Lets not forget haggling, loss adjusters will agree to pay for the repair costs with out writing the car off, cheaper pay out, especially when the third party is to blame.

Did the guy that hit you Muzzy admit liability, I've not read anything?

I think so as the third party insurance company rang me today saying a assessor will be in touch soon.

Excellent, then it's in your favour

Don't know how they go about it in the UK, but the body shop around the corner (official insurance repairers) save cars by simply giving them a very good clean. Get the soap and water out, give it a polish and wax if you'd like, make sure it looks like a loved and cared for car, and you might get away with quite a higher value or 'not a write-off'.

Job for the morning then. Wash and a vac out.

Now what do I do? They are not sending a assessor they are just going to take it away! Does that mean I have to haggle on the phone?

Don't agree to letting them take it away, explain that it's your pride and joy, a collectors car and not some run of the mill mileage hack.

They need to send out a loss adjuster for this claim.

Don't let them take it!
You will probably not see it again if its removed from your property

Have they even seen a photo?

I'd not agree to letting them take it. It will be left in a car pound, probably with the windows left open and the stereo will end up going walkies...

No they haven't seen a photo! Woman on the phone said "it's a old car, you better empty it".

It's just fired up after sitting for a week and a half and the handbrake wasn't even locked on!

When they ring I'll ask them to send a assessor with them.

Poor coop!

Yes insist on having this seen by an assessor, if they give you any attitude ask to speak to someone higher.

This wasn't your fault, the 3rd party hit your car so they should be bending over backwards to resolve this issue.

What I was going to say.

Also tell them you're going to get a hire car and bill it to them. That should get them moving.

If you let them take it, they'll make it a Cat B and it'll end up crushed. Absolutely, definitely, do not let them take it, under any circumstances. There is no possible outcome in which you benefit if they take it.

A repeat of earlier comments - do NOT allow the car to be removed in advance of an official offer - you may never see it again

Rodger that.

The company taking the car doesn't send assessor's out. If I refuse to let them take the car they will take pictures and my hire car will be taken away?

They will assess the cost of repair and then the insurance company will send a assessor to look at it.

I don't have a choice!

Im confused. It's your car - surely it needs to be done on your terms. Can you're insurance company provide some assistance?

Do you want to fix it and get it back on the road - even if it's assesed as a CAT C/D...? That's the key question to ask yourself.

It's going to a garage.

which is the master key they are not javing it.

Big fat red one on the right.

Just seen her go. Kept the metal and master key.

Oh no

As long as it's officially your property, they can't do anything other than assess it. Have you taken pictures of its condition? If they do any additional damage... claim.

Personally, they would have got a kick in the teeth instead of being allowed to take it away.

"Old car"... I know it's very different, but what do they tell the owner of a 250 GTO?

PS - maybe you should get in touch with Emjay. And change insurance. I think this is a very good example why we all should go with specialist Insurance.

Am I going to have to tie myself to my crunched LE to stop them taking it away?! Is this normal procedure?

The problem is that I couldn't afford to fork out my 350 excess (I know I get it back but I just don't have it). It's Xmas after all so any spare money has gone on family prezzies. So I am going through the 3rd parties insurance instead of my own. BIG mistake I think.

I had a good chat with a nice lady from the garage. She was very reassuring.

A low loader came for it. They wanted me to drive it onto the hanger at the back as it already had a car on. After the eye watering sounds of the front bumper catching they decided to move the other car and let me drive mine onto the back of it.

It felt good to be behind the wheel of it after a week and a half of having a ix35 and now a b class 180.
It didn't feel sloppy or old, it just felt right. Oh and I'd forgotten how heavy the clutch was!

Fingers crossed for you Muzzynumber2.

Can you take a run up to the garage and take pics of it there in case they inflict any further grief on it?

If an assessor doesn't visit the third party insurance will still need an a garage report/quote for repair.
The garage will be an approved repairer for that insurance company so even though the car has gone you're still the owner until you and the insurance company come to an agreed settlement.

You've spoken to the garage so you now where the car is, be careful if you agree to buy the car back and ask the garage to delivery it back to your home address as sometimes they charge.

This is important. First, you need to come to an agreed value for your car (assuming they write it off and don't offer to repair), which probably means not agreeing their first offer; then you say you want to buy the salvage, which they normally offer at 10-15% of the value that you've agreed on. You may find yourself paying the transport to get it back, but you can use this as a bargaining chip, as you already told them you didn't want them to take it away.

Seasonal joyous times for Muzzynumber2 and I have it all to look forward too.

^ sarcasm.

And neither of us at fault either!

I have not even been offered a hire car as the insurance company said I 'have access to another car'! Even though that is on limited mileage and not always available to me.

Grrrr.

Unfortunately a number of companies no longer allow individuals to buy back their cars once they have been written off.

For this reason it is a good idea to go to a specialist insurer where you can buy a policy with agreed value and guaranteed salvage buyback.

Unfortunately this is not always possible, some insurers insist on it not being the only car you own for example and there will probably be annual mileage and overnight keeping restrictions.

Still worth looking into next time anyone needs to renew, but cold comfort for Muzzynumber2 and anyone else in his position.