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Accident - Insurance Advice


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#1 7builder

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Posted 14 April 2017 - 07:47 AM

Turning right at a mini-roundabout yesterday a car on my left didn't stop and hit me on the passenger side, obviously failing to give way to the right and to a vehicle already on the roundabout. It was a low speed impact and fortunately no one was injured but the mini is going to need a new wing, front panel repair (creased and dented at lower corner where it joined to the wing) new bumper and headlight.

I called my insurance company and having given them the details are quite confident that they will be able to recover all costs from the third parties insurance as they are sure she was completely at fault.

The bit that concerned me was when the guy on the phone said that after the car is recovered to a repair centre and inspected by an engineer it will most likely be written off because the car was older than 2008 and was asked if that is the case do you want your car back?

For anyone that has gone through something similar what has been your experience? My car is insured with RAC and there was nothing mentioned about a 2008 cut off when I took out my policy 12 days ago.



#2 Jordie

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Posted 14 April 2017 - 07:51 AM

Do you have agreed value insurance?

 

In most cases we would advise to have the car recovered home if you have safe/secure storage for it, ask the assessor to come direct to your home address and keep the vehicle until you have an agreed outcome.

 

There has been cases where the car has gone to "storage" and during the time with negoiations with the insurer, the car as allready been passed to an agent such as co-part to sell on/break depending on the damage.



#3 7builder

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Posted 14 April 2017 - 08:03 AM

Thanks Jordan that is sound advice.

 

Unfortunately I do not have an agreed value insurance policy, it is a daily driver and is insured as such under a "standard policy". Too late now but something I will look into next year.

 

I wouldn't have even considered the issues you described after a car goes into storage so I will make sure it stays on the drive until we have an agreed outcome.



#4 Carlos W

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Posted 14 April 2017 - 09:17 AM

The other advantage of the car being on your drive is that the insurer is not paying storage fees, this reduces the cost of the overall claim.

 

Don't let the car go anywhere.



#5 Cooperman

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Posted 14 April 2017 - 09:25 AM

This might work out to your advantage. Keep it at your home and have the assessor visit you.

 

They will almost certainly deem it a 'total loss' (write off) and will ask if you want to buy it back. Before you make any offer to buy back, agree the write-off value and make sure this reflects the prices being asked for similar cars in various adverts. Have those ads to hand when the assessor visits and do your 'homework'.

 

Then make a very low offer for the car. My niece bought her 998 Mini back after it was 'written-off' for £75 and that included having it delivered from the insurance company's storage place. It cost just a door skin and some light panel beating (by me) followed by painting and it was better than it had been before it got damaged whilst parked.

 

Don't let them have the V5 then it can't be stamped as 'Cat C' or Cat 'D', which you don't want to have happen.

 

Don't accept the first value offered, negotiate a bit higher.



#6 humph

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Posted 14 April 2017 - 10:59 AM

Sorry to hear about your encounter. This topic has been covered in the classic press a fair amount over the last couple of years with people losing their beloved cars. The advice is as above, just make sure you don;t hand your car over to them.



#7 robminibcy

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Posted 14 April 2017 - 12:12 PM

Definitely don't give them the car, unfortunately with minis ( and all cars over around 10 years old) insures tend to just cat D write off anything more than a bumper scuff. I personally would investigate repairing it yourself ( either DIY + Paint if you can or at a mini/classic specialist if not) and then give this price to the insurers. Chances are its going to be a lot less than if the repairer was approached by the insurers direct and they may just pay you this cost and the car wont be written off.



#8 7builder

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Posted 14 April 2017 - 09:04 PM

Thanks for all of the valuable advice everyone I am definitely going to keep the car at mine until I have a successful outcome. I agree that the most likely outcome will be a write off but surely preventing a Cat D classification is going to take more than simply refusing to hand over the V5C?

Looking at the damage I am going to need a new Heritage wing, chrome bumper, complete headlight setup (light, plastic bowl etc) and front panel corner repair section. With a few sundry items I reckon it will be around £200 in parts and then the paint afterwards. I am happy enough tackling the body work even though I have never done anything like this before but I would need to get someone else to paint it.
I've been researching the removal and replacement of wings and front panels. I have a MIG welder so could plug weld the new panels but not sure whether to just go out and hire a spot welder for the final fix. The other thing I am trying to understand is the join between the lower part ofthe front wing and the front panel, below the headlight. The lip is supposed to be spot welded and the seam sealed on the outside with seam sealer prior to painting but what about the join between the panels on the inside, surely that is going to end up as a water trap so it ends up rusting between the two panels from the inside out?

So I gues the plan is:
a) Expect a total loss

b) Research and provide evidence on value of the car. I have photo's of total rebuild by previous owner (thread on here by forum member) so will need to find similar restored cars for value.

c) Try to avoid Cat C/D - not sure how

d) Receive payout and negotiate buy back

e) DIY bodywork

f) Professional respray

g-z) get back to enjoying Mini ownership


Edited by 7builder, 14 April 2017 - 09:05 PM.


#9 Ethel

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Posted 14 April 2017 - 10:16 PM

They don't always slap a Cat rating on it, it is really intended to protect people buying salvaged cars that have been repaired to sell on, if you remain the registered keeper there's no reason to hand over the V5. Using a recognised repairer may help if they kick up a fuss, though I don't think Mini owners are as bothered about it as run of the mill drivers, over 20 odd years all with have some history and more rust repairs - just be aware it might affect future insurance premiums and valuations.

 

Insurers are in business to make a profit, so their first offer is rarely their best. Having some accumulating costs keeps them focused, keep any car hire receipts, bus tickets etc. 

 

If you have no claims bonus, you may be better off claiming directly off the other driver. Your insurers will do so and take away your bonus if they can get away with it. The other party's insurers won't be able to deduct an excess either - though there is some risk that if they turn out to be uninsured or dodge the blame, you won't be able to go back to your insurers for a payout.



#10 greenmini1275

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Posted 15 April 2017 - 08:26 AM

I got smacked in the rear by a BMW Mini irionically, I had to have a complete new rear section, boot floor, boot lid, bumper, lights and number plate light. This was on a 1991 Neon, I thought it was going to be a write off and I had everything prepped and ready to go to save my Mini, but the Insurance Company, Churchill I believe, just repaired it, repainted the rear, even replaced my Badges and stuff and gave it me back. This was 5 years ago though, so it might be different now. After one of my old Minis was stolen and burnt out and the insurance Company gave me £175, I have never trusted insurance companies to not screw me over.

#11 7builder

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Posted 16 May 2017 - 02:44 PM

Situation Update:

 

The Mini has finally gone in to a body shop for a new wing, bumper and headlight after many weeks of wrangling and arguing. What swung it in my favour was when the third parties insurance finally admitted liability and my insurance company discovered that one of their approved repairers specialised in classic as well as modern cars. It hasn't been easy going as I was initially told that even a scratch on a car as old as the mini would render it a write off but I stuck to my guns and managed to get a favourable outcome in the end.

 

Next year it will be insured with a specialist insurer with an agreed value for sure.



#12 Woolfie 640

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Posted 19 May 2017 - 11:09 PM

Well done 7builder for sticking it out Too many classic cars have gone on to become baked beans cans due to the disposable mentality of insurance companies we are forced to deal with today.

#13 minidaves

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Posted 22 May 2017 - 06:07 PM

If not your fault claim of their insurance direct, and until agreed about repair don't let them take the car!!!!!




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