Is This Damage to My Prius Considered an Economic Write off?

Syd Bargain Girl on 02/04/2019 - 08:37
Last edited 02/04/2019 - 11:40 by 1 other user

Unfortunately this happened to my Prius whilst parked in front of my house yesterday. It is looking like the insurance will deem it to be an economic write off :'(

I loved my Prius so I am rather upset but I should be thankful no one was injured and that no one was in the car at the time. The driver of the car was a Learner driver without a supervisor in the car so I can imagine that she is in a lot of trouble with the police (who also attended the scene).

The car is currently at Milperra as that is where it was towed. The smash repairer near my house didn't even take it off the truck when it got there and sent the truckie straight to Milperra. Finding out what "Milperra" actually was from the NRMA was a challenge. It is where the car gets assessed and likely deemed a write off. They then sell it at Pickles auctions nearby as a write off.

Is there anyone experienced with these sorts of assessments, and can advise their opinions on the damage they can see in the photo - is it very likely to be a write off? The car was insured for $12K (agreed value) and $140 will have to come off that (balance to pay the remaining 1.5 months of the yearly insurance policy) and also anything I would get back in rego and insurance will also be deducted from the payout (only 2 months left, so by calculations it's about $157). So looking at getting back approx. $11.7K from insurance and $157 from Service NSW/CTP insurance.

Automotive Car Insurance Toyota Write off

Comments

  • Quantumcat on 02/04/2019 - 08:56
    +47

    Have no advice, just want to extend my sympathies to you losing your lovely car :(

  • altomic on 02/04/2019 - 09:40
    +4

    the damage does't look that bad.

    the boot is fine. looks like the panel outer skin is rooted.

    likely to be written off.

    someone will buy and cut off the outside back right panel like this. get a replacement from a donor car. weld. grind. repaint.

    replace bumper and lights.

    • Ti-au on 02/04/2019 - 10:14

      *Comments are in general & not focused on Ops situation.

      Looking at the damage, it would be hard for me to think that is $12,000 worth… (of course NFI/not a mechanic/etc/etc)
      so it seems a little disappointing that the insurer would just write it off :/

      Though these days everything is the $ (from insurance to unfixable cars - thanks car manuf!).

      • pegaxs on 02/04/2019 - 10:47
        +12

        Doesn’t have to be 100% cost of damage vs replacement. It only has to be about 50% before a vehicle is deemed to be uneconomical to repair.

        From my experience, there certainly is more than $5~6k worth if repairs to this vehicle. This exceeded the repair vs replacement cost threshold.

        The older and cheaper a vehcile gets, the more likely they are to just write it off as uneconomical to repair.

        And put it this way. If that was your car and they repaired it with that much known damage on such a cheap car, would you want it back? Not many people would.

        • cloudy on 02/04/2019 - 13:24
          +1

          Hey Pegaxs, I’m wondering why they would rather give Op 12k than to spend 6k fixing it? It sounds like they will be 6k worse off (plus the fact op has no car, so they risk losing a customer)

          I can’t see the insurance reasoning side of it.

          • Cluster on 02/04/2019 - 15:20
            +7

            @cloudy: $6k is an estimate. It could well be more and that's a risk the insurer must take into account. Plus with all the repair work done on my cars there were at least three visits required back to the repairer to fix faults or replace parts so that has to be factored in too.

            The insurer can take the scrapped Prius and sell it off for parts. There have to be several thousand dollars worth of good parts in that vehicle.

            • cloudy on 02/04/2019 - 21:19
              +1

              @Cluster: Ah makes sense. Thanks, I just didn't know :)

          • brendanm on 02/04/2019 - 15:33
            +5

            @cloudy: If there are any other issues that crop up they will have to fix them as well. Then if OP takes it and has a noise in the rhr, they will have to fix that. Then the paint starts to blister around where the panels were joined, so they have to pay for that etc etc. Ends up being less headache for them to get rid of it.

    • macrocephalic on 03/04/2019 - 16:14
      +3

      As long as they also change the firewall and anywhere else the VIN is stamped.

      There is no such thing as a 'repairable' write-off in NSW anymore. Economically written off cars are the same as statutory write-offs - they can never be registered again. They claimed this was to stop rebirthing of stolen cars, but I'd say they got some good donations from stakeholders in the industry. It's not uncommon to see vehicles with a lot of cosmetic damage being written off. I don't believe in scrapping a car for good just because it might look ugly.

  • GG57 on 02/04/2019 - 09:43
    +4

    If it is deemed as written off, my understanding is that the insurance company will pay you out (therefore taking ownership of the car) and they will claim the refund for the remaining registration.

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 02/04/2019 - 09:47
      +2

      Yep. OP won't get the rego back. Just one of many sneaky things insurers do.

      • Ti-au on 02/04/2019 - 10:15
        +1

        Damn…. :/

      • cloudy on 02/04/2019 - 13:25

        I don’t understand why not getting the rego back is related to the insurance company. Isn’t rego paid to the government?

        • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 02/04/2019 - 14:36
          -2

          Pull up your insurer's terms and disclosure and read it.

          • cloudy on 02/04/2019 - 21:16
            +5

            @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: I said I don't understand why. I didn't say it doesn't exist

            • pegaxs on 02/04/2019 - 22:04
              +5

              @cloudy: Basically you are selling your vehicle to the insurance company. When you sell them the vehicle, it is sold as it sits at the time of the accident. So, if it was registered when the accident occurred, then it is sold as such.

              • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 02/04/2019 - 23:18

                @pegaxs: ^ This, plus is reduces the total outlay the insurer has to pay. They'll do anything to save a buck.

      • ESEMCE on 02/04/2019 - 16:05
        -3

        Put an application in to deregister it before sending off the paperwork to accept the Repairable Write Off payout.

        • GG57 on 02/04/2019 - 16:16
          +4

          I wouldn't try to confuse the process, and most likely cause a problem with OP's insurer.
          My understanding is that the insurance covers a registered vehicle.

          • Ti-au on 02/04/2019 - 17:41

            @GG57: Pretty risky to do that in terms of process.

            Saying that, the car was registered at time of accident.

      • zealmax on 04/04/2019 - 09:20

        You do get remaining CTP and insurance back, but not the rego.

    • Gareth on 02/04/2019 - 17:39

      So, just like if anyone else brought the car from OP then?

      (I think it actually depends upon insurer - my car was written off in ~2013, and I got to take the plates in for some $$$s)

      • salbee28 on 04/04/2019 - 11:25

        I had the same experience as Gareth here, but my car was only written off last year & I got my rego & CTP refunded to me by QLD transport. The insurance company even gave me the letter required to get this refund (since I couldn't return the plates), so sounds like it is based on the insurer.

  • angelkulit025 on 02/04/2019 - 09:50
    -1

    if you really love the car, why don't you buy it out from the insurer? and get quotes from panel beaters and assess how much it will cost you to get it repaired yourself.

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 02/04/2019 - 10:26
      +1

      If it was a decent hit, and it looks like it was, the car will never be quite the same.

      • Kangal on 03/04/2019 - 20:32
        +7

        Can't tell properly without a MS Paint illustration.

  • Ocker on 02/04/2019 - 10:16

    Based on past experience of similar damage to one of our cars it is going to be a line ball situation. What cannot be seen is any damage to the sub frame, etc, But based on what can be seen in the photo, as a guess I reckon you are looking at $10.000-$12.000 of damage

    • Changskies on 02/04/2019 - 10:22
      +5

      Hey, upfront apology if this sounds rude, but I mean no harm! We use comma to break up numerical value - e.g. 12,000.00 i know other countries uses reverse method… just sayin' :(

      • Ocker on 02/04/2019 - 10:49
        -5

        Old habit die hard - have spent most of my working life overseas I simply use the "." to break up the '000's and "-" for the $ and cents. That's the universally accepted standard and easily understood.

        • moph on 02/04/2019 - 12:18
          +10

          Lol, while we're being pedantic, neither of you are quite correct. Officially, Australia uses the SI style (English version) for numerical formatting, which looks like this: 1 234 567.89.

          ISO 31-0, being an actual internationally recognised standard, would be considered the 'universally accepted standard'.
          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_31-0

          • Seraphin7 on 02/04/2019 - 16:34
            +25

            @moph: Ahem, ISO 31-0 was withdrawn on 17 November 2009 and been superseded by ISO 80000-1.

            Pedants at 20 paces.

            • moph on 02/04/2019 - 18:21
              +10

              @Seraphin7: Excellent, always happy to update my pedantry to the newest version.

            • whirlpool_guy on 03/04/2019 - 18:31
              +5

              @Seraphin7: Should be written as ISO 80 000-1, lol

            • SporadicUser on 03/04/2019 - 19:22
              +4

              @Seraphin7: lmao this was not what I was expecting to read in comments

  • Broke-Ken on 02/04/2019 - 10:28
    +2

    Yep, in the eyes of the insurer it will be a write off.

    Insurer's these days just replace damage parts for new and do minor repairs. The rear quarter panels in most(all) cars are not bolted on, they are welded onto the chassis. So they can't be replaced easily, and will need some old fashion smash repair work which will be really expensive.

    Also the main battery is close to that area, they will need to make sure the integrity of the battery system has not been effected.

  • 87percent on 02/04/2019 - 10:34
    +7

    at least the driver actually stopped, and didn't do a runner..

    • Syd Bargain Girl on 02/04/2019 - 18:28
      +14

      to be honest, she would have done a runner if she could. Her car wouldn't move and had heaps of fluid coming out of it. She was also in her summer pj's and did not get out of the car for about 20 minutes, she stayed in the car on her phone the whole time to her sister.

      • gyrex on 03/04/2019 - 12:50
        +3

        I hope her insurance company denies her claim and seeks damages from her - it's the only way she'll learn a lesson and doesn't penalise other honest insurees.

        • Syd Bargain Girl on 03/04/2019 - 13:25
          +9

          Because she did not have a fully licenced driver accompanying her any claim that her brother thought he could make with his insurance (the car belonged to her brother) is null and void. You cannot be insured as a learner without an accompanied driver. My other half said he thought she would be paying this bill out of her own pocket and it will go through the courts, she is only 19.

          • Aneurism on 03/04/2019 - 20:52
            +3

            @Syd Bargain Girl: I'm surprised she didn't go begging to you to go private instead of via your insurer.

          • Lucious on 04/04/2019 - 10:07
            +1

            @Syd Bargain Girl: Not necessarily, it will depend on the terms of the policy and how she came to be driving the car (did the brother know). If the brother didn't know she was driving his car and she's not listed, or considered by virtue of being family, as an insured under the policy, his insurance may pay for the damage to his car. Whilst being licensed is a condition of cover under all motor policies, the exclusion doesn't generally apply if the insured did not know and could not reasonably have been expected to know the vehicle was being driven by someone who was unlicensed. It won't cover your damage though and if it does pay the insurer will be eligible to pursue the sister for the costs.

      • abb on 04/04/2019 - 09:37
        +3

        she stayed in the car on her phone the whole time to her sister

        I'm guessing that call started before the crash.

  • Mrbean007 on 02/04/2019 - 10:36

    Will be a right off won't able to repair it as you won't able to register it more parts for the car wreakers .

    • WhyAmICommenting on 03/04/2019 - 21:58
      +1

      Two wrongs don't make a write!

      • Mrbean007 on 04/04/2019 - 06:42

        Let me rephrase that repaireble yes registirible no maybe in a different state
        as in NSW will be classified as a write off as there is no more repaireble write off,s in NSW anymore.

        • Euphemistic on 07/04/2019 - 06:18

          Except if you have owned the vehicle for at least 28 days and the damage is not non-repairable. If it is, the it can be repaired and re-registered.

  • bazingaa on 02/04/2019 - 10:37
    +1

    My sympathies mate! :( can you buy another Prius for 12k?

  • SBOB on 02/04/2019 - 10:41
    +17

    car was a Learner driver without a supervisor in the car

    good thing you have comprehensive insurance then… as that driver is effectively uninsured

  • pegaxs on 02/04/2019 - 10:41
    +4

    A lot of labour to get that fixed. If it is insured for $12k, realistic value is about $10k. I would say that parts and labour required to fix this would most certainly be way more than 50% of the value of the vehicle.

    I’m sure you will be able to find another Prius out there to replace this one.

  • 87percent on 02/04/2019 - 10:44
    +1

    the new prius' are so ugly though, op's model was the last good looking prius

  • Chewiebacca on 02/04/2019 - 10:48

    It will 100% be written-off, if it were a 2019 Prius there may be a case for it however there's no way they will repair the damage to a Prius this old, not economically viable. Whether it's repairable or not is up to the assessor, but it will certainly be written off.

  • Jimmycfc on 02/04/2019 - 12:25

    Write off, i had a car smashed that looked similar to that, think of it as a blessing in disguise, perhaps a newer and better car is coming!

  • [Deactivated] on 02/04/2019 - 12:58
    +8

    It'll buff out.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/04/2019 - 13:04
    +3

    You don't want a car that has had that much damage to it. It will never be the same again, be thankful the insurance company is (probably) going to write it off.

    • Micko179 on 03/04/2019 - 10:53
      -4

      That is about the dumbest statement ever posted! It's nothing more than a 'skin' potentially that's 'glued' or welded in place. It's called an 'Economic Write Off' for a reason!

    • Euphemistic on 03/04/2019 - 07:20
      +5

      Dude, it’s just a car. No one was injured.

        • SBOB on 03/04/2019 - 15:45
          +23

          you may want to seek some help for your anger management issues
          or perhaps stop being such a keyboard warrior

          • Zachary on 05/04/2019 - 15:27
            -1

            @SBOB: So because someone has wrecked my beautifully loved car, I can't or have no right to take my anger out on them?

            • SBOB on 05/04/2019 - 17:06

              @Zachary:

              I can't or have no right to take my anger out on them?

              thats 100% the correct statement a rational well adjusted person would have
              especially as this was an accident
              its not like they came around with a sledgehammer and viscously targeted your vehicle

              but dont worry, one day you'll be a grown up and understand things like ethics and rational thought (we hope)

              • Zachary on 06/04/2019 - 13:37
                -1

                @SBOB:

                but dont worry, one day you'll be a grown up and understand things like ethics and rational thought (we hope)

                But I don't wanna grow up and get old then die!

                Ok so you're calm, it was just an accident that was not intentional or anything, at least as far as you can see and been told as you weren't actually there to see it happen so you couldn't tell whether the result was actually an accident or intentional, but lets give the guy who crashed your car a benefit of the doubt, maybe he just forgot or didn't see there was a car there….and since it was them you corked your ride, who pays for the damages to fix the lovely up?

                "Ooh, I better hope you got insurance on your car!" says the guy who crashed your car
                "Yeah actually I do, you lucky bastard now get off my street!" says the owner of the car that got ripped up
                "But I can't because my car's (profanity) and won't move…." responds the guy in the car who crashed into your car
                "Oh okay, well have fun then, bye." says the owner of the damaged car.

                This is how it's meant to play out for a person who doesn't have anger management issues….?

                • SBOB on 06/04/2019 - 13:50

                  @Zachary: nope, you're right
                  you should beat them up

                  I clearly see you're opinion was much more rational
                  :/

                  hope the easter bunny is kind to you in a couple of weeks…

                  • Zachary on 07/04/2019 - 14:56

                    @SBOB: …yeah, that's what I thought….

            • MountFranklin on 06/04/2019 - 17:39

              @Zachary: No. It's illegal. You are waste of space

              • Zachary on 07/04/2019 - 14:57
                -1

                @MountFranklin: You're a waste of space……producing all that plastic that goes into landfill….should be making more reusable and safe drinking bottles to keep your spring water in!

        • lltravel on 03/04/2019 - 17:15
          +1

          LOL OK MATE SURE. Go to jail for assault over a material item that can be replaced easily. You must be a teen for sure.

          • BobLim on 03/04/2019 - 18:59
            +2

            @lltravel:

            material item that can be replaced easily

            That would depend what type of car it is though…

          • Zachary on 05/04/2019 - 15:32

            @lltravel: … I bet you have no attachment for anything…..

        • smartazz104 on 03/04/2019 - 18:56
          +4

          At the end of the day, it's a Prius, not some rarity.

          • Zachary on 05/04/2019 - 15:31

            @smartazz104: It may just be Prius to us who wouldn't care less but to the owner, it'd be like their child who got smacked badly to the point that you could see their bone and meat come out of their bruises, by some random…..

            • Euphemistic on 07/04/2019 - 16:10

              @Zachary: Really?? This is part of he problem with our current society. Many people hold too much value in their possessions and when something goes wrong can not cope with the fact they are actually pretty easy to replace in most circumstances.

              If you think of a car as having the same value as your child you need to reassess your values.

  • Micko179 on 03/04/2019 - 10:07

    Absolutely, without a doubt, if it has bent the Rail (Chassis) it'll be deemed a Stat Write Off. It sucks, one of my Hybrid Camry's was hit in the Front by a Red Light runner & bent the very end of the Chassis & they deemed it a Stat Write Off which made it only good for parts. I could've repaired the car in a few hours & had a bloody good car still as I'd spent a fortune on it but they took it to the raffles. If you know someone who can repair it cheap see if you can get the salvage.

  • HeWhoKnows on 03/04/2019 - 16:47
    -6

    What a totally useless post!
    Its not up to anyone here to make any determination.
    Its up to YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY.

    Just sit tight and wait for the answer

  • anonymous01 on 03/04/2019 - 18:33

    The car was insured for $12K (agreed value) and $140 will have to come off that (balance to pay the remaining 1.5 months of the yearly insurance policy)

    You shouldn't have to pay the remaining 1.5 months of the policy because you are not buying insurance for next month for the car. I don't understand this? Last time I got in an accident, my insurance company refunded me the remaining year's money. It wasn't my fault either, so other person's insurance company paid for the damages as well.

  • BobLim on 03/04/2019 - 19:02

    Out of interest, why is your insurance involved? I thought the at-fault driver's policy would be the one you get paid from, making your agreed value irrelevant?

    Is it that their policy wasn't covering this unlicensed driver and your insurance company will sue them personally instead?

    • Aneurism on 03/04/2019 - 20:57

      Driver's brother's insurance was void as the driver was on L plates and not accompanied by a fully licensed driver.

    • Piranha2004 on 04/04/2019 - 08:44

      That is the reason for having insurance. If the OP contacts their insurance then he doesnt have to do any chasing up. Just lodge the claim as a not at fault and Op's insurance will do the rest. Bear in mind that there is a high probability that the at fault party's insurance will be null and void for driving without a supervisor (at the very least they will have a big challenge for the acceptance of the claim).

    • Syd Bargain Girl on 05/04/2019 - 09:20

      Yes correct, a learner driver that is accompanied, no matter if her brother had comprehensive insurance policy it is null and void now as she was driving illegally. You always go to your own insurance company anyway and they deal with the other party - less messy that way.

      • Micko179 on 08/04/2019 - 20:42

        Unless of course you're insured with Coles. One of my cars was hit by a Range Rover (drove off/hit & run) with 6 witnesses, dash cam footage, police report the whole thing they denied my claim as the driver of the Range Rover (stolen) was a 14yo girl!

  • tomcat83 on 03/04/2019 - 19:17
    +4

    The whole registration left on a car coming out of the agreed value is an absolute rip off. My car was written off with 11 months of rego left. It was insured for an agreed value which hadn't changed for 2 years yet they withhold the payment of the rego component because I could claim that back through service SA. Now I only ever register my car for one month in advance.

    • WhyAmICommenting on 03/04/2019 - 22:04

      You pay rego every month?

      • tomcat83 on 03/04/2019 - 23:02

        Yep, direct debit every month

  • tik tok on 03/04/2019 - 21:21

    I dont think this is a write off. May be a $5 - $6k of repairs. Its hard to imagine how the quarter panel ended up in front of the rear wheel.
    Someone t-boned a similar car of mine - replaced both doors and some internal fix ups. Costed $6k. Please do keep us posted how you go. Out of curiosity, who are you insured with ?

    • Piranha2004 on 04/04/2019 - 08:46

      100% likely to be a write off. Probably has chassis/rail damage and not sure if the battery packs would be damaged (they are on the bottom right?)

    • Syd Bargain Girl on 05/04/2019 - 09:22

      I am insured with NRMA and have about 10 policies with them including home contents, CTP, comprehensive on other cars, etc.

  • belongsinforums on 03/04/2019 - 22:35
    +1

    my car was hit from the rear. the boot was completely caved in and pushed into the back seat. insurance wrote it off. i paid $2k for the car originally. insurance of other driver paid me $3k. if you're lucky, you'll get a similarly generous payout, perhaps to cover some of the inconvenience of being without a car temporarily. lucky nobody was hurt in your case. i was in the car!

  • nikey2k27 on 04/04/2019 - 09:05

    I feel for loss i lost my car in Townsville flood only got Dec i only got pay out on it. you brand new one for 23,900 for last year C or demo one for around 24,000 sorry for loss.

  • mousie on 04/04/2019 - 09:50
    +1

    Hi Syd Bargain Girl

    Hit your insurance company up for a hire car immediately - this will start the clock ticking and give you leverage against the insurance company.
    I would start to gather some market data - in terms of what comparable vehicles you get get from a 'dealer used' to establish a basis for market value.

    Either your insurance company will attempt to low-ball you in terms of accepting a lower valuation - if they do this then you can reject on the basis of not being made 'whole'. What you do with the cash is completely up to you, if another vehicle or NOT is your preference.

    Milperra - where cars go to die - They deliver on site to pickles auction house, which is 90% change of a write off upon inspection by the assessor who will make a weekly trip. If not - they would have delivered to a smash repairer.

    Good luck

    • Syd Bargain Girl on 05/04/2019 - 09:25

      My car was not insured for market value, it was insured for agreed value of $12,000 so I won't be able to get "low balled" like they can do with market value.

      I have had a look at Pickles online they have other Prius cars there that have had hail damage and also accident damage.

      It was supposed to be delivered to smash repairer in the next suburb, it didn't even get taken off the truck there and got sent straight to Milperra so the smash repairers themselves have deemed it a write off.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/04/2019 - 09:59
    +1

    That'll buff right out.

    In all seriousness, looks like about $5000+ damage. A BMW tapped me from behind when I was stopped at a red light, put a dent in one panel, cracked the rear bumper, broke a tail-light, that was $4000. Looked similar to your car except my side panel wasn't as munted. It's amazing how expensive it all is.

    The insurance company might or might not write it off - it's on the fence and their call to make.

  • chuckles89 on 04/04/2019 - 10:52

    I think this would definitely be a write off. my condolences to your car. Even if repaired i do feel it will never be the same again with that much significant damage. Is there a 2nd hand market car that you could get the same vehicle for?
    pretty brave of an L plater to be driving out alone. If i were to illegally drive on my own on my L's. I would at least be confident about driving. assuming its a suburban street she should have been travelling at a moderately paced speed.

    • Syd Bargain Girl on 05/04/2019 - 09:28

      Yes it was a suburban street, 50 zone, but even so we have had morons driving 70-80 or more on the street before. I think she was definitely going faster than 50 and not paying attention. She wouldn't get off her phone and come out of the car when it happened. She was talking on her phone for at least 20 minutes after it happened. When the police came they wanted to see her phone (perhaps to check if she was using it whilst driving).

  • [Deactivated] on 04/04/2019 - 11:52
    -4

    Another Prius off the road. Hooray. Maybe trade up for a push bike? Even better for the environment.

  • codinghelloworld on 04/04/2019 - 11:54

    I also drive a Prius, very love anything from it. I am sorry to hear you're losing your car.

  • gezza90 on 04/04/2019 - 12:48
    +1

    In Australia, UK and USA that would be considered a write off.

    In Russia and Armenia, that's repairable.
    https://youtu.be/CC-CaEKD8Tk

  • abuch47 on 05/04/2019 - 17:24
    -1

    Get insurance, buy the car from auction. Fix it up and ship it out of state or country to be resold. Please don't actually do this like so many dodgy carnts. Maybe just buy it and turn it into a track car.

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