Hi just looking for some advice. I was in a minor accident about 10 days ago, scuffed bumper, damaged, headlight, dent in front wing. Had the car looked at by a local garage and they estimated about £1k of repairs. Car in worth around £6800k. Car went into the repairers a week ago. Just checked progress and car is awaiting an engineer inspection. They said it possible uneconomic repairs. Based on the body work damage there is no way this should be classified as a write off, although I stress that’s not been confirmed. Under the circumstances can I insist to my insurers that I get the car back from their approved body shop for an assessment at a repairer of my choice? Not being an insurance expert any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Until you get to the point of accepting your insurer's write-off value then it's still your vehicle so you control where it goes.

Deleted

Edited by RT on 22/07/2020 at 20:00

Had the car looked at by a local garage and they estimated about £1k of repairs.

I interpret this as meaning not a bodyshop. I believe in getting a first estimate from a convenient and trusted local bodyshop, and submitting that to the insurer. You aren't obliged to use an insurer's preferred repairer, and for an insurance job your bodyshop would normally quote for replacing all damaged parts, but may well be able to save a bit by mending some parts instead of replacing.

From your description I would think £1K may be optimistic, but nowhere near £6800. Try to avoid a write-off if at all possible.