Right so I had parked my car in a car park and some other cars handbrake failed rolling into the side of my car.

Basically as usual the guy didn't want to go through insurance so I got a quick estimate. It was a whole new side of the car so was quite expensive and now we are going through insurance.

As he only had TPFT cover it is now being dealt with by a third party company.

My car is currently insured at £1000. Whilst I was getting quotes one of the guys said the insurance may just write it off.

The repair estimates are coming in at around £750.

I thought that if it was not my fault and not going through my insurance then they would just have to pay for the repairs, regardless of cost.

I don't know what to do because the car is worth much more than that, I just couldn't afford to insure it for more.

Has anyone else had their car written off due to damage caused by someone else?

What happens if they say they will write it off, can I decline and say no thanks just fix this bit instead of the complete side.

My fiesta was stolen and written off, the only damage was the steering lock and a headlamp. They offered to sell it back to me but I would have to pay my excess, plus all the charges for storing it. Turned out to be way more than the car was actually worth.

If they haven't been storing the car for you it may be worth buying it back, as long as the chassis is straight.

Sorry, probably should have said that the damages were really only cosmetic. The paint was scratched all up the side of the car, not chassis damage and nothing really serious.

My insurance company will not be paying out for this and so the value of the car should have nothing to do with it. As it's going through a 3rd party company will they know the value of the car?

They have not been storing the car as the police were not called, it was only a minor thing but did do quite alot of cosmetic damage.

Demand to have it repaired. If they are really stubborn then your options are either to take the other guy to court or bend over and lube yourself up.

Insist on having it repaired by a place of your choice or a cash settlement to cover the cost of repairs. The value of the car should have nothing to do with it - your insurance company are not involved, it is your car and his insurance company should not be able to right it off because the car can be repaired.

failing that ask for 'cash in lieu of repair'

its your right and the car doesnt have to be recorded. I did this because I didnt want my mk1 golf gti going through an insurers approved repairer, and got a payout to do the work myself (or commission a garage of my choice)

Yeah I have been asked by the third party company to get quotes from garages to do the repairs but whilst I was there the guys were like "they may just write it off".

I have taken it to the two best places around my area, as recommended by a few guys on here when I asked a while ago.

FYI I have got quotes from Chipping Norton Bodyshop and Compton Specialist Repairs.

Glad to hear that they shouldn't be able to just write the car off.

I can keep you guys updated if anyone else is interested in the outcome....

i had my old polo written off because someone pulled out onto me whilst i was on the main road so it went through his insurance and didnt affect mine apart from me having to pay my £500 excess which i got refunded through his insurance, i also recieved a courtesy car through his . It was a write off though and they offered me 3000 for it when it was insured for 3500 so all i had to do was provide three other similar specked polo's and prices of the 3500 and they wrote me a check out for 3500. sorry for the boring text but hopefully it will work out for you. try and buy it back off them and get a new polo and use parts off your current one???

as others have said. if the damage is just cosmetic you can demand to have it repaired, or get a payout to cover repairing the car. do not let the insurance company bully you or try to fob you off