I hope somebody can explain something to me, please, because I am really puzzled.
My car was involved in a crash, not comprehensively insured, so I have to pay the cost of the repairs myself. The car is worth 8k to 9k Pounds in good condition. The crash has done the following:-
- badly damaged front wing and bonnet, but chassis not damaged
- some damage to suspension
- one wheel is broken
The estimate for the above is just over 3k.
Also, both air bags have popped, and I am staggered to be told that the cost is around 3k. (It's a Mazda MX5, and the driver's airbag is 450 + VAT, the passenger's is 850 + VAT, and the control units come to 1000 + VAT, apparently - add some labour and it comes to 3k.)
What I don't quite follow is why I am being told to treat the car as a write-off? The car is worth 8k to 9k, and the repair is 6k to 7k, so surely there's 2k of value left in the car? (Actually, I can reclaim the VAT on the repair work, so that the repair will actually cost me 1k less than the above figures.)
I am being advised to sell it off as a repairable wreck, or to dismantle it and sell off the bits - 90% of the car is in excellent nick, it only having done 10k miles since new.
I have never been in this position before, so any advice would be welcome. I am not sure what the neighbours would think if I turn the drive into a sort of breaker's yard, and even if I did that, how would I dispose of the bits? Would there be any demand, and where would I advertise?
As I said, any help most gratefully received.
Thanks