Introduction and request for advice
Hi Everyone, Ihave been a member on and off for a while now. I am at my 4th and probably last Gwagen. I bought it iaroind 2008. A racing green 300GD auto long wheel base. I haven't been driving it since the start of the ULEZ. It's in a good condition with black leather inside. I had in bereavement in France and missed the MOT, when I came back the battery was flat. On the week I decided to jump start it and take to the garage and incident happened. On 31st October at 2am someone drove into two parked car and shoved them on the left hand side front passenger door. I was shocked to see that ´Mme Gwagen heavy as it is has been picked up fro it's parking bay onto the pavement. I have seen all colours from my insurance since. I need your help because you are connoisseurs of Gwagens. My vehicle is registered 1992 so practically it's a classic vehicle now. I know it was valued few year back at £25000 by a garage that wanted to take from me but I refused because of the sentimental value of my Gwagen. I have now been offered by the insurance not even a 1/3 of that pric and they scared at the way they are pushing to salvage it. I know that they would like to take it themselves and someone has put his eyes on it. This is not the first time they tried to get ride of it.
please please advise me on the actual value of such a car and whether I can ask to keep the vehicle. I am french and therefore not very familiar with the rulers. Many thanks for reading and for any advice you might give. I am very stressed and anxious following this incident that was not my fault.
Oh that's bad news.
Don't let the insurance company bully you into making a decision, take your time.
First thing to do is find out how much it would cost to repair it properly to a standard that you would be happy with. Ask the insurance company what their assessor has estimated the repair costs at but don't take that as the real world cost. Get an estimate from someone who knows what they're doing with G Wagens.
Do you have anything in writing from the garage valuing the car at £25,000? If so, send a copy of that together with copies of any adverts you can find for similar age G Wagens which I'm sure will be valued at or above your £25,000 figure. Here is one -
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205225978689?advertising-loc...
As you say that you want to keep the car, ask the insurance company how much they will offer on the basis that you will then get the car repaired yourself. Tell them that the car is easily repairable and that you don't want them to list it as a write off. That's important as if they list it as a write off then that stays with the vehicle and will cause problems with insuring and with selling the car in the future.
I'm sure others will be along, probably with better advice but that's what I'd do.
When you tell them about other G Wagens advertised (like the one I linked to) point out why yours is even better. Yours has leather interior (that's more desirable). Does yours have aircon? If so tell them that as it is a very desirable option that the one I sent doesn't have. Yours is also 2 years newer. All those things make it more desirable and therefore worth more money.
Treat it as a bit of a game - you show them why your car is worth more than any others advertised. There really aren't that many available so they will struggle to prove that their valuation is the correct one. The more examples you can send them the better.
I've had three cars that three different insurers wanted to write off (two accidents and one stolen). They all started out with low offers but by showing adverts for similar cars at higher prices all thee ended up paying a lot more than originally offered. One of those in the accident I did what you want to do, got an offer from the insurance company and kept the damaged car then got it repaired by the insurance company's own repairers for less than they paid me.
Did the car have an MOT when it was damaged? If not then the insurance company might be able to claim that the insurance was void (I don't know but it's something to find out as it would effect your negotiating poistion).
Where is your car now? If it doesn't have an MOT then it shouldn't be parked on the road.
Hopefully this will help you feel a bit better about your situation:-
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/dec/02/insurers-breaking-fca-r...
Here is another ad you can use as evidence if it helps:
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1441967
Previous incarnation, doesn't look all that special, fabric seats (drivers seat torn) less sought after engine, advertised at £30,000 and now sold.
Thank you Mark, you are so kind. As Gwagen lovers these cars have no values. I wish mine was not hit. Thank you
It might help to have a 'sight unseen' valuation range from GWOA to add to your evidence of valuation.
We do this for Members fixed value insurance proposals.
I am assuming this is a 1992 car (K registration and average mileage, good condition
Initially I would say a range of 19k-24k. More pics would help.
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Dear Mark
Thank you ever so much for your advice, I will draft a letter and send it to them. My car is K registered. i really appreciate your advice because I knocked at all doors and no one could help.
once more thank you. Warm wishes