Possible write off :(

Redbull, a year-and-a-half ago I had a low speed crash in my 1.4TDi 54-plate. The estimate was £3,800 and the third-party's insurance company paid for this and gave me a courtesy car for the duration of the repair.
This was the first time I had ever been involved in a crash, so I'm not experienced in the ways of insurance companies, but I made sure the Audi bodyshop preparing the estimate knew I wanted it repaired rather than written off.

Photos of post-crash, in workshop, and repaired are here
http://www.a2oc.net/forum/album.php?albumid=267

Hopefully you will be able to use my experience to your advantage.

Andrew
 
ennio said:
Redbull, a year-and-a-half ago I had a low speed crash in my 1.4TDi 54-plate. The estimate was £3,800 and the third-party's insurance company paid for this and gave me a courtesy car for the duration of the repair.
This was the first time I had ever been involved in a crash, so I'm not experienced in the ways of insurance companies, but I made sure the Audi bodyshop preparing the estimate knew I wanted it repaired rather than written off.

Photos of post-crash, in workshop, and repaired are here
http://www.a2oc.net/forum/album.php?albumid=267

Hopefully you will be able to use my experience to your advantage.

Andrew
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Thanks

That helps a lot , Your damage looks a lot worse than mine , but depends on whats hiding beneath .
 
redbull_a2 said:
Thanks Jeff ,

As I am new to claiming on insurance :) Can someone explain this " Buy it back " what sort of price would they ask for it ? I have valued the car at £3k .

Thanks
Click to expand...

Paul,

Don't assume the worst until that time comes. If it does, then:-

1. Don't make any decision about what they offer you straight away - and certainly not on the phone - tell them you need a little time to think.

2. They will base the decision on the category of write-off status based on cost-to-repair and damage sustained.

3. There are 4 categories insurance companies use to classify write-off vehicles:
a. CAT D = normally 60%-80% of the pre-accident value of the car
b. CAT C = Beyond economical repair, i.e. costs more to repair than the PAV or the car.
c. CAT B = Structural damage meaning the car MUST be broken and NOT be put back on the road.
d. CAT A = Car MUST be crushed.

If the worst happens and the car is categorised as a CAT D or C then you should be able to buy it back (although I've heard some insurers fight this - but just stick to your guns).
If it's a CAT B, normally you can't buy it back unless you hold a "breakers licence".
CAT A has to be crushed as-is.

The price to buy back is up to each insurer, but usually somewhere around 10%-30% of the PAV (pre-Accident Value). The PAV is what you should be offered for your car in the event it's deemed a total loss (i.e. a write-off).

I hope this helps - any other questions, feel free to drop me a PM

Cheers

Jeff
 
If you can keep the car at home, storage charges will be added to the cost of the claim. Remember it is your car, they don't own it unless they pay you for it. Look around for how much others the same as yours cost, autotrader etc if you don't agree with the value they put on it you need to show why, ie how much it would cost you to buy another.

A cat D car can back on the road without a VIC check May need a new MOT ?

Cat C requires a VIC check (Vehicle indentity check) to check it's not another car with your cars chassis plate. It's not an MOT mearly a check carried out at your nearest VOSA test station. New MOT required i think. you usualy have to apply for the log book back after the VIC check
 
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Certainly go after the CCTV.
It is well worth getting the footage. To need a stretcher for an accident that occurs at sub-15mph speeds (from the look of the damage) seems insane.
Out of interest what was the car that hit your car?
With my accident I am sure the other guy was out to cause damage. I think I should try the tips here and see what I can see on Facebook I guess...


John
 
I got shunted from behind by a transit van last July. He pushed me into a skoda. My front end damage was similar to yours including wing, bumper front panel and light. The bonnet repaired but the brackets it fits into were broken. Foglight was broken too. Back end required new bumper and strengthener and new light. Car was in workshop for ages (5 weeks) but insurance company didn't right it off. When I went to pick it up the guy on the desk said they would have done if there had been a hire car required or even if they had known it was Aluminium before they had started. We lost our excess but three months later Aviva coughed up and LV paid it back to us. Our premium didn't rise at renewal either. All in all very impressed with LV. Car is a 54 plate 1.4 SE with 65K on the clock.

Car is as good as new apart from a rattle coming from below the instruments. I'm going to have to investigate when I've got time.
 
John L said:
Certainly go after the CCTV.
It is well worth getting the footage. To need a stretcher for an accident that occurs at sub-15mph speeds (from the look of the damage) seems insane.
Out of interest what was the car that hit your car?
With my accident I am sure the other guy was out to cause damage. I think I should try the tips here and see what I can see on Facebook I guess...


John
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The car was a 2009 Seat Leon. The stretcher did seem a bit far fetched , The scene looked like a major accident happened . At one point I thought they were going to cut the roof of the Seat . I don't know their injuries but the damage was minimal to their car . My A2 is getting recovered tomorrow , just hope its good news .

As I have said before the most annoying thing is the last few months I have put over £1000 into the car for the niggling problems it has had since I have owned it included upgrading all 4 tyres with higher profile to make the ride more comfortable , MOT , Service , rear suspension replaced due to potholes etc... the list goes on and finally my A2 was perfect then this happens :( oh and my tax is due tomorrow aswell and insurance on Friday :(. Think I will buy a lotto ticket , my luck must change soon .
 
redbull_a2 said:
... and my tax is due tomorrow aswell and insurance on Friday :(. ...
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It would be a good idea to SORN it if you think it will be off the road for more than a month (that would let you defer the insurance as well). However if it is off the road for less, then there is no point.
 
Pleased to hear all is well with your wife, which is the main thing. Good luck with the insurance claim however given what you have shown/described i would say the odds are it will be repairable.
 
Had phone call from garage and good news it's repairable . I asked them about the Votex front splitter and they said that Audi said it comes with the front bumper !! . Does Audi still make the Votex kit ? The garage said at worst he will repair the original one .
 
Paul,

Reasonably good news, however.....if they've checked the parts catalogue and believe the Votex spoiler is part of the front bumper, then they aren't too good.

You don't have to have your car repaired by your insurers choice of garage......it's your decision.

When I had mine repaired I used Castle Coachworks on Healthfield Way in Northampton - Nigel Drage is their Bodyshop Estimator and Castle Coachworks are recommended by Audi.

Cheers

Jeff
 
Mustang-owner said:
Paul,

Reasonably good news, however.....if they've checked the parts catalogue and believe the Votex spoiler is part of the front bumper, then they aren't too good.
You don't have to have your car repaired by your insurers choice of garage......it's your decision.

When I had mine repaired I used Castle Coachworks on Healthfield Way in Northampton - Nigel Drage is their Bodyshop Estimator and Castle Coachworks are recommended by Audi.

Cheers

Jeff
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The garage is Gardiners in Wellingborough , They said Audi said it comes with the bumper , he said he thought that was strange as he knows it is a separate piece . He is recalling them to question it .
 
Audi will be telling them the part numbers which came with the car originally, if the Votex kit was added later then unless they watch out they'll be getting the wrong bits. I seem to recall that Mike Hill (Skipton01) ran into this issue when he was getting his original Tank repaired.
 
MikeMarsUK said:
Audi will be telling them the part numbers which came with the car originally, if the Votex kit was added later then unless they watch out they'll be getting the wrong bits. I seem to recall that Mike Hill (Skipton01) ran into this issue when he was getting his original Tank repaired.
Click to expand...


Thanks , I did tell them it was an optional extra . Won't be happy if I get my car back with full votex kit on and front splitter missing :(
 
UPDATE**

Garage phoned today and the cost of repairs are £1800

I am surprised they didn't right it of for that price .

Mine is Audi A2 Sport Petrol with 121,000 miles

All should be completed on the 8th May
 
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