Categry C write-off

Off-topic
1

I know it means
“Repairable salvage. Generally applies to older vehicles. Can be sold for repair but must now have VIC inspection.
Recorded at DVLA & HPI.”
But what impact will that have?

Reason why I’m asking is that my solicitors have asked a company to inspect my scoot. The report came back:

  • Repair estimate: £1284 inc VAT
  • Value of bike: £800 + £25 salvage

Now, the other party hasn’t admitted liability yet, so I don’t know if I’m going to get this, but my solicitor has asked me to agree, or not, with the valuation report. She reckons “Unfortunately it will not be possible to challenge the valuation unless there is a real prospect of exceeding it by at least 15% …”
Now, I personally reckon the repair estimate is a tat high (£600 of that is labour). I reckon to get the bodywork sorted would be nearer to £1000. The value of the bike is a bit low, as in I don’t think I could find one in decent mechanical order (mine had engine rebuild) for less than £950/1000, and salvage value is a bit a joke. The engine alone should sell for £200+ I would think.

So, in a way, I’m thinking taking the £800 but keeping the bike may be my “best” option. In that case I think I would want to get it fixed. I’m going to be out of pocket either way.
But if I would do that, what would the implications be of having a bike that was once written off CAT C. What does VIC inspection mean, is it expensive and will it have further impact on things like insurance?

I’m a bit lost … Craching sucks!

2

Don’t accept the first offer!

If nothing else, search the internet, obviously ebay but more important, the classified ads. particularly dealers and gather evidence that the bike value is wrong.

Try to get that offer raised by printing off evidence. (Keep copies of everything.)

Forget the 15% rubbish, any mis valuation can be challenged. Remember several things:

1 If you are an innocent party, the law expect that you should not be disadvantaged. (i.e. Be out of pocket.)

2 Keep an accurate record of costs you incur as a direct result of being without your scoot. Keep receipts if you can get them. you may well be able to claim them back at some point.

3 Get alternative quotes for a rebuild. Not easy given the insurance company “preferred repairers” arrangement. (Read stitch up.)

4 Never, repeat, never let go of the log book and proof of ownership till you get paid out. Just give people photo copies and tell them to f… off if they insist on originals. They only want those so that they can sell out the salvage from underneath you.

5 If your sure you can repair the damage for less than the payout, make retaining the bike as part of the payout but make sure all storage costs are being paid by the insurance company, not you.

6 Remember, it will not have been stored well. It could be a crock by the time you get it back.

Last: If your sure you are the innocent party, hard nose it. If (and be honest with yourself) it’s a 50/50 or worse, go for the best deal you can get.

Don’t accept the first offer. Insurance companies are always looking to cut their losses. It’s where the expression comes from!

Oh, solicitors ain’t gods. They want a case off their books pdq as well.

Good luck. Oldguy.

3

Thanks for the advice.
The problem is, this isn’t an offer. Basically, this is my legal representative who instructed an independend engineer to value the damage & bike so that they can forward this to the 3rd party insurance. The 3rd party hasn’t admitted liability yet, so they’re not offering anything yet.
I just spoke to the solicitor. Basically if I challenge the valuation, I need to proof this and pay for a second engineer to value it. She says they won’t consider unless it’s more than a 15% increase.
With this particular type of bike, it’s very difficult, and went through the same when my old one was stolen. It’s a 25 year old bike with no real “classic” status yet. They sell from anything between £500-£2000+, so it’s difficult for a non-specialist independed engineer to appreciate the value. They say they will take into account if I can proof it has been restored, which it hasn’t, but I spent the best part of £500 having the engine rebuild and on a new top end. They will class that a service cost, which doesn’t count.
It’s really sad, but I think my best shot will be to accept the valuation in the hope I will be able to make £200-300 on parts breaking it, which I’m quite confident will be possible. But they can’t guarantee that they will let me keep the salvage, only that in 99% of the cases they do.

I really hate this. I know I should have insured it on an agreed value policy.

As for storage. It’s parked up in front of my house at the moment, so free. But I’m moving it into a lockup soon, so hopefully it’ll be dry and safe there.
Oh, and I am keeping receipts of my train tickets, but I can’t wait to get back on a bike again. The doctor said it’ll be another 4-6 weeks at least though :frowning:

4

Best of luck, hope things work out for you.

Your right about the agreed value thing though. But I never quite trust insurance companies to honour even that, but then I have a very jaded view of the industry.

Oldguy

“Learn something now. Insurance is for paying, not for claiming.”
My old man 50 years ago when I had my first new bike stolen.

5

Everything the OldGuy says is correct here. Let them value it initially, WHEN liability is established, then you can show evidence to the contrary. If it goes against you, then you get to buy your bike back cheaply and repair it( if you are fully comp)- swings and roundabouts;)

6

Thanks guys.
I’ve got TPFT only on the scoot. In fact, I wanted tp only, but for some bizarre reason, Carol Nash could offer me a TPFT policy for cheaper than the 3rd party only.
After having claimed for a theft on a £900 scooter, I worked out it’s cheaper not too. By the the time you extract your excess and add the increase in insurance the next years (not just bike, but also car), I worked out it would have been better not to claim.

7

Join the club.

I had my fully sorted Baghira SM stolen 12/06. The much more civilised (dammit) but slower (double dammit) Aprilia Peg. Trail costs 50% more to insure and the car insurance whent up 20%. How’s that work?

Oh, yeah. It’s insurance.

Oldguy.