Damaged Car in Accident, What Are My Options? (at Fault with Third Party Only Cover)

cocywong on 06/11/2018 - 18:18
Last edited 07/11/2018 - 16:40 by 1 other user

Hi all, needing your opinions/recommendations around what to do with my car:

My car was in an accident today, I was at fault for hitting the ute in front of me under wet weather (the ute brake hard, I tried to brake but couldn't fully stop the car while going down hill, it just slid on the road and hit the ute).

I only have third party insurance cover so the repair cost for my car is on me. It's a 2005 Corolla I bought for $7600 more than a year ago.

I've been thinking about selling the car as it is without repairing it (to a car wrecker maybe?) for the peace of mind but not sure if that's possible.

Happy to give more info if needed.

PS. Pardon my English, not a native speaker :)

Update 1: photo of the damage added, doesn't show up in image but 1/3 of the windscreen is also damaged
Update 2: I'm not intending to drive the car anymore so it's either selling before or after the repair.
Update 3: Wreckers are willing to take it for $600$550, I think that's the best I can get for now?
Final update: Sold to the repair shop at the towing depot for $1250 including rego. Might not be as good as selling to wreckers and refund the rego (just recently renewed) but at least no hassle. Appreciate everyone for great opinions and recommendations 👍

Automotive Car Car Insurance Insurance

Comments

  • Melb69 on 06/11/2018 - 18:21

    Really depends on the damage. Is the car driveable. Take it to a repair shop and get a few quotes. Where are you located? Theres a good repairs in Swan St Burnley.

    • cocywong on 06/11/2018 - 18:23

      Nope, the front got damaged pretty badly, gotta have it towed away to a depot in Springvale for now.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/11/2018 - 18:22
    +2

    I've been thinking about selling the car as it is without repairing it (to a car wrecker maybe?) for the peace of mind but not sure if that's possible.

    You can sell a car to a wrecker as long as it's your car. The extent of the damage will dictate its worth.

    Don't expect much to begin with.

    • cocywong on 06/11/2018 - 18:34

      Any idea how much would it be around given the damage?

      • [Deactivated] on 06/11/2018 - 18:51
        +1

        Probs the $500-700 range. I sold a similarly wrecked 10+ year old camry for $700.

  • altomic on 06/11/2018 - 18:23

    Post a photo of the damage

    • cocywong on 06/11/2018 - 18:31

      Just added a photo of the damage now, doesn't show up in image but 1/3 of the windscreen is also damaged

  • mskeggs on 06/11/2018 - 18:28
    +3

    You will sell a damaged vehicle for more via Gumtree or ebay than the $500 or so you will get from a wrecker.
    If you can cheaply repair your car, I would do that. If you cannot, then sell.
    If the car was worth $7k a year ago undamaged, you would need to face repairs in excess of $4k or so for it to be not worth it.
    My approach would be to consider what the minimum repair cost to be safe and road worthy would be, especially any I could easily do myself, skip any purely cosmetic items, then drive the car into the ground.
    But that is all about eking out every ounce of value. You might prefer to pay money for a better looking car etc.
    Not sure what peace of mind you are concerned about.

    • cocywong on 06/11/2018 - 18:33

      Thanks mskeggs, I don't intend to drive the car anymore so it's either selling after or before the repair. The peace of mind is for the hassle of repairing it and getting somebody to buy it.

      • Rifraf on 07/11/2018 - 12:17
        +2

        Great that you and no one else were injured - that's the silver lining of this particular cloud.

    • cocywong on 06/11/2018 - 18:37

      BTW am I allowed to sell the car without RWC through Gumtree or Ebay? Pretty sure it's not roadworthy for now :)

      • dazweeja on 06/11/2018 - 19:44
        +1

        You can sell it without RWC but you must make clear that you are selling it unregistered and without RWC. You will need to cancel the rego but you will get a refund for the unused portion.

        I sold my panelvan unregistered on eBay. $500 for the van and $500 refund on the rego. One of the saddest days of my life :(

  • waterbottled on 06/11/2018 - 18:33
    -1

    where's the image drawn in paint.exe

  • chumlee on 06/11/2018 - 18:45
    +10

    That should buff out

  • Ocker on 06/11/2018 - 19:01
    -1

    " it just slid on the road and hit the ute" what. at abt 30kmph - next time pay attention and let this be a lesson

    • cocywong on 06/11/2018 - 19:02

      It's more like 10kph but anyway lesson learnt :)

      • Randxyz123 on 06/11/2018 - 22:07
        +1

        No way that damage was at 10kph.

        Are the tyres bald? Why did you fail to stop?

        • cocywong on 06/11/2018 - 22:13

          The car was going downhill, the road was wet (it was raining pretty heavy in Melbourne today). I applied full brake with fair distance to the other car, it would've come to full stop if not for the wet condition. Not trying to prove that I'm not wrong here, just a lesson learnt to keep more distance on bad weather condition.

          • Randxyz123 on 06/11/2018 - 22:30

            @cocywong: Lesson learnt is a good attitude to have.

            As per below. Chuck it on gumtree for a couple of weeks. You might need somewhere to store it as it could be reported to the council as a "eyesore" if left on the street.

        • Tech5 on 06/11/2018 - 23:54
          +4

          I'd believe that collision was at 10kph if it was sliding down a hill. Looks like the bonnet went under the ute tray?

    • ronnknee on 06/11/2018 - 21:18

      Why are you lecturing him?

  • djkelly69 on 06/11/2018 - 20:25

    I only have third party insurance cover

    Just checking - compulsory third party, or third party property? Which state are you in?

    • 87percent on 06/11/2018 - 21:11
      +3

      Victoria, unless there's another Springvale in Australia?

    • cocywong on 06/11/2018 - 21:19
      +1

      Victoria and third party property with Bingle

  • cocywong on 06/11/2018 - 21:25

    Anyone reckon how much it would sell after being repaired?

    • Randxyz123 on 06/11/2018 - 22:05
      +2

      It would likely be a write-off. That radiator looks stuffed.

      Edit: Was that the car you hit in the photo behind you?

      List it on gumtree for $650 ONO

      • cocywong on 06/11/2018 - 22:59

        Nah just someone stopped to offer help. The one I hit was an ute in front of me.

        Just trying to work out the finance here:

        Sell it now for $650 or
        Repair for a few thousands (we'll know tomorrow) then sell it (not sure how much I'll get, that's why I'm asking if you guys have any estimate)

        • Randxyz123 on 06/11/2018 - 23:44
          +2

          The thing is you say you bought it for $7500.

          Let’s say it’s now worth $5000 and the repairs are $3000 it wouldn’t be worth it. Not to mention that if someone had it inspected and found it was in a bad accident they’d probably run.

          I have no idea how write offs work without insurance but if I were you and someone gave me $500 for that I’d take it and run.

  • vtecdohc on 06/11/2018 - 21:49

    Top radiator support is damaged, doubt it will be worth it to repair it but see what quotes you get from the panel beaters.

    • cocywong on 06/11/2018 - 23:02

      The quote is coming tomorrow but I'll still need to work out how much the car will sell after repair, do you know where I can look that up?

      • ibuy on 07/11/2018 - 09:56

        Redbook will give you a guide as to prices however it would be marked down significantly as it has been in an accident.

        https://www.redbook.com.au/cars/

        or carsales
        https://www.carsales.com.au/car-valuations/

        • cocywong on 07/11/2018 - 09:58

          Yeah how much that mark down will be is what I'm looking for, 20%?

          • ibuy on 09/11/2018 - 10:24
            +1

            @cocywong: I see you’ve sold it. However for reference purposes it would depend on the cost of the repair so maybe 20-40% less depending on how good the repair job was and whether original or aftermarket parts were used etc etc.

  • Euphemistic on 07/11/2018 - 06:33
    +2

    Why don’t you consider repair and keep driving it? It is a viable option and might make better financial sense than selling - assuming the quote is not too high.

  • ibuy on 07/11/2018 - 09:50

    Not worth repair costs

    Radiator around $500
    Windscreen atound $300-$400
    Bumper, grille,bonnet replacement, lights and repaint mix and match and any other engine damage, possible chassis damage etc about $2000+

    Then you’d still need to get RWC $100

    And wait a while as it is nearing Christmas because repairers will be busy.

    Sell as is and don’t have the hassle.

  • Noblejoker on 07/11/2018 - 11:35

    I reckon sell to wrecker at $600
    Don't forget to cash in your rego for a refund of unused portion too

  • cocywong on 07/11/2018 - 16:40
    +4

    Final update: Sold to the repair shop at the towing depot for $1250 including rego. Might not be as good as selling to wreckers and refund the rego (just recently renewed) but at least no hassle. Appreciate everyone for great opinions and recommendations 👍

    • Euphemistic on 08/11/2018 - 10:31

      It’ll be back in the road and sold for $5k in no time. Did they give you a price for the repairs?

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