Insurance write-off and buyback advice...

PC Paul · 2006-12-09T15:23:53+00:00

My ex had the back of her car smashed by a mad fogey last week - the sort of disoriented elderly driver that crashes slowly into the back of you then looks puzzled and drives into you again to see if the same thing happens...Anyway, the back lights and rear corner are smashed and bent up, which on a 1994 160,000 mile Astra is pretty likely to be an insurance write-off. Luckily there were several witnesses who volunteered their details at the time, and she got his too.The car is actually in good nick apart from that, and has had plenty of work done recently, so I was wondering how she should best go about buying it back if it does get 'uneconomical to repair'.Do you need to say from day one that you want to do that, or not mention it until they have written it off in case it changes their decision?Do they take it away then you fetch it back, or do you have to arrange it before it goes away so they can assess it on site?