Can I Get My Car Replaced Instead of Fixed via Insurance?

LAvgconsumer on 17/07/2019 - 19:16
Last edited 18/07/2019 - 00:54 by 1 other user

Hi guys, first post here please excuse the format.

Just want to get the community's opinions on an unfortunate incident last night.

A driver failed to give way at a stop sign and tee-boned my parents six months old car (i was driving it). Visible damage on my parents car were the rear door on the drivers side was crazily dented but still intact and right rear wheel went flat. Towed last night to a tow yard and i called NRMA this morning. NRMA said the damage was repairable so they can't get it written off.

I feel relieved in a way that we don't have to pay a cent. However, I'm just feeling a bit salty as it was pretty much a brand new car, just hit 8000k and i wasn't at fault driving. Now it probably has second-hand parts replacing it. So, are there ways to get it written off so we can potentially get a new car?

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Comments

  • jzdhgkd on 17/07/2019 - 19:23
    +19

    Smash it again but this time do it harder

  • brendanm on 17/07/2019 - 19:27
    +4

    They won't repair it with second hand parts.

    • plmko on 17/07/2019 - 19:34
      +5

      Yes a panel beater has no interest in charging for second hand parts because they can bill the insurer more when sourcing genuine parts.

    • jimbobaus on 17/07/2019 - 19:40
      +2

      Unless you are with AAMI Or any Suncorp insurer
      They have depots In all states where they store written off cars for parts to use for repairs.

      • crentist on 17/07/2019 - 19:43

        How/where did you learn this?
        Are you sure this isn't just the normal wreckers who are sometimes used for sourcing parts in older cars?

        • jimbobaus on 17/07/2019 - 19:47
          +10

          Worked for Suncorp for 7 years…. was responsible for “supplying” parts to panel shops when claims were processed. Was always expected to check state depots first.

          There is a reason aami doesn’t let you choose your repairer

          • crentist on 17/07/2019 - 19:53

            @jimbobaus: Ah that sucks. I've had choice of repairer, but only ever dealt with old cars that ended up with used parts anyway due to availability, or so I'm told

    • resubaehtgnolhcs on 17/07/2019 - 19:46
      +2

      NRMA PDS states that they will try and replace with 2nd hand parts if your car is more than 2yrs old. Whilst it won't apply to OP, insurers and panel beaters do use 2nd hand parts!

    • apsilon on 18/07/2019 - 06:34

      Some insurers will allow used, recondition and non genuine parts. Read your PDS. There's more to picking insurance than finding the cheapest price.

      • brendanm on 18/07/2019 - 07:02

        I've done work for plenty for different insurers, anything that wasn't an old shitbox that you couldn't get parts for, all used new parts. Even when my old forester got punched in the back, all new genuine parts were quoted up for it, hence it got written off. Had plenty of times when we had to wait for parts from Japan it Thailand for late model stuff. 1 year old Hilux, they could get a used engine, they chose to pay more and wait a month to get a new genuine long motor in. Smart story with plenty of things with bent subframes that aren't kept in stock in australia.

        Insurers do not want people continually coming back with issues, coating them more money in the long run. They want it done as well as possible from the start.

  • crashloaded on 17/07/2019 - 19:30
    +1

    Break in to the tow yard and steal the engine out of it.

  • Skramit on 17/07/2019 - 19:30
    +4

    Unfortunately that’s just bad luck. I don’t see why an insurance company with say $8000 of repairs to undertake should have to stump up $30k for your folks to get a new car. They’ll only write it off if more economical to do so.

    • redforever on 18/07/2019 - 08:47

      I think the 8k refers to 8000km on the odometer. But yeah, insurance will replace the car less than 1 year old if it's written off.

      A friend got his 6 months old car replaced as his car car was written off due to hail damage.

      • Skramit on 18/07/2019 - 09:00
        +1

        I know I was just making up figures.

  • crentist on 17/07/2019 - 19:41
    +3

    Dented door and a flat tyre? Not that much to be concerned about really. If it was structural damage it'd be a different story.
    But the paint might not match 100%, so best bet is to smash it up some more until the repair costs are more than the insured value of the car so there's no excuse.

    Definitely a good idea, and you should do this before consulting your parents because they "have to" discourage that kind of thing. They'll be glad you did it though, guaranteed

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 17/07/2019 - 19:49
    +7

    Driving into a lake will obtain the result you desire.

    • myusername on 17/07/2019 - 19:56
      -1

      this right here yo!

  • myusername on 17/07/2019 - 19:56
    +3

    if you live in Logan just leave the keys in the ignition and park it at the local shopping centre

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 17/07/2019 - 20:02
      +2

      Na, it'll be located with cigarette burns in the seats and an empty fuel tank somewhere. OP will pay the excess as the keys opened the vehicle.

    • EightImmortals on 18/07/2019 - 08:16

      Leaving keys in the ignition voids your insurance.

  • kahn on 17/07/2019 - 20:10
    -1

    How good are your MS Paint skills?

  • [Deactivated] on 17/07/2019 - 20:38
    +13

    Easy.

    Just commit insurance fraud.

  • apu on 17/07/2019 - 20:45
    +1

    I think typically the cost of repairs have to be around 75 percent or more of the market value or agreed value of the car in order to be written-off.

    • Levathian on 18/07/2019 - 01:02

      Yep.. my sister has a 10 year old mazda 2. Some muppet texting smashed into the back of it at like 60km/h and smashed the back and front of the car in (it hit with enough force to cause a car sandwich).
      The insurance opted to repair it and it took over a month. She was soooo pissed but nothing she could do.

  • Euphemistic on 17/07/2019 - 21:01
    +1

    The instance company makes a decision to repair or write off on the value of the repairs, picking the cheaper option. Obviously repairing is cheaper in this instance, otherwise they would take the wreck and write you a cheque. You might get a choice if it is close, but not usually.

    NRMA are pretty good, will only use new parts and guarantee the repairs for life.

  • p1 ama on 17/07/2019 - 21:03

    A driver failed to give way at a stop sign and tee-boned my parents six months old car (i was driving it). Visible damage on my parents car were the rear door on the drivers side was crazily dented but still intact and right rear wheel went flat. Towed last night to a tow yard and i called NRMA this morning. NRMA said the damage was repairable so they can't get it written off.

    Based on what you've said here, basically no chance it will be written off.

    I feel relieved in a way that we don't have to pay a cent. However, I'm just feeling a bit salty as it was pretty much a brand new car, just hit 8000k and i wasn't at fault driving. Now it probably has second-hand parts replacing it. So, are there ways to get it written off so we can potentially get a new car?

    Should have asked to be hit harder, I suppose? Either way, no, insurance will repair it. If you want it written off, then just get the repaired car back and sell it. If you're insured for market value, you should get around the same.

  • maybeamacy on 17/07/2019 - 22:29
    +1

    Burn it to the ground - insurance won't pay you out but it'll be written off and you can buy a new car with self justification.

  • Euphemistic on 17/07/2019 - 22:45
    -2

    Why has no one mentoined bikies yet?

  • xuqi on 17/07/2019 - 23:37

    You're in NSW, call Slaim's crew. A cousin here, a cousin there and it'll be written off in no time.

  • Marcsie on 18/07/2019 - 07:02
    +1

    lol

  • Danstar on 18/07/2019 - 07:16

    As it's a new car, new parts will most likely be used to replace any damaged parts.

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