update on car repair

[tux2006]

So after all the worry I finally managed to get my car repaired enough for the boot to close, I took it to my local bodyshop and the guy there said he could repair the damage for £50...result!
Went to collect it all fine the boot now shuts and it looks exactly as it did prior to the crash. I was told that the rear main chassis leg was slightly crumbled and he had tried to pull it back but with no luck. So he phoned the local MOT centre who said as long as the damage is beyond and mounting points and is not too extensive they would pass it...another result!

So I drove away a happy man until today when I recieved a letter from insurance company saying my car is classed as a Cat C write off and was mine to do what I like with, but that if I were to put it back on the road I would need to inform my insurance company and VOSA.

I'm am now confused as to what to do, my car is perfectly driveable, I still have my V5,MOT,Tax,Insurance documents and believe they are all still valid.

So what I am asking is, do you think the insurance company have actually reported my car as written off to the DVLA? or are they just sending this letter out to complete there paperwork process? as I recieved the cheque long before I recieved this letter which states the cheque would be sent shortly after

If it has been reported then I believe it is just a case of getting it re-MOT'd and a VIC check, to get it back on the road?...will go check if my MOT certificate is still valid online.

Thanks for any input fellas.

[teamster1975]

They'll be in the process of informing VOSA. I would get in touch with your insurance company and ask whether your policy is still valid and as you say get the VIC and MOT sorted.

[tux2006]

This is what I thought but as I still have my MOT and all online records say that it is still valid then I see no need to do anything. I know in reality the insurance companies don't report it half the time.

[steve_earwig]

From here.

Once a car has passed a VIC the V5C issued will be annotated to show "substantially repaired and or accident damaged; identity checked on dd/mm/ccyy".

THis VIC's a new one on me but it sounds like a good idea, probably a pain to you tho Tux.

[darrenwall]

my old 406 was a cat c write off and the insurance company paid out and told me i could do what i wanted with the car and as far as i know the dvla wasnt informed that it was writen off cos they never asked for the log book to change it and i sold it on with no problems

[old codger]

o Category C:

Vehicle extensively damaged and insurer has decided not to repair. May be repaired and put back on the road. Has to pass an inspection costing £36 (2007 price) to be re-registered as damaged repaired.

[steve_earwig]

my old 406 was a cat c write off and the insurance company paid out and told me i could do what i wanted with the car and as far as i know the dvla wasnt informed that it was writen off cos they never asked for the log book to change it and i sold it on with no problems

When was that? This VIC thing came in in 2003, was it before? Thinking about it Tux, you're right, what's the point? I can't see anything on that government website about failing to get a VIC and having your collar felt, if your insurers or anyone complains you could apologise and then get it done.

I suppose that's where this VIC thing falls down, ok it lessens the chance of buying two cars welded together but, given the low residual value of these cars and insurers eagerness to write the damned things off because they calculate things on new parts, it could make an otherwise perfectly good car valueless.

[darrenwall]

my old 406 was a cat c write off and the insurance company paid out and told me i could do what i wanted with the car and as far as i know the dvla wasnt informed that it was writen off cos they never asked for the log book to change it and i sold it on with no problems

When was that? This VIC thing came in in 2003, was it before? Thinking about it Tux, you're right, what's the point? I can't see anything on that government website about failing to get a VIC and having your collar felt, if your insurers or anyone complains you could apologise and then get it done.

I suppose that's where this VIC thing falls down, ok it lessens the chance of buying two cars welded together but, given the low residual value of these cars and insurers eagerness to write the damned things off because they calculate things on new parts, it could make an otherwise perfectly good car valueless.

that was last june ( 2006 ) , someone reversed a van into the rear wing outside my mother in laws house and cos the damage was at least £700 ( the car was only worth about £1000 ) the insurance company told me it was an uneconomical repair so it would be classed as a cat C write off . the offered me £1000 and told me i could keep the car and it was upto me if i repaired it or not but they never said anything about a vic check and when i sold it on to a motor trader he said that he'd never heard of vic check on a cat C write off only on a cat B or above . another thing i couldnt understand is that the insurance company never even asked the mileage or even if it was MOT'd , i would have thought that them things would affect the value