advise you to go down the road of buying car back from insurance and repairing it , honestly not worth all the hassle. In the long run you will regret doing it with what is involved and entails , eventually losing out . I would accept the best offer you can negotiate from insurance company , ( dont accept the first offer , do your homework on prices etc.beforehand ) and learn the hard way from the experience .You will know better if it happens again what to do .All the best .