Hello,

I will try to keep this as succinct as possible.

I bought a car (Mazda 2, 2011, 1.3L petrol manual, ~42k miles) about two weeks ago. I drove it home, used it one other time, and the next time I found it the driver side window was smashed in and plastic panels around the ignition had been slightly lifted. Some tool marks around the ignition and dash.

postimg.cc/gallery/T6GS3fM

Anyway I called police and insurer; latter said because of the ignition being messed with they had to treat it as an attempted theft and wanted to take it in to an approved garage to check it over. I deemed this a better option than organising a tow myself etc so let them take it in.

The car was deemed a total loss (uneconomical to repair) a few days later and there was talk of a new steering column, new trim on the door and dash, new ignition barrel etc.

I was gutted and told my insurer I would talk directly to the garage to get some answers.

They denied it needs a new steering column and said the repairs mainly pertain to replacing the ignition barrel and sorting the window (taking the door apart, replacing bits of trim as well as the glass, etc).

I asked them to reappraise and they have done so: they said they will offer the insurer a new quote of about 2.3k and gave me a personal quote of about 1.3k (VAT inc) to do the bare minimum to get it road worthy (I.e. sort the window and ignition but perhaps leave the old battle scarred plastic trim on)

As yet I haven't heard back from the insurer but I am confident they will reject the new quote - they surely won't think the car is even worth 2.3k although I did pay 3.1k for it only a couple of weeks ago.

When they do probably reject the reappraised repair price, I am wondering what I should do. I can prove what I paid (a 'low price' according to Autotrader, due to the mileage I suppose) but am prepared to be low-balled and try to work this up.

Since the car is already at an approved repairer would you:

- Accept the write-off, get as much as you can, then use that money to pay for the repairs at the current garage after buying as salvage

- Do the above but get it taken to a different garage after comparing quotes

- Demand they don't write it off and try to get a cash payout to pay the current/other garage for a lower quote that doesn't include full repairs?

- Tell the insurer and garage that I've had enough and get quotes from other garages and have it towed elsewhere for a repair - cancelling my claim with the insurer? (Is this even possible now?)

- Some other option?

The car means a lot - it's my first and I literally drove it twice - so whatever happens I want to keep it. Especially since the damage is essentially cosmetic besides whatever they've found wrong with the ignition. But seems to be several ways this could be settled and as yet am not convinced the insurer and garage are doing their best to help (shock!)

Thanks in advance

Dan

Edited by Dan Nolan on 15/12/2024 at 15:39