Hi, I had an accident last November. Insurance wrote car off because they said it was not economical to repair it. We were allowed to keep the car (low mileage and very expensive reg. plate on it), the insurance paid us an additional £4,000, and no longer wanted to insure it when the renewal was due about a month later. It was classed as N I think for future insurance purposes. We had all the damage repaired, plus a new cam belt, full service and MOT, and repair to some previous damage for £1,200 at a local one man garage (the insurers' garage said damage repair would be £6,000!!!). The car was insured with Hastings for less than our previous insurer. I seriously wonder how some insurance companies stay in business, and why they don't use the smaller garages for their repairs. So yes the car can be an insurance write off, and still legally be on the road. I am surprised your insurer was not aware of this (even if you weren't) when you first insured with them.