Page 1 of 1

how do i get a write off back on the road?

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 11:50 pm
by JoeG07
Well my last polo got written off, however ive decided to fix it up and sell it. but i'm unsure what i have to do! Insurance gave me £1800 for the car and i baught it back for £360. The only damage to the car is the rear panel is wrecked. Ive taken this off and the chassis is untouched, looked from both sides its percectly flat. So ive just got to whack on a new rear panel which costs £26 off euro parts. Ive got a mate who can spray it for next to nothing. Also few scratches in the rear bumper which again my mate will sort. There was a lot of light scratching on the front which has mostly come out with tcut. There were a couple of dents in the front wing which again have come out a dent sucker thingy.

Anyway in legal terms, what do i have to do? I know i have to re MOT it. My mate said something about a VIC test, no idea what this is, where it can get it done or how much it costs. And do I have to tell whoever buys it its been a write off?

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 12:08 am
by alexperkins
VIC test costs about £160 and is very very tedious - can take hours and hours.

Depending on the category of damage it may not need one.

Cat C will need one

Cat D wont

Cat B or Cat A cant go back on the road.

And yes, Id say youd have to tell them it was a write off. Id recommend speaking to the DSA about it so you can find out just whats needed.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 2:56 am
by Biddle
alexperkins wrote: And yes, Id say youd have to tell them it was a write off. Id recommend speaking to the DSA about it so you can find out just whats needed.
Im not sure but I would have thought that so long as you put it through the required tests that you wouldn't have to make the buyer aware of the fact the car has been repaired. If you were a trader/garage then yes you would be better off telling them because of the comebacks. But selling as a regular member of public once they bought it theres no come back against the seller.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:24 am
by chrisash32
i think it is printed all over the V5 that its a previous write off

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:39 am
by 1litreheater
Yeah it is printed what catergory write off it was, for example CAT D, on the v5 and registration forms.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 12:05 pm
by Biddle
But dont you hear sometimes that people buy cars only to find that they have been previously written off? How would this happen?

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 7:37 pm
by SteveB
Because they haven't done the checkes before hand. HPI I think its called. That will bring up any accidents, write offs or outstanding finance I think.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:14 pm
by pettsy
actually its because not all accidents are recorded with the insurance/dvla

Hpi checks are only any good if they have the correct information.


For example, someone could crash a perfectly good polo into a wall who is insured TPFT. Say the front end was crumpled and the inner wings bent out of shape. because its not down as an insurance claim,they could pay for the damage to be repaired and hpi will show it as having no recorded damage.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:21 pm
by SteveB
Yeah any recorded.... Is what I should have said.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:31 pm
by mysteryboy
With my crash insurance just left me to it.
They didnt contact me & I didn't contact them. All they did is ask what the damage was and that was it.

http://www.tigerstyle.co.uk/poloforum/v ... sc&start=0

Makes you think...how many cars are out there like this.

Had it m.o.t'ed 2 weeks ago and passed with flying colours 8)

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 12:26 am
by pettsy
Was talking to one of the bodyshop blokes i use, and he thinks about 90% of cars a year old willhave had some paintwork done on them

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 9:16 pm
by M1 TCH
vic test cost is £60!

i did one last week.

if the car is cat c, it needs a vic.

all you do is book it into your nearest vosa test station (mine is derby).

it takes about 10 minuites. all they do is check the chasis number and engine number against the details they hold.

this is to confirm that the car is not stolen or cloned!

Vic test is not an mot! just an identity check!

mitch