I am finding out tomorrow if my 51 plate Octy VRS with 35k on the clock is a right off or repairable. I was wondering what sort of price I'm likely to get from my insurance company if they decide it's for the scrappy?

It is standard apart from reversing sensors and was in excellent condition with full Skoda service history.

Insurance companies are stingy at this sort of thing. Dont accept their first offer whatever you do, get a local Autotrader etc. and find ads of similar cars. If they get stroppy you can send these to them to back up your claim for more money.

I had a look on-line tonight and there really isn't alot out there for same speck, mileage, condition etc. Just wondering how close to the likes of Parker's Price Guide do they offer.

Ask your dealer how much they would ask if it were on their forecourt, after all, you will be replacing it with another Skoda of course. If you can get it in writing to send to the insurance company, so much the better.

AndyC

Have a read of the article below in the ombudsman news about Motor insurance - vehicle valuations. It should tell you most of what you need to know when dealing with your insurer.

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/22/issue-22-motorinsurance.htm

Very interesting reading indeed. From some of the examples it isn't very clear where the insurance company gets it's first offer from but sticking to your guns does seem to get reasonable rewards!

I will enquire on here first if it does turn out my Vrs is a right off to see if anyone is interested in selling. At least i know it would have been a true Skoda fan that had it previously!!!!

If it helps when we had our MGZS wrote off after we were rear ended on the M1 in 2003 my insurer at the time was Zurich {Eagle Star} who said when they did their valuations they used Glass's guide for the figure, not sure if it's the same now or for other insurers but hope it helps.

Having just bought something very similar I would say it's worth

Cheers for advise, will hopefully find out at some point today the fate of the VRS so will post when I get any news!

If damage isnt too bad have a look at buying it back & fixing it yourself, s/hand panels & trim are a fraction of new cost & if you like the car & intended to keep it for a few years you will save a packet

I know it might sound like a cheap way of doing it but having a baby in a previously written off car would worry my wife and me (usually unflappable) to much so if it is a right off better looking for an undamaged VRS to replace it.

I know it might sound like a cheap way of doing it but having a baby in a previously written off car would worry my wife and me (usually unflappable) to much so if it is a right off better looking for an undamaged VRS to replace it.

You know the damage so only you can judge, If the shells twisted then forget it unless you have access to a PROPER bodyshop with Skilled operatives & a PROPER jig.

The only thought I always have is that they are all totalled on a cost basis, If the car is marginal & had been say a couple of years newer they would have fixed it as its value would have been more.

You can still get it fixed by a bodyshop, you just supply s/hand panels etc but you need a large financial margin, Ive seen cars up for Auction that were partly stripped by a body shop only to find more damage & then totalled by the Insurance co

When you buy a s/hand car how do you know it hasnt been previouslyy repaired, its a lottery at times.

From the sound of your post if you have any doubts get a replacement, its never worth being un sure & yes your family matter more. Regardless of how well you fixed it if anything happened that doubt would re surface

Most people would run screaming from buying a car that had been written off, so later selling would be a nightmare.

Most people would run screaming from buying a car that had been written off, so later selling would be a nightmare.

Agreed but Ive had a couple of totalled cars when money was tight & both gave me good service, You spend a lot less buying it therefore you can take a knock when selling it, also if its a few years old when you sell it nobody seems to care.

If you buy a totalled car get some piccies of it before its fixed so you can genuinly tell any prospective buyer what was wrong with it, get if fixed profesionally & get another profesional to give it the once over.

Also remember totalled cars are totalled purely on cost, they are not all mangled wrecks & I wouldnt touch one of those with a barge pole. Spend time seaarching & you will find bargains.

One car I bought was an 30 month old Citroen Xantia Diesel Turbo that had been driven into flood water & the engine, turbo etc had filled with water. The car was completely straight, un marked & no water Inside.

Total cost of buying the wreck

Glass's guide tends to value a car higher than Parkers or the other guides used in the trade, so their figure is probably the one you're looking for ! There's a free valuation service on the vauxhall site.

The valuation guide on the Vauxhall site is free but it is only for a trade in value not retail which is what the insurance company should be going on.

Insurance engineer phoned this afternoon and thinks it's a fixer. He said they just have to check that all four corners line up and nothing is twisted underneath.

My only problem now is that they are trying to fob me off with a Nissan Micra or similar. I'm 6ft 5in with dodgy knees, a baby and everything that goes with it we just won't manage with something that size of car. I phoned Privilege and they are willing to give me a hire car instead but if I want a bigger car I would need to pay the difference between a supermini and something appropriate. Not sure if I should speak to a supervisor to push for them to pay all the hire car as they are trying to help but I don't know how long my car will be at the repairers.