After you've crashed an Alpine…
Discussion
Unfortunately I was involved in an RTC in February which has ultimately led to the car being declared a total loss (hit from behind whilst stationary). Being a bespoke vehicle it fell outside a lot of the standard insurance processes which extended the claims duration and I thought I'd post up the experience should anyone else end up in the same position - I sincerely hope not.
1) Following the collision I chose to use Alpine assist to recover the car - it took 45 mins of being transferred around various parties before they could agree who was taking the job. This also added another link in the chain - I'd contact the insurance company next time and let their process deal with it (was in very rural Yorkshire with no 4G so all electronic docs were inaccessible).
2) Insurance company directed the car to one of their approved aluminium repairers in East London who on inspecting the car decided it needed an Alpine approved repairer. The insurers don't have one registered and the baton was handed to me to find said approved repairer - a bit of googling revealed there appears to only be one in the UK - Martins of Basingstoke.
3) Whilst Alpine approved Martins aren't able to carry out structural aluminium repairs (which seems odd) so again the baton came back to me. I then googled and called around a dozen options before finding Hilton Coachworks in Bishops Stortford who agreed to take it on - they were incredibly helpful and professional. Repair estimate was circa £25k which is within the 60% tolerance to proceed but the independent assessor declared it a cat S due to the rear sub-frame being damaged so it was declared a total loss.
4) From there the normal processes took over again and the claim has been settled (I'm happy with the offer). However points 1 to 3 probably added 3 weeks into the timescale to complete - if I were to be in the same situation again I'd point the car straight at Hilton Coachworks and remove the faffing about.
Not being in the habit of crashing cars I expect there's a lot of naivety on my part and hopefully the above is redundant info but should the worst happen to anyone it might help avoid some of the issues I had.
The car is now heading to Copart, it might make a good track project for someone as it was mint prior to the accident and is very much repairable - even had a full tank of fuel which is probably worth £25 more than when I filled it!
1) Following the collision I chose to use Alpine assist to recover the car - it took 45 mins of being transferred around various parties before they could agree who was taking the job. This also added another link in the chain - I'd contact the insurance company next time and let their process deal with it (was in very rural Yorkshire with no 4G so all electronic docs were inaccessible).
2) Insurance company directed the car to one of their approved aluminium repairers in East London who on inspecting the car decided it needed an Alpine approved repairer. The insurers don't have one registered and the baton was handed to me to find said approved repairer - a bit of googling revealed there appears to only be one in the UK - Martins of Basingstoke.
3) Whilst Alpine approved Martins aren't able to carry out structural aluminium repairs (which seems odd) so again the baton came back to me. I then googled and called around a dozen options before finding Hilton Coachworks in Bishops Stortford who agreed to take it on - they were incredibly helpful and professional. Repair estimate was circa £25k which is within the 60% tolerance to proceed but the independent assessor declared it a cat S due to the rear sub-frame being damaged so it was declared a total loss.
4) From there the normal processes took over again and the claim has been settled (I'm happy with the offer). However points 1 to 3 probably added 3 weeks into the timescale to complete - if I were to be in the same situation again I'd point the car straight at Hilton Coachworks and remove the faffing about.
Not being in the habit of crashing cars I expect there's a lot of naivety on my part and hopefully the above is redundant info but should the worst happen to anyone it might help avoid some of the issues I had.
The car is now heading to Copart, it might make a good track project for someone as it was mint prior to the accident and is very much repairable - even had a full tank of fuel which is probably worth £25 more than when I filled it!
595Heaven said:
What was the bespoke content?
Perhaps the right phrase is non mainstream. If it was a Porsche or Merc then the insurer would have approved repairers who specialise in fixing them, they would be able to manage the situation within their process management. Because the Alpine is rare they haven't got anything in place to take care of it hence I had to do all the running around. I was informed the Alpine isn't listed on Autodec (I think that's what it's called) which is a universal software package that assists repairers in building up quotes based on parts prices and expected labour time.I guess this is partly due to the bespoke nature of the car, it being an aluminium/GRP composite construction that doesn't share anything with other vehicles other than the drive-train and interior switch gear etc. Even well established aluminium repairers refused it when they probably wouldn't something more mainstream.
Edited by Venisonpie on Saturday 14th May 10:22
Edited by Venisonpie on Saturday 14th May 11:28
Miserablegit said:
Thanks for the very helpful post. I remember you posting about the accident at the time.
I think most of us would have done the same as you.
It would be good if Alpine took things like this on board but I very much doubt it.
Absolutely, I found it bizarre an approved repairer couldn't carry out metal work on an aluminium car.I think most of us would have done the same as you.
It would be good if Alpine took things like this on board but I very much doubt it.
bcr5784 said:
While the damage to the car is extremely upsetting, given the extent I doubt you would ever have been happy with the afterwards if they had be managed to fix it. As it is you can, if you wish, get a replacement - though you might have trouble get the exact spec of the deceased car.
Yes, agreed - I was relieved it was written off. Was a stock car rather than something I specced myself so I wasn't attached to that particular one.Am now exploring how to spend the spoils!
Venisonpie said:
Perhaps the right phrase is non mainstream. If it was a Porsche or Merc then the insurer would have approved repairers who specialise in fixing them, they would be able to manage the situation within their process management. Because the Alpine is rare they haven't got anything in place to take care of it hence I had to do all the running around. I was informed the Alpine isn't listed on Autodec (I think that's what it's called) which is a universal software package that assists repairers in building up quotes based on parts prices and expected labour time.
I guess this is partly due to the bespoke nature of the car, it being an aluminium/GRP composite construction that doesn't share anything with other vehicles other than the drive-train and interior switch gear etc. Even well established aluminium repairers refused it when they probably wouldn't something more mainstream.
I've had both a damaged Boxster and Vantage in this kind of "wrong place wrong time" incident. There is a small network of approved repairers for this kind of car, I think there are about 11 or so Porsche ones who can carry out chassis work. The Vantage had to go back to a factory approved repairer. Both required some kind of jig for correct alignment. The Vantage came back better than when it left the factory, and also required a new rear subframe during this process — I did ask if they would be reinstalling all of the squeaks and rattles it originally came with.I guess this is partly due to the bespoke nature of the car, it being an aluminium/GRP composite construction that doesn't share anything with other vehicles other than the drive-train and interior switch gear etc. Even well established aluminium repairers refused it when they probably wouldn't something more mainstream.
I believe Audatex is the system used by insurers and repairers to exchange quotes. I had some superficial damage to my A110 which went through insurance and the claim was handled on Audatex between Premier Panel Skills Farnham and Admiral.
My experience was similar but slightly more straightforward. When the dust had settled after being hit, my first call was to the police as we were blocking a busy road. After that I called my insurers to let them know about the accident, give them the other drivers details who had luckily already admitted liability to both myself and the police. They arranged a tow truck but the police had already called one due to the road being blocked.
I could tell from the damage that it was going to be a long repair so I insisted the car was transported to a main dealer. The closest was West London but they told me they didn’t have a body shop for such a repair (?!) and they recommended Martins in Basingstoke. The car was taken there the following day and they set about the estimate.
Martins were fantastic throughout and kept me informed. Once the estimate was finalised they called and gave me the details before calling the insurers. They explained that they thought it was likely to be written off due to the cost and duration of repairs.
Sure enough the insurers (LV) called soon after and told me it was a write off. Their first offer was too low and after some negotiation I accepted their second offer. It helped that there were so few cars on the market at the time and prices had really stayed high.
This was my first experience of a crash of this magnitude, but the best advice I can offer is to insist the car goes where you want, not where they suggest. It’s a painful situation so try and get the best possible outcome by staying in control of it.
I could tell from the damage that it was going to be a long repair so I insisted the car was transported to a main dealer. The closest was West London but they told me they didn’t have a body shop for such a repair (?!) and they recommended Martins in Basingstoke. The car was taken there the following day and they set about the estimate.
Martins were fantastic throughout and kept me informed. Once the estimate was finalised they called and gave me the details before calling the insurers. They explained that they thought it was likely to be written off due to the cost and duration of repairs.
Sure enough the insurers (LV) called soon after and told me it was a write off. Their first offer was too low and after some negotiation I accepted their second offer. It helped that there were so few cars on the market at the time and prices had really stayed high.
This was my first experience of a crash of this magnitude, but the best advice I can offer is to insist the car goes where you want, not where they suggest. It’s a painful situation so try and get the best possible outcome by staying in control of it.
s111dpc said:
Really helpful post OP as I got hit today and am now waiting the call from the insurers as to how they’re going to proceed re fixing it. I’m hopeful there is no chassis damage and it’s only body panels but we will see.
Sorry to hear that mate, hope it gets sorted quicklyt3boy said:
s111dpc said:
Really helpful post OP as I got hit today and am now waiting the call from the insurers as to how they’re going to proceed re fixing it. I’m hopeful there is no chassis damage and it’s only body panels but we will see.
Sorry to hear that mate, hope it gets sorted quicklyMax13 said:
My experience was similar but slightly more straightforward. When the dust had settled after being hit, my first call was to the police as we were blocking a busy road. After that I called my insurers to let them know about the accident, give them the other drivers details who had luckily already admitted liability to both myself and the police. They arranged a tow truck but the police had already called one due to the road being blocked.
I could tell from the damage that it was going to be a long repair so I insisted the car was transported to a main dealer. The closest was West London but they told me they didn’t have a body shop for such a repair (?!) and they recommended Martins in Basingstoke. The car was taken there the following day and they set about the estimate.
Martins were fantastic throughout and kept me informed. Once the estimate was finalised they called and gave me the details before calling the insurers. They explained that they thought it was likely to be written off due to the cost and duration of repairs.
Sure enough the insurers (LV) called soon after and told me it was a write off. Their first offer was too low and after some negotiation I accepted their second offer. It helped that there were so few cars on the market at the time and prices had really stayed high.
This was my first experience of a crash of this magnitude, but the best advice I can offer is to insist the car goes where you want, not where they suggest. It’s a painful situation so try and get the best possible outcome by staying in control of it.
Unless anyone has been injured, admitting liability to the police probably won't help much. The police would be very unlikely to get involved in a civil matter. Ideally you want the driver at fault to admit fault to your insurance company and also to theirs.I could tell from the damage that it was going to be a long repair so I insisted the car was transported to a main dealer. The closest was West London but they told me they didn’t have a body shop for such a repair (?!) and they recommended Martins in Basingstoke. The car was taken there the following day and they set about the estimate.
Martins were fantastic throughout and kept me informed. Once the estimate was finalised they called and gave me the details before calling the insurers. They explained that they thought it was likely to be written off due to the cost and duration of repairs.
Sure enough the insurers (LV) called soon after and told me it was a write off. Their first offer was too low and after some negotiation I accepted their second offer. It helped that there were so few cars on the market at the time and prices had really stayed high.
This was my first experience of a crash of this magnitude, but the best advice I can offer is to insist the car goes where you want, not where they suggest. It’s a painful situation so try and get the best possible outcome by staying in control of it.
PHZero said:
Max13 said:
My experience was similar but slightly more straightforward. When the dust had settled after being hit, my first call was to the police as we were blocking a busy road. After that I called my insurers to let them know about the accident, give them the other drivers details who had luckily already admitted liability to both myself and the police. They arranged a tow truck but the police had already called one due to the road being blocked.
I could tell from the damage that it was going to be a long repair so I insisted the car was transported to a main dealer. The closest was West London but they told me they didn’t have a body shop for such a repair (?!) and they recommended Martins in Basingstoke. The car was taken there the following day and they set about the estimate.
Martins were fantastic throughout and kept me informed. Once the estimate was finalised they called and gave me the details before calling the insurers. They explained that they thought it was likely to be written off due to the cost and duration of repairs.
Sure enough the insurers (LV) called soon after and told me it was a write off. Their first offer was too low and after some negotiation I accepted their second offer. It helped that there were so few cars on the market at the time and prices had really stayed high.
This was my first experience of a crash of this magnitude, but the best advice I can offer is to insist the car goes where you want, not where they suggest. It’s a painful situation so try and get the best possible outcome by staying in control of it.
Unless anyone has been injured, admitting liability to the police probably won't help much. The police would be very unlikely to get involved in a civil matter. Ideally you want the driver at fault to admit fault to your insurance company and also to theirs.I could tell from the damage that it was going to be a long repair so I insisted the car was transported to a main dealer. The closest was West London but they told me they didn’t have a body shop for such a repair (?!) and they recommended Martins in Basingstoke. The car was taken there the following day and they set about the estimate.
Martins were fantastic throughout and kept me informed. Once the estimate was finalised they called and gave me the details before calling the insurers. They explained that they thought it was likely to be written off due to the cost and duration of repairs.
Sure enough the insurers (LV) called soon after and told me it was a write off. Their first offer was too low and after some negotiation I accepted their second offer. It helped that there were so few cars on the market at the time and prices had really stayed high.
This was my first experience of a crash of this magnitude, but the best advice I can offer is to insist the car goes where you want, not where they suggest. It’s a painful situation so try and get the best possible outcome by staying in control of it.
Not sure if it would have helped but luckily it didn’t come to that, and he admitted fault to his insurers as well.
Max13 said:
At the time the police said if the other driver disputed fault then they would have a note on their accident report and I could request a copy of it for the insurers.
Not sure if it would have helped but luckily it didn’t come to that, and he admitted fault to his insurers as well.
Fair enough. I didn't realise that accident reports for less serious incidents were available from the police. Good to know in future.Not sure if it would have helped but luckily it didn’t come to that, and he admitted fault to his insurers as well.
Not something that Police Scotland suggested to me as being an option when I was involved in a non-fault incident and subsequently I asked for them to confirm that the other driver admitted fault at the scene. They told me it was a civil matter and that they would not provide any assistance.
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