Is it a write off

[tp50]

hi all,
My first time on here. I have an Audi A4 avant quattro B8 and someone crashed into my car going ~20mph while my car was stationary. I did all the insurance admin but suddenly a company got in touch with my wife to pick it up tomorrow for salvage (with no consultation) due to it being a write off. Nobody asked for pictures and i would rather my car was saved rather than squashed or used for parts. Can anybody tell me whether the pictures attached indicate it is a write off? Thanks in advance. Tom

 

[Charlie Farley]

cost of repair versus the market value of the car, your ins company may have calculated it as not a viable repair, but thats not to say you cant buy it off them etc.

 

[tp50]

cost of repair versus the market value of the car, your ins company may have calculated it as not a viable repair, but thats not to say you cant buy it off them etc.

Thanks for your response. It had an engine rebuild after about 70k miles due to the oil consumption issue with B8s, which made me think it would run for a lot longer and be of more value. But without any pics or a conversation they wouldn't know how much the repair would cost and i would assume they wouldn't know about the engine rebuld.

 

[Charlie Farley]

Sounds a bit odd, worth a second opinion then really, and don't accept any offers just yet.

 

[spartacus68]

There are YouTube channels I watch such as Serious about Salvage or Saving Salvage. Some of the repairs run into thousands of pounds, between sourcing parts, stripping, fitting and painting.

Looking at this, without really seeing the true extent of the damage (such as where the wing attaches) then you’ll need a door, wing, possible headlight bracket (if it’s loose) and some feathering on the bonnet. Getting parts in colour is the way to go too. There’s also the possibility of suspension damage, but you’ll need to take the front o/s wheel off to inspect. See what the insurance come back with, and there’s always the option you buy it back and repair yourself If you're spanner handy.

 

[NHN]

Yeap can see how they wrote that of, parts these days are sooo expensive & that is an expensive repair just on parts let alone paint & labour, it's as stated, cost of repair against market value, those pics backup there decision.

Stripping that down takes long enough tbh.

 

[mister.c.]

Speak to the insurance company writing it off; they will explain exactly why they are assessed it, and you can take it forward with them, albeit as you have seen they work quickly to sell it on. Not surprised it is a write off, although we don't know how old your car is, how many miles etc, and what value the insurance company put on the car and the repairs, its a bit of guesswork.

When I was in a similar situation I was told repairs 65%+ of their value of the car, and they would immediately write it off. Likely lower if they felt it would take time to repair and extra costs of things like hire cars or other fees rack up. The costs to repair in the quote I felt were massive as well. Every part is new and with warranty, so the cost for simple repairs runs into thousands. E.g. a new bumper was £500+vat, when in reality it just needed a bit of mending and cost me £100 to be repaired from the garage which ultimately repaired the whole car, at less than 30% of what the insurance assessors report quote to repair was.

Good luck and keep us up to date.

 

[Gazwould]

Cat S

 

[tp50]

The guy on the phone was incorrect. It was being picked up by salvage company but not fully decided yet that it is a write off. The guy on the phone said it was being salvaged, so he was wrong. They have now picked it up. My worry with it being written off is that i will receive a paltry sum and have to add additional money to buy the same car and there isn't a lot of choice on the market. Then they will sell the car and keep the money. Thanks everyone for all your replies. I will update the thread, when it is over. Just for reference it is a Audi A4 Avant Quattro 117k miles, 2010, petrol, manual, with a recent rebuilt engine. Autrotrader quotes this as £4,340 if i sold it.

 

[Booboo]

My son had his golf written off like this and picked up for salvage as the boot was crimped up and rear ¼ was bent. A check on vehicle smart app and it was back on the road shortly after !

 

[Jcbmally]

The guy on the phone was incorrect. It was being picked up by salvage company but not fully decided yet that it is a write off. The guy on the phone said it was being salvaged, so he was wrong. They have now picked it up. My worry with it being written off is that i will receive a paltry sum and have to add additional money to buy the same car and there isn't a lot of choice on the market. Then they will sell the car and keep the money. Thanks everyone for all your replies. I will update the thread, when it is over. Just for reference it is an Audi A4 Avant Quattro 117k miles, 2010, petrol, manual, with a recent rebuilt engine. Autrotrader quotes this as £4,340 if i sold it.

Do a bit of research for a like for like car. Don’t accept the first offer if it falls below the price of a replacement. My daughter went through this with her Fiesta and she provided examples of like for like cars. In the end the insurance company raised their offer and that was enough for my daughter to buy the replacement.