Page 1 of 2
V.I.C Test
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 2:29 pm
by polo_dude
The story is that I had an accident recently, and the polo was written of as it was uneconomical for the insurance to repair so we bought it back and did the repairs ourself which was practically nothing. Now the tax has run out and well we were waiting for the V11 form to appear, but it didn't so I called up the DVLA today and they said I need to get a V.I.C test done before they would allow me to get taxed. Now I was just wondering would the collies and all my other mods such as the 6n2 rears, RH cups and all tje rest affect the test and make it a fail? I doubt it would since as along as the insurance knows it won't affect them right? Or am I wrong just need a bit of reassurance and advice.
Cheers
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 2:41 pm
by NOZ
if i'm not wrong a VIC is an inspection to see if your cars road worthy after the accident.
I doubt mods would hinder the inspection if that's the case.
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 3:07 pm
by Torq-Al
VIC test is as much to check the identity as it is to check the repair, stops a vehicle being rung. Should have no problems, as long as all chassis numbers are there.

Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 4:36 pm
by polo_dude
Ah that's awesome
Cheers for the help guys!
Re: V.I.C Test
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:47 pm
by polo-sib
polo_dude wrote:The story is that I had an accident recently, and the polo was written of as it was uneconomical for the insurance to repair so we bought it back and did the repairs ourself which was practically nothing. Now the tax has run out and well we were waiting for the V11 form to appear, but it didn't so I called up the DVLA today and they said I need to get a V.I.C test done before they would allow me to get taxed. Now I was just wondering would the collies and all my other mods such as the 6n2 rears, RH cups and all tje rest affect the test and make it a fail? I doubt it would since as along as the insurance knows it won't affect them right? Or am I wrong just need a bit of reassurance and advice.
Cheers
Sounds strange I had something similar a CAT D write off, but got told I don't need a VIC as VIC is only for CAT: A, B & C
I could be wrong, anyway I could check if I need a VIC? And what Cat write off was yours?
Re: V.I.C Test
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:59 pm
by Torq-Al
polo-sib wrote:polo_dude wrote:The story is that I had an accident recently, and the polo was written of as it was uneconomical for the insurance to repair so we bought it back and did the repairs ourself which was practically nothing. Now the tax has run out and well we were waiting for the V11 form to appear, but it didn't so I called up the DVLA today and they said I need to get a V.I.C test done before they would allow me to get taxed. Now I was just wondering would the collies and all my other mods such as the 6n2 rears, RH cups and all tje rest affect the test and make it a fail? I doubt it would since as along as the insurance knows it won't affect them right? Or am I wrong just need a bit of reassurance and advice.
Cheers
Sounds strange I had something similar a CAT D write off, but got told I don't need a VIC as VIC is only for CAT: A, B & C
I could be wrong, anyway I could check if I need a VIC? And what Cat write off was yours?
As far as I remember, I think you're right! Cat D wouldn't need a VIC test, as far as I know. Cat C definately does. Cat B is for breaking for parts only & Cat A is a full crush job, no parts removal.
If it is a Cat C, you may have been driving it with null & void insurance & MOT since the write off, how worrying is that!!

Re: V.I.C Test
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 7:36 pm
by polo-sib
Torq-Al wrote:As far as I remember, I think you're right! Cat D wouldn't need a VIC test, as far as I know. Cat C definately does. Cat B is for breaking for parts only & Cat A is a full crush job, no parts removal.
If it is a Cat C, you may have been driving it with null & void insurance & MOT since the write off, how worrying is that!!

Haven't been pulled for a good four months, going to contact my insurers just to check its a cat D otherwise big OOOOPPPPSSSIEEE!
What is the main difference between cat c and d?
Re: V.I.C Test
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:05 pm
by Torq-Al
polo-sib wrote:Torq-Al wrote:As far as I remember, I think you're right! Cat D wouldn't need a VIC test, as far as I know. Cat C definately does. Cat B is for breaking for parts only & Cat A is a full crush job, no parts removal.
If it is a Cat C, you may have been driving it with null & void insurance & MOT since the write off, how worrying is that!!

Haven't been pulled for a good four months, going to contact my insurers just to check its a cat D otherwise big OOOOPPPPSSSIEEE!
What is the main difference between cat c and d?
Just grabbed the following off a car data site:
After a vehicle has been involved in an accident the owner will contact his or her insurance company, they will generally fill out an accident report and forward it to the insurers and the vehicle will then be inspected by an insurance assessor either employed by the insurance company or a freelance insurance assessor who will also fill out a car (all vehicles - motorcycles, vans etc) accident report and assess the damage to the vehicle.
The assessment of the vehicle included in the car accident report will be based on the financial cost and the assessor will then decide whether the vehicle should be repaired or declared a total insurance loss, a write off. In other words it is not worthwhile to repair a vehicle if the cost is greater than a replacement vehicle or the sum insured.
If the assessor decides to declare the vehicle a total loss it will be placed into one of four categories:
Category A: Beyond repair vehicle must be crushed
Category B: vehicles body must be crushed, may be used for supplying some replacement parts
Category C: vehicle has been extensively damaged and repaired
Category D: Vehicle has been damaged, insurer decided not to repair
If it states on the car accident report by the assessor that the vehicle has been a category A total loss should a vehicle be registered again it would have to go through a vehicle identity check (VIC), carried out by VOSA to establish the vehicle identity, it should also appear on the registration document as a category A. The same applies for categories B and C, however a category D is not required to go through a VIC. These categories are extremely useful in collating vehicle accident history on a given registration number - some vehicle have even been written off several times and this will show on a mycarcheck.com car accident report or vehicle accident report that is included within our vehicle data check.
If you wish to purchase a vehicle included in a car accident report then you must declare this to your insurance company, otherwise they may not pay out in the event of an accident or claim if this had not been made known to them when you were first insured. Remember insurance companies do not check vehicles before they insure them for adverse car history or car damage reports, it is down to the vehicle owner to do this.
The above categories on any given registration number that has been deemed a Total Loss by an insurance company can easily be found by typing the registration number into the check box at
www.mycarcheck.com you will also receive other information such as Stolen data from The Police National Computer (PNC) and you will be able to perform a VIN/Chassis check to validate the vehicle's id.
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:57 pm
by polo-sib
Thanks Torq, all I damaged was suspension (bent it) and dented the wing, what cat would you think that would come under? Insurance should get back to me tomorrow.
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:44 pm
by polo_dude

I was a CAT D!!! There was no real damage, the only damage that was caused was the boot door wouldn't close properly unless you slammed it shut and that was it!! Why an earth did my insurers do that??!

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:53 pm
by polo_dude
Do you think I have a case to argue with the insurers? By giving the quote
however a category D is not required to go through a VIC
I'll have to pay 40 odd pounds to get this check done and in the meantime I can't drive the car as I don't have tax and in order to get tax i need this b bliming test. Which I think is ridiculous if I don't actually need it!
Also Torq-Al by any chance do you know the site you got the info from mate, as a reference to the information.
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:51 pm
by Torq-Al
polo_dude wrote:Do you think I have a case to argue with the insurers? By giving the quote
however a category D is not required to go through a VIC
I'll have to pay 40 odd pounds to get this check done and in the meantime I can't drive the car as I don't have tax and in order to get tax i need this b bliming test. Which I think is ridiculous if I don't actually need it!
Also Torq-Al by any chance do you know the site you got the info from mate, as a reference to the information.
Keyed a search for 'write off categories' into google & hit GO! The one I got info off was www.mycarcheck.com
Also just found the info below, it's a bit more informative, on www.insurancechoice.co.uk
Salvage Write Off Categories
Category D
The least damage suffered of the four categories e.g. vehicles replaced under 'new for old' schemes, vehicles written-off to minimise hire charges.
The vehicle can be safely and economically repaired either by the insurer / motor trade or by an enthusiast using cheaper parts and reduced labour costs.
Note: the following was amended in the 2001 code of practice for the disposal of motor salvage, a pdf copy of which can be viewed by visiting the website link below.
The PAV (Pre Accident Value) does not exceed £2,000 (£1,000 for motorcycles), or for more expensive vehicles, where the engineer's assessed repair costs do not exceed the PAV.
Category C
Substantial damage, but repairable by an repairer or enthusiast.
The vehicle can be safely and economically repaired either by the insurer / motor trade or by an enthusiast using cheaper parts and reduced labour costs. The PAV (Pre Accident Value) exceeds £2,000 (£1,000 for motorcycles) and the engineer's assessed repair costs exceed the PAV.
Category B
Heavy damage e.g. bent chassis
The vehicle cannot be safely and economically repaired either by the insurer / motor trade or by an enthusiast using cheaper parts and reduced labour costs. However, the vehicle contains economically salvageable parts.
Category A
A 'total loss' e.g. burn-out. The only value is the scrap metal.
The vehicle cannot be safely and economically repaired either by the insurer / motor trade or by an enthusiast using cheaper parts and reduced labour costs and there are no economically salvageable parts.
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:55 pm
by Torq-Al
Also just found this on www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk
Looks like you need to challenge DVLA!
DVLA says a Category D write off needs a VIC check but my garage says it doesn't: who is right?
I purchased a car from a main dealer in Leicester. They told me the car is a registered Category D write off but that it doesn't need a vehicle identification check or VIC test in order to get the V5 registration document. Since then the DVLA have requested me to get a test done before they will release the V5 document. I have asked the trader to cover the £36 cost for booking the test but they have point blank refused to do so. As they said that a do not need a VIC test am I entitled to sue for compensation for the recovery of the cost to get the test done?
The garage are right and the DVLA are wrong - it should not require a VIC check for a category D write off, only an A, B or C write off.
That said it is worth having it done as it adds value to the car because it verifies the repairs have been done properly but you will not recover the cost of it from the dealer. Make certain it is a category D as if it is a C or above it will seriously affect the resale value.
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:01 pm
by Torq-Al
polo-sib wrote:Thanks Torq, all I damaged was suspension (bent it) and dented the wing, what cat would you think that would come under? Insurance should get back to me tomorrow.
Cat D - If value of vehicle is less than £2k
See the post with the expanded description I found, over 2 grand & it could possibly be a C.
More likely a D tho'

Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:24 am
by polo-sib
Torq-Al wrote:polo-sib wrote:Thanks Torq, all I damaged was suspension (bent it) and dented the wing, what cat would you think that would come under? Insurance should get back to me tomorrow.
Cat D - If value of vehicle is less than £2k
See the post with the expanded description I found, over 2 grand & it could possibly be a C.
More likely a D tho'

They valued it at the time of 1600, so I'm a cat D woooohoooooooo! thanks Al!