14 replies to this topic

[minidriverfiona]

Hey folks,
last thing I posted told of how Tiny had a fire under the bonnet, and was awaiting fixing. Well, my insurance company, Equity Red Star, have written her off without looking at her (they went by photos) and without getting quotes for the repairs!!!! They only gave me £1300 too, but I bought her back and am using the money to fix her myself. I wonder if this has happened to anyone else? It seems rather terrible considering the recent total restoration! I yelled at them down the phone but they would not budge. Apparently I have to have a vehicle ID check after repairs to prove it's still Tiny! It has all been very upsetting, booo.

[JohnGordon]

That's really horrible! I hope you can sort out poor tiny soon

[phil_clubman]

Hey folks,
last thing I posted told of how Tiny had a fire under the bonnet, and was awaiting fixing. Well, my insurance company, Equity Red Star, have written her off without looking at her (they went by photos) and without getting quotes for the repairs!!!! They only gave me £1300 too, but I bought her back and am using the money to fix her myself. I wonder if this has happened to anyone else? It seems rather terrible considering the recent total restoration! I yelled at them down the phone but they would not budge. Apparently I have to have a vehicle ID check after repairs to prove it's still Tiny! It has all been very upsetting, booo.

hey sorry to hear that. ive also had one written off by insurance company. they didnt even give me a chance to buy it back as they catagory B'd it so it ended up being cubed. good luck gettin her fixed though and back on the raod. hope it doesnt take too long

phil

[miniturbonutter]

Not the best news, but at least you've got it back!!

Edited by miniturbonutter, 03 November 2008 - 03:41 PM.

[jammiedodger26]

Sorry to hear that....at least you've got it back so you can make it even better!!

[Ethel]

Might be the better option, depending on the damage. You'll be able to sort wiring much cheaper than an auto sparkie. How much was the salvage, who pays for the ID check too?

[AGoaty]

The car will be catagorised.

You only need a VIC check when for catagory A or B.

If it's in C or D you shouldn't need one at all.

Just fix it and away you go.

[outcast]

You will need a Vic test on a cat C, A and B should never go back on the road.

[mab01uk]

This is an increasing problem with Minis long out of production and being considered low value old cars by mainstream Insurance companies and is why you should get an Agreed Value Classic Car insurance policy nowadays with the option to buy back salvage.

[Roo]

The car will be catagorised.

You only need a VIC check when for catagory A or B.

If it's in C or D you shouldn't need one at all.

Just fix it and away you go.

A and B categries is an instant crushing of the vehicle!

A VIC test is needed for both C and D Categories no matter what. It is technically not needed but it will cause problems with taxing the car (DVLA will not send out reminders and you cannot buy the tax disk online) and you will not be able to re-register it (i.e change onwership) if its not done.

After a write of you will need to get the MOT redone.

I've had my mini written off twice (three times technically) .. She is still on the Road... she is currently in the process of having her 3rd rebuild.

It is cheaper for insurance companies to now write off a mini than to repair it.. the market value foor mini is now about what you got for your mini. £1300 was what i was offered when Phoenix was written off last year.. because she is worth more than that and I had evidence of the previous valuation and payout they increased it for me.

Good luck in getting the mini fixed up!

Roo

[WiredbyWilson]

Cat D's don't need to be inspected, just a new MOT and away you go again, although it may well be noted on the V5 that it has been a total loss. Cat C means it has had structural damage of sorts and as such needs to be checked prior to it being relaesed to eb MOT'd and put back on the road.

My uncle buys a lot of Cat C and Cat D salvage and (to my knowledge) has never been asked to have a cat D inspected.

But he has also had 2 Cat B's put back on the road. The reason being is he bought the cars as cat C write-offs then the insurance Co changed the status. He had a long battle with the insurer and DVLA as he had paid to have it repaired etc etc and the insurer changed the class AFTER the sa;vage yard bought it from them.
All of my uncle's cars are repaired by an insurance approved bodyshop, and he has had comments about how good the repairs have been

I think what will happen is when you re-apply for the V5 post repairs you will get a letter from DVLA to say it needs to be inspected and then you have to arrange it and pay for it yourself. But if you just get the V5 back then insure it, MOT it, tax it and off you go

[minicooper1.3i]

I seriously hope you didn't just buy it back on the first letter without putting up a fight. Insurance companies are not the business for giving away money so you have to write and fight to get the full value of your car recognised.

Either way, I hope you get her back on the road quickly and have many more happy Mini miles

[minidriverfiona]

Might be the better option, depending on the damage. You'll be able to sort wiring much cheaper than an auto sparkie. How much was the salvage, who pays for the ID check too?

Yes it might work out ok!
I paid £175 for her, and I have to pay for the ID check!

[Sagey]

hi sorry to hear about this
did you get it valued before?
hope everything goes ok

[Mk1Jim]

If you had agreed value, taking into consideration that Tiny had just been restored, they probably wouldn't have written it off.

J