Is this a write off?
Discussion
My daughter’s car was vandalised yesterday. Deep scratches along all panels down both sides and the rear. I’m going to be reporting the incident to the police shortly as we know the identity of the person who did it.
It’s a 2012 Jazz with c.50k miles which would probably fetch £5k privately before the vandalism. It’s a lovely runner with no issues and FSH.
I think the only option is to inform the insurance as it certainly won’t T-cut out. It would be unfortunate if it’s written off and a PITA to deal with too.
Do the collective think it’s a write off and if it is, would it be worth buying back?
It’s a 2012 Jazz with c.50k miles which would probably fetch £5k privately before the vandalism. It’s a lovely runner with no issues and FSH.
I think the only option is to inform the insurance as it certainly won’t T-cut out. It would be unfortunate if it’s written off and a PITA to deal with too.
Do the collective think it’s a write off and if it is, would it be worth buying back?
Is she planning to keep the car until it's worthless, or looking to sell in the near future? Personally, given it's cosmetic, I'd live with the scratches if it was a keeper, or at least look at cheap repairs before involving insurance and the headache of arguing about value, etc (and then even if you buy it back, still having to get it fixed yourself).
Chris
Chris
You could touch it in (I suspect it will catch the nail which means it needs paint first), wet sand and polish back.
I think if the insurers get hold of it and it being pretty much an entire respray it will end up being a write off, given an insurer will write it off at between 50% to 60%, or put another way 2.5k to 3k.
The other issue of vandalism is that it will be at fault and the insurance side of it will likely mean possibly significant increases.
I think if the insurers get hold of it and it being pretty much an entire respray it will end up being a write off, given an insurer will write it off at between 50% to 60%, or put another way 2.5k to 3k.
The other issue of vandalism is that it will be at fault and the insurance side of it will likely mean possibly significant increases.
Keep it & run it into the ground as is.
If you can catch your nail in the scratch it won't sand out.
If it doesn't disappear when wet it won't sand out.
Depending on the depth some of it MIGHT look less noticeable if you polish along the line of the scratch as it will smooth the roughness, although that will usually only work if it's in the clearcoat.
Respray of both sides needed & that's bodyshop territory, not a man-in-a-van-on-the-driveway.
Might be worth looking for local recommendations for some of the back street bodyshops.
I have no idea what sort of cost you would be looking at today.
If you can catch your nail in the scratch it won't sand out.
If it doesn't disappear when wet it won't sand out.
Depending on the depth some of it MIGHT look less noticeable if you polish along the line of the scratch as it will smooth the roughness, although that will usually only work if it's in the clearcoat.
Respray of both sides needed & that's bodyshop territory, not a man-in-a-van-on-the-driveway.
Might be worth looking for local recommendations for some of the back street bodyshops.
I have no idea what sort of cost you would be looking at today.
wow, that sucks. deliberately made sure they got every panel 
i suspect if you claimed that on insurance it would write the car off. proper bodyshop work isnt cheap, £200-£300 a panel. doesnt take much for an insurer to deem it uneconomical to repair.
so, if you dont mind getting a payout, or buying back a CAT N car, i'd unfortunately say either get it repaired yourself, or live with it.
but i really feel for you. keying cars should be punishable by having both hands cut off.
i suspect if you claimed that on insurance it would write the car off. proper bodyshop work isnt cheap, £200-£300 a panel. doesnt take much for an insurer to deem it uneconomical to repair.
so, if you dont mind getting a payout, or buying back a CAT N car, i'd unfortunately say either get it repaired yourself, or live with it.
but i really feel for you. keying cars should be punishable by having both hands cut off.
Thanks for all the replies it’s helping my decision making.
The only reason for using the insurance would be to recover some of the financial loss i.e. a £5k car that is now unsaleable. But that would be costly too in terms of what I’d get from the insurance and the knock on for future premiums (as mentioned above).
So it looks like it’s going to be a keeper.
The scratches are down to the metal in places so I need to get some sort of bodge done to avoid rust. I might get some touch up paint and do it myself as I think any garage is going to want to do a proper/expensive job.
The only reason for using the insurance would be to recover some of the financial loss i.e. a £5k car that is now unsaleable. But that would be costly too in terms of what I’d get from the insurance and the knock on for future premiums (as mentioned above).
So it looks like it’s going to be a keeper.
The scratches are down to the metal in places so I need to get some sort of bodge done to avoid rust. I might get some touch up paint and do it myself as I think any garage is going to want to do a proper/expensive job.
brillomaster said:
wow, that sucks. deliberately made sure they got every panel
i suspect if you claimed that on insurance it would write the car off. proper bodyshop work isnt cheap, £200-£300 a panel. doesnt take much for an insurer to deem it uneconomical to repair.
so, if you dont mind getting a payout, or buying back a CAT N car, i'd unfortunately say either get it repaired yourself, or live with it.
but i really feel for you. keying cars should be punishable by having both hands cut off.
I agree with this, through no fault of your own your daughter is put in a difficult position. If that was my car I would be fuming regardless of value.i suspect if you claimed that on insurance it would write the car off. proper bodyshop work isnt cheap, £200-£300 a panel. doesnt take much for an insurer to deem it uneconomical to repair.
so, if you dont mind getting a payout, or buying back a CAT N car, i'd unfortunately say either get it repaired yourself, or live with it.
but i really feel for you. keying cars should be punishable by having both hands cut off.
Phil. said:
Thanks for all the replies it’s helping my decision making.
The only reason for using the insurance would be to recover some of the financial loss i.e. a £5k car that is now unsaleable. But that would be costly too in terms of what I’d get from the insurance and the knock on for future premiums (as mentioned above).
So it looks like it’s going to be a keeper.
The scratches are down to the metal in places so I need to get some sort of bodge done to avoid rust. I might get some touch up paint and do it myself as I think any garage is going to want to do a proper/expensive job.
Could be worth asking around to find an insurance adjuster to (without involving the insurance company) value the damage, and the financial impact of your actions, though I don't think you could claim £5k of actual loss from the criminal if you're going to buy a £10 touch up kit, and live with it.The only reason for using the insurance would be to recover some of the financial loss i.e. a £5k car that is now unsaleable. But that would be costly too in terms of what I’d get from the insurance and the knock on for future premiums (as mentioned above).
So it looks like it’s going to be a keeper.
The scratches are down to the metal in places so I need to get some sort of bodge done to avoid rust. I might get some touch up paint and do it myself as I think any garage is going to want to do a proper/expensive job.
Yes, a write off, given the amount of spraying that will be required and then courtesy car costs etc.
Insurance premiums will increase, despite being a no fault claim.
However...your insurance should give you the right to buy back at a very cheap price once a payout has been agreed. So maybe live with it and be happy with the extra sum of money and see what someone can do to make it look presentable on the cheap...i.e filling it in to make it look less obvious.
Sorry that someone has done that, some awfully warped people out there.
Insurance premiums will increase, despite being a no fault claim.
However...your insurance should give you the right to buy back at a very cheap price once a payout has been agreed. So maybe live with it and be happy with the extra sum of money and see what someone can do to make it look presentable on the cheap...i.e filling it in to make it look less obvious.
Sorry that someone has done that, some awfully warped people out there.
randlemarcus said:
Could be worth asking around to find an insurance adjuster to (without involving the insurance company) value the damage, and the financial impact of your actions, though I don't think you could claim £5k of actual loss from the criminal if you're going to buy a £10 touch up kit, and live with it.
The reality is that I don’t think we have any chance of extracting the monies from the accused even if convicted. So my options are pay someone to bodge it or do it myself. I’m more than capable of bodging it 
A detailed report has now been submitted to the police online. There is sufficient information provided for the police to follow up and gather evidence if they wish to do so. We should know if they will do this in the next 24hrs. At the very least I want this person questioned and for them to curb their unnecessary and evil behaviour.
You could do a process like this to touch in the scratch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4SNN8PjdmQ
It will probably still be visible under some lights but a lot better than you have now.
As for the person that did I'd be happy to see their hands cut off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4SNN8PjdmQ
It will probably still be visible under some lights but a lot better than you have now.
As for the person that did I'd be happy to see their hands cut off.
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