I have just called my insurance company, who by the by thus far have been excelent. I have not had to claim off them, but there level of service is excellent, and this year i have had 3 cars in total and each time they changed the policy without a fuss.

But then i called about the Fabia. Explained the model and it was a 2005 car. With that she said i must advice we can only give market value for the car. As in not

I thought most insurers would replace with a brand new car if they write-off one less than 12 months old?

Thats where the Gap insurance comes in. I was in a similar state when I had my Smart car, it cost me

That is what i thought. Evidently not always the case. Any recomendations on decent insurers for young (ish) drivers ?

So the point is that if i picked up my shiney new car and rolled out of the showroom all excited and pulled out infront of an artic who mashed the car, i would be well out of pocket by nearly 20%.

That's how much value the car will lose by leaving the forecourt though - so they're going to pay what the car's worth, not how much it cost you, otherwise everyone would have a field day claiming they paid

"GAP Plus (Return to Invoice)

This covers the difference between the amount paid by your insurance company and the cash purchase price paid for your vehicle, up to a maximum of

There is my answer. How much is it out of interest ?

Think it's something like

I think they told me it was about

Have a look at this company, they only seem to do GAP http://www.portwood.co.uk/GAP_insurance.htm

I just read the smallprint on that page...

Exclusions :

This insurance does not cover any claim:

where the Total Loss is not subject to an indemnity under the accidental damage, fire or theft sections of Your Motor Insurance

in respect of any excess deducted under Your Motor Insurance

where the Total Loss arises as a consequence of war, riot or civil commotion

where the Total Loss is caused by an accident when the driver of Your Vehicle is under the influence of alcohol or drugs not prescribed by a registered medical practitioner, or drugs prescribed by a registered medical practitioner in respect of which a warning against driving is given.

in respect of any loss of use of your vehicle or any consequential loss of any kind

where the Total Loss occurs outside the Territorial limits

which is the subject of fraud or

where the Total Loss is covered by any other insurance or warranty

....and....

is at any time during the Period of Insurance used for road racing, rallying, pace making, speed testing or anyother competitive event or is driven by any person not holding a valid current licence to drive a vehicle of the class of your vehicle.

has been modified other than in accordance with the manufacturer's specification

Now, I'm not too hot on legal jargon personally, but I reckon that excludes most things that would cause total loss doesn't it? :confused:

It looks like fairly standard for all insurances.

Seems they wont pay out if it is already covered by someone else (understandably) and war and things like that are never covered on any insurance.

Gap insurance or not , your insurance company would have to make a sufficient payment to allow you to purchase a car of the same type and condition as the written off one minus any excess.

If they refuse to do so they you can take them to court , and would win

Yeah but if you dont have those types of car available second hand (which a new car rolled off forecourt would be) with such few miles and a new reg number. It makes it hard to agree a figure.

I had the problem on my Smart that mine was one of the first right hand drives and so there were no equivalents.

Another very important question for the insurance company - "What is your policy on accident repairs, such as bodywork?" Most of the lazy sods will have a local bloke who will repair your car, because he is cheaper than using a Skoda franchise. The result is a perfectly repaired car, but becase it was done by (maybe) a non-Skoda approved workshop, you immediately lose your 10-year bodywork warranty!

I personally think it is disgusting that we have to pay for gap insurance. Dont we already pay enough sodding money to these pirates in the first place?

Replacements should be like for like or an equal monetary amount. End of story. If they cant do that then the insurance system in this country needs some serious overhauling.

i am/was with admiral, brought 03 Ford Focus for

I refuse to buy Gap, when I bought my 2nd hand Fabia recently. I knew, after 3 years, I would keep thinking "I wish someone hit my car badly RIGHT NOW!!!", if I had Cap covered.

I personally think it is disgusting that we have to pay for gap insurance. Dont we already pay enough sodding money to these pirates in the first place?

Replacements should be like for like or an equal monetary amount. End of story. If they cant do that then the insurance system in this country needs some serious overhauling.

The problem (in this case) *isn't* the insurance company...it's the government who are charging you VAT on the purchase of your car. As such, this 17.5% will be lost value once you take delivery.

So the replacement *is* like for like, and of equal monetary value. Find a car which has just be driven off the forecourt brand new and with delivery miles, and you will be able to buy that for the amount the insurance company gives you in recompense for a car which you've just written off having driven it off the forecourt.

Rob.

I am insured by Hill House HAmmond who gave me 12 months where, if i had the car written off they would buy a new one. Only two noths left now to get a new car if it gets totaled!!!

Hmmmmm...

are you sure admiral don't replace the car with a new one if its less than a year old? I thought all insurance companies did this?

Skoda insurance will replace your car with new if wrote off in the first year of ownership, any other claims are always dealt with by skoda aproved repair centres. I have my octy on cover with them and can honestly say they were one of the cheapest (equal to directline). Be intresting to see how im treated if i make a claim (hopefully wont have to find out).