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My Alfa is "write off" according to may insurer... :(

3K views 43 replies 21 participants last post by  andycupra 
#1 · (Edited)
#2 ·
Sorry to hear that. ****ers. You can get a quote for repair from a body shop that uses non OEM 2nd hand parts, present that to your insurer and see if they go for it. Always worth arguing the value is higher.

Or just take the money, minus salvage and buy a new bonnet. Your car will be a cat d but I'm assuming its resale value is not massive?

What does it need, just a bonnet? Can probably buy one in red dirt cheap from a breakers?
 
#4 ·
Do it! And if worst comes to worst and you have to write it off remember it's a non-fault claim so they should give you the value of the car, less scrappage, and you still keep the car.
 
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#9 ·
Insurance WRITE OFF should be definitely described in insurance rules. Normally it is applied than estimated damage repair cost involved are higher than some prescribed percent of insurance value ( total value of car ). This percent should be about 75-85% depends on insurer rules. So if car is not expensive and dedicated bonnet replace cost match to write off ratio it would be a case. But this case total value of the car is to be paid and car title is to be transferred to insurer together with car.
Also agree that to repair bonnet as above is not a problem in all for body repair specialist.
 
#11 ·
Yes, despite anything the insurers may say to the contrary, even with 'Protected No-Claims', if a claim is made it will almost certainly load future premiums.

So you have to weigh up whether to claim, or just bite the bullet and pay for the remedy yourself.

I haven't used Dent Wizard-type guys for some time, but I should imagine about £100 for them to sort it, and possibly a similar amount should you choose to source a new bonnet from a Breakers'.
 
#13 ·
To write it off repairs only need to be expected to be 60% of the car value, in this case you can imagine the cost of a brand new bonnet to be fitted, and resprayed to match adds up quickly,

If they let you retain salvage, normally you only will be paying 10% of the car value.

I'd think about it before claiming as you'll have a 'fault' claim bumping up your premiums for the next 3 yrs. That along with your excess.
 
#14 · (Edited)
If I were you I wouldn't claim on your insurance.
Even though it it a non-fault claim, it is still a claim and will affect your premium at renewal.
Also you will have a claims excess...maybe only £150, but maybe £350.
Then the insurance company will arrange for your car to be taken away and assessed.
You will either pay for the the whole repair, or most of the cost from your excess.
They may even write the car off...it doesn't take that much as an insurance company will whack up the cost of repair, and generally value your car for less than you would think.
You could probably get that damage repaired for less than your excess...without claiming.

Insurance really is for major damage...not small dents dings and scuffs.

Someone hit my wife's 156 and drove off when it was parked in our drive...thankfully just needed a rattle can kit and bumper realignment which I could do myself...cost me £30 for the aerosol kit. If I had claimed, the insurance company would have had the car taken away...and quite possibly written off...then I would have had to buy back the salvage and still fix it myself. With excess and salvage value I would probably have received nothing except loss of no claims bonus from the insurance company...
Thankfully it wasn't my 166 as that has iridescent paint which can't be matched with rattle cans....but even in that case it wouldn't have been worth claiming, I would have paid to have the bumper repaired at a professional bodyshop.
 
#16 ·
ah...I didn't realise that the OP had already claimed...ouch!
Oh well, just to hope that his no-claims bonus is protected, he has a low excess, and the insurance company give him a good write-off value and a low salvage value....to much to hope for probably so it maybe a painful claim....
 
#17 ·
The claim could be withdrawn, but the million dollar question would be how they settle it.

If the claim is an "accident", it will be settled 'NCB Allowed'... which will have very little affect. However if it is settled as "Vandalism" it is likely to be rated as "Fault" regardless of if a claim resulted or not :(
 
#18 ·
No... Insurance is business to earn.
WriteOff value would be low and salvage value counterway high as usual...
Always wonder how they having worked. Than you get money reimburse it is always not enough to make proper repair and some extra are needed to be paid on. If you get reimburse by repair you always disappointed with money missed than sign the bill for approval.
:grumpy:
 
#25 ·
Most body shops won't even think about PDR, it's a specialist service that undermines their core business. They have panel beaters, painters and spray booths to support. One of my sons works for one, as an extremely good painter, doing a mix of insurance and high-end classic restoration and custom. He is fully trained at smart repairs as well, c/o a previous job, but they don't offer it. Nobody does PDR there either. I think you should talk to a PDR specialist, I'd be surprised if that damage cannot be fixed for half the price of panel replacement and respray. There might be damage, say to bracing underneath, that makes that a bad idea, but a PDR bloke would advise.
 
#20 ·
Depends upon market. To paint single bonnet one side my area is GBP100, standard paint included. To paint bonnet together with some other elements is prorate cheaper. Bonnet repair as above is paid add on. It is not complicated in fact. It is done by so called "back hammer" where touch points are welded and push it back. My local 147"ers market price starts from GBP2000,/car cheapest. That is why one need really "something" to reach write off ratio. Anyway if write off price is adequate to market and car itself means nothing special I would get rid car off. 147 is not SZ or Alfetta to cry about it. Sorry for truth which is naked in fact for me.
 
#27 · (Edited)
#30 ·
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