Can anyone explain my options with my car which has been written off as uneconomical to repair?

[firetracie]

I went into the back of another car on Friday night and my insurance company arranged for their local approved repairer to look at it. They've deemed it uneconomical to repair - their estimate is over £1,000, but it would be as they'll be quoting the top rates.
Can anyone tell me what my options may be? I'm waiting for the insurance company to contact me with a write off price but someone has told me I could 'buy it back' and get it fixed myself. Someone else has said I could do a deal with them not to write it off but settle for a lower payout towards the repairs and then get it fixed. I've also been told that until we agree a settlement I'm still insured and legal to drive it - it is safe to drive - so could take it round to a few garages to get some quotes. I've also been told that I will need to get it tested before I can put it on the road again - is that an MOT? Any advice you can give would be great - I'm lost. Thanks all

[ummmm]

My car was written off (not by me) but it was all panel damage. The insurance paid out £500 less than the book value and let us keep it. Luckily we had a car repair business at the time so I got it fixed for nothing.

Legal to drive it...that would depend whether it's road worthy. Just because it has an MOT doesn't make it safe. If you're stopped and it's deemed to be unsafe you could get prosecuted for it.

Also...car repair is an expensive business. What looks like minor damage can cost a small fortune.

[chas2008]

just to put you straight,as an approved repairer the insurance companys control the labour rates,parts prices,paint costs and the estimates are done on a computer system, they certainly wont & CANT quote top labour rates, average mechanical repair rate = £65.00+ per hour, bodyshop rate £25.00 per hour on a good day and for this we have to supply a courtesy car and valet free of charge earn little or no profit on parts, and in some instances have to give 10% discount on top of that
The chances are if you start taking it around local garages the labour rate/costs could easily be higher as the insurance company has no control over them.

[Davethedog]

How old is your car and how much damage. Even in our ever inflationary times £1,000 is a big repair.

I had a new passat a woman reversed into the side of the car did the rear door, rear panel and bent the sill, that was "only" £700 +Vat

[Nosha123]

Not sure if it still works the same.. but I had a fiesta that was declared the same after an accident - nothing structural wrong.

They paid out £1000 then I bought it back for next to nothing and repaired it myself (at a cheap garage) and made a profit on it.

Eventually the car was sold on to someone else.

Though you may have problems selling it on depending on if they find out or not!

Good Luck