Insurance settlement help needed

**Mrs Moss** · 26-05-2012, 11:33am

DH wrote our car off last weekend. They caught me on the hop when I was asked how much I thought the car was worth and have called today with a low ball offer - about half what a similar spec car would cost.

TBH I'm miffed because they keep calling DH to discuss everything when the car is registered in my name and the insurance policy is held by me.

How do I negotiate this? I've never had an accident, let alone written a car off so I've no idea. Also they will take the replacement car back 48 hrs after issuing the cheque which will be a nightmare as we'll have no car and a derisory amount to put towards a replacement.

Any help or experience of this would be much appreciated.

**Velvet Chain** · 26-05-2012, 11:54am

You need to give them proof that you cannot buy the car that you had for the money that they are offering, also send them the work receipts that you have for your car as it shows that your car was well looked after and any recent pictures where it is in shot looking well looked after.

I had this when I wrote a car off many years ago (not my fault, bus on wrong side of road!)...they offered me around 50% of what my car was worth, it took some negotiating but I eventually got them up to around 80% which was really good. They don't give you the full market value.

**Velvet Chain** · 26-05-2012, 11:56am

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/CARS/buy...e_your_car.jsp

If you put your information on your car in here, it comes up with a rough value of your car which will help you with the insurance company

**Velvet Chain** · 26-05-2012, 12:03pm

http://www.parkers.co.uk/

Another one - this one is used a lot by insurance companies ( or at least used to be), you have to pay for the service around £3 to get the figures for your make and model, but it will give you and accurate representation of how much your car is worth.

It is actually good that they are giving you 48 hours after they have issued the cheque, a lot of companies offer 24 hours at this point, so the extra day is handy. If I were you, before they have issued the cheque, start lookign for a replacement car so that you can purchase it pretty much straight away when you have the cheque.

**Mrs Moss** · 27-05-2012, 10:00pm

Thanks Velvet Chain - your advice has been invaluable. I've paid for an online valuation and emailed them the details and to say I don't agree with their valuation (and that they should have been speaking to me as I'm the registered keeper!).

I hope they will negotiate.

Thanks once again

- will let you know how I get on.