[wallsendmag]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lolance (original)

I am absolutely ****ing myself now about the call I'm gonna get from the insurance company post inspection. The car was 17k+ brand spanking new and only 11 weeks old ...surely it hasn't lost 5 grand in that time?? (matt21)

Gap insurance only works after the first year?? B*ST*RDS!!

Scrogg was saying something about the insurance company giving me a brand new car as a replacement if written off, will Direct Line give me a brand new Mini, same spec then??

Again, thanks for all the replies and help you've given me. Hope others have learnt as I have!

Gonna need to print it all off and highlight, dyslexia doesn't allow me to read this much help on a white screen!

Gap insurance only works after the first year because normally your insurance company will replace the car with a new one inside the first year.

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lolance (original)

Scrogg was saying something about the insurance company giving me a brand new car as a replacement if written off, will Direct Line give me a brand new Mini, same spec then??

You'll need to check with Direct Line to see what their exact policy is, but generally 'new for old' means you get back what you paid for the car, rather than an identical car.

It's up to you whether you order another one or go for something different.

[Lolance]

Reading over the docs from Direct Line and chatting to the assessor, it's, they will replace the car with one of the exact same model and make (same spec) if the estimate cost is 60% or over.
Everyone, check your insurance docs! It's too late after an accident!

Obviously, the estimate can be negotiated so there's a chance Maurice will be saved!!
He needs to be RDS checked (suspension etc...) before a final estimate is made. Fingers crossed...

[Woody'sCooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lolance (original)

The car was 17k+ brand spanking new and only 11 weeks old ...surely it hasn't lost 5 grand in that time?? (matt21)

Its possible is they are being particularly difficult.

That sort of loss takes into account the VAT, first reg fee, delivery to dealer, road fund license etc etc that can never be recouped when you sell a car. In essence, they are offering what you would see if you part-exchanged your MINI

[Hugo]

Its sickening tbh they'll give you bottom book for it.

Plus with the specs of Minis confuses things. For example;

My Mini Cooper Pepper was actually better specced than a stock Chilli. Non Mini dealer where giving me a trade value for a pepper tho I was getting £1200 more for it at a Mini Dealer due them understanding the spec, if that makes sense.

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lolance (original)

Reading over the docs from Direct Line and chatting to the assessor, it's, they will replace the car with one of the exact same model and make (same spec) if the estimate cost is 60% or over.
Everyone, check your insurance docs! It's too late after an accident!

Obviously, the estimate can be negotiated so there's a chance Maurice will be saved!!
He needs to be RDS checked (suspension etc...) before a final estimate is made. Fingers crossed...

Ignore me if I'm wrong or I've mis-understood, but that's wright isn't it, and what everyone has been suggesting.

If the damage comes under the 60% value (write-off mark) of the car, it will be repaired & you'll get him back .

If the damage / cost of repair hits the 60% value (write-off mark) of the car, it will be classed as a write-off and you'll get a settlement, the price you paid for your MINI originally, which you can either spend on replacement MINI, same as you just lost, with it being so new, or they may (not sure on this one) get you to order a new MINI to that price and they (your insurance) will pay for it , or you can buy what you want with it, bearing in mind you may have to settle any finance with the money or does everything get transfered if you buy a new one (MINI) if that's what you're doing (again not sure on this).

I may be wrong on this point (this comment only refers to new cars less than 12 mths old), if your damaged car doesn't hit the write-off mark, your insurance will repair it for you and you'll get it back repaired, I know "Lolances's" damage is pretty serious but if a car is damaged that doesn't reach the write-off point, this could be anything from a slight altercation with a dust-bin (little bit of a graze, a couple off damaged panels) up to something similar to "Lolances's" damage (a full side) surely they wouldn't replace it, or refund you the price of the car no matter how new it is for a little bit of a graze, I could understand someone being able to do it if the damage was 100% a third party's fault, then possible they could have a point and demand a replacement car if it was damaged to under the write-off mark (possibly) .

"Lolance" you've already said earlier that the dealer has said the repair would be roughly £9,300, so if your car is worth £17,000, then around £10,000 would be approx 60%, which is what people have been saying .

Quote: Originally Posted by South Shore Lad (original)

As it creeps towards ten grand's worth of damage, it's looking like a write-off at the moment though.

The problem with reading the clause's & small print in insurance papers is, it's like the exam they used to do at school, teacher stands up in front of the class and says "turn the page over & start", everyone does, the 1st line says read through all the questions before you start, most people ignore it and start writing, a couple actually read through the paper and #20 of 20 actually says ignore #1 - #19, take a break and watch all your class mates work .

Quite funny, but I find that my insurance documents are like that (not so funny), after reading what your covered for (already confusing & unclear) the last clause voids all the previous resulting in a call to the insurance .

This original post by "matt21" (post=matt21), which was just a guesstimate to start with,
prompted in this quote by "Lolance" (post=Lolance),
which then prompted in this quote by "Woody'sCooper" (post=Woody'sCooper) 2 post up or down, depending on how you have your settings .

The two above quotes by "Lolance" & "WoodysCooper" are flawed because of the original guess by "matt21".

Your MINI will have dropped in value as soon as you drove it out of the showroom and "WoodysCoopers's" comment is correct / valid, apart from the part-exchange comment, but from what I can gather your insurance are going to pay you out for a replacement car (if it's a write-off) so any fees incurred when buying a new car should be covered in the payout, the road fund licence (road TAX) I'm not to sure about as it has been used, if this isn't covered, once you know your MINIs being replaced you can get a refund from the DVLA for the complete months left and put this towards your new road fund licence (road TAX), as road TAX isn't normally included in an insurance pay-out.

I may be wrong in some of my comments as I've never ever bought a brand new car .

[Lolance]

erm...

They will replace the car with one of the same make/model/spec if the car is written off. They will request the original spec either off me or the dealership.
If I choose not to accept a brand new car off them, I can take the money (which is what the car was worth, market value, before the accident).

Therefore, it is better for me to take the new Mini (if Maurice is written off ) if I wish to continue on my Mini adventure. Otherwise, I would lose out on a grand or so (guestimate, please do not quote me).

I think...!!

Remember, this is with Direct Line and will differ to other insurance companies.

Does this clarify anything Randall?

[Randall Raines]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVERYONE

Yes!.... That's what I was thinking some of the comments on the figures got me a little confused (not unusual), I can start the New Year with a clear head now, almost! (everyone in our house is ill, ill, not hang-over ill ) .

I know that Trade Insurance Policies give you bottom book, trade value when a car is written-off (not sure on new cars under a year though), if it's your own car, if it's a customers car you get paid out the full market value, it's just a clause, compromise, agreement in a trade policy between the policy holder & insurance company so that you can drive almost any car (no matter what mods it has, depending on the policy), and as yours will be a private policy you should be paid out full value (as you will be), as it was so new I wouldn't have thought that they could give you bottom book price (saying it was tatty, a rough car, it will have been almost showroom condition, I know they may knock a little of if you accepted the money option).

[Lolance]

Written off In the end, the KDS check did NOT go well suspension was out, needed a complete reshell, been classed as category B as a write off. Maurice will not live on...

Been offered £16, 725 (not including my optional extras, could go up??), only lost £400 since October.

Or a new car...oh, the possibilities!?

[S8RAH]

RIP Maurice- so sad. Look at it this way Lolance, he gave his life to save yours, he deserves a medal.

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lolance (original)

Written off In the end, the KDS check did NOT go well suspension was out, needed a complete reshell, been classed as category B as a write off. Maurice will not live on...

Been offered £16, 725 (not including my optional extras, could go up??), only lost £400 since October.

Or a new car...oh, the possibilities!?

Oh no!

Will you have another MINI?

[airbusA346]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lolance (original)

Written off In the end, the KDS check did NOT go well suspension was out, needed a complete reshell, been classed as category B as a write off. Maurice will not live on...

Been offered £16, 725 (not including my optional extras, could go up??), only lost £400 since October.

Or a new car...oh, the possibilities!?

What a shame

Go for the new car.

[Woody'sCooper]

In many ways that was probably the best outcome for you.

And also anything you wish you'd specced on your last MINI, you can now spec on the next one!!

[Phil Craddock]

Hi Lawrence- I agree with Woody, if they repaired it you will always be listening for rattles and squeeks that weren't there before!!!

Go for a new car then you have Maurice 2, hey sounds like a cool website name...maurice2.com !!!

good luck with what ever you decide matey.


Phil

[Randall Raines]

"Lolance" you can also be happy in the fact that a Cat B is for spares only, so although Maurice has departed he wont have departed in-vain as his parts will no-doubt help other MINIs to be saved from the scrap-heap, that categorising can be a bit of a joke at times, because although I have only seen the pics of your damage, I have seen cars (MINIs) with far worse damage than that, that have been classed as a repairer, although the insurance has decided not to repair them .

[Lolance]

Of course I'm going to go for another MINI!!

Don't wanna get another Astro Black, would remind me too much of Maurice

And I was told I could spec another vehicle up and then pay the excess. So I could add some more stuff on...

Spent the whole day so far mulling over options. This is not good...

[J1JPE]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lolance (original)

Of course I'm going to go for another MINI!!

Don't wanna get another Astro Black, would remind me too much of Maurice

And I was told I could spec another vehicle up and then pay the excess. So I could add some more stuff on...

Spent the whole day so far mulling over options. This is not good...

Good luck with prompt delivery on the new MINI

You might wanna check how long you can have a hire car for vs delivery time for new spec ... sure some co's take it back once write-off is agreed !!

May be a quicker option to get a 'new' dealer showroom model ...

[Lolance]

So guys, just a quick post to finish it all off!

The car was written off, have attached some pics of it when it was at the bodyshop.
As you can see, the damage doesn't look too bad. One picture I didn't have of, was the underside. When I went off, something (very hard, must've been the concrete slab I saw there) hit the underside of the car. What I didn't know was that the slab broke the plastic trim on the underside of the car and bent the metal. The floor was buckled and needed replacing. The car needed a total reshell
If the floor was okay, the car would've been fixed. As you can see from the pics, it was bonnet, bumpers, xenon light unit, roof, near side passenger quarter, passenger door, far side passenger quarter and rear darkened glass window.
The insurance engineer said the car was written off because he thought the more that was taken off the car, the more that would've been discovered and would've needed to be replaced. And that he wouldn't personally drive the car after the amount of work that it (could've) needed.

Insurance wise, I've been quite lucky. Received a cheque in the post from Direct Line, waiting for a cheque from GAP insurance who have topped up the rest (it covers half your excess, £250 for me, but doesn't pay for plates/fuel or TLC). So, it does count in the first year guys!
I chose the money instead of the new car option, because I could've ordered a new car (with new improved spec ) with quicker delivery times and guaranteed colours (they say you need to give them first and second choice colours, and don't we all know that MINI owners don't settle for second choice! ) from my local dealer. Plus, I have a very good relationship with my sales department and wanted to give them some more commission

Ordered the new one last Monday, was called on Wednesday to say it was going straight into build, will come on the 10/12th February! (Apologies to those who have waited a long time for their MINI's...)
Waiting for the 1st March for new plates and some dealer fit options...

Hope this tidies everything up and helps anyone else out there!

Lawrence

RIP Maurice

[FergusM]

Hpoe you added DSC this time

[feybrand]

sorry to hear of your accident glad no one was hurt athough you got given enough to buy another mini its never quite the same however it means you can change bits you didnt like and get the extras you wanted so ever y cloud has a silver lining and i put money on it that youre driving sensibly