Cat -D Insurance valuations

[GlennyGills]

So as not to hijack the thread from Shaz_Mx5's http://www.mazdamenders.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=6158 Mk1 S-Special Resto Project.

I am wondering just what the insurance companies are valuing a comparatively good condition Mk1 with minor damage. I am not an insurance estimator, but here does look much more than a few hundred quids worth of damage there. So if that car was written off by the insurance company for say £500 what is the value of fully comp insurance on an old Mk1. Many Mk1's in good condition are going for £1500+. More importantly how do I ensure my car is not written off because the tail light got broken...

Comments ???

[Mazda Mender]

No there was only a rear number plate panel, rear drivers side light cluster damaged and a scratch on the bumper....read it again, all the pics are there and info, the owner was guided wrong and reg'd her as a cat d when there was no need to just like LIz in admin had the same problem, for the same thing, i was just doing what he thought was the correct think to do and followed thier instructions as he did not know any different, and yes it grinds, check out speedy's thread on his s/spec, his to was a cat D for a dented rear wing only and he rescued her which is now with a new owner who is very happy on here, the reason she is going through what she is, is because the owner lost his job and started to sell bits off her until i bumped into him and realized just how good she was and miles, she just needed putting back together again and the searches are on to find all the correct items that she would of been built with, and at the same time we are revamping with a fine tooth comb as we go, she will be fully revamped and will need nothing but fuel and using when we are finished.
It is a real p*sser that these insurance Co's do what they do and if he would of contacted us first that would of never been the case as she is solid ,rot free and no body damage,,,why do you think i went into "this needs to be saved" , i have a keen eye and know these roadsters, so me and Aaron took her on and is at Aarons simply because i have no room here with the projects and owners roadsters coming to me, most of the bits are coming out of the bat cave And Aaron is bolting them all on, we have a big list of missing parts, but nothing will be brushed over,,everything needs to be the correct bolts or screws, trim etc etc etc, we cannot say she is a restore as no tin worm needs cutting out what so ever,,,,so we give her the badge of revamp, if there is any paint need for a scratch,,,she will get it and be posted up, we have nothing to hide and is all being posted up for the new owner and for everyone to read and follow.
Keep watching the thread has there is nothing to hide and the new owner sat in the wings that is waiting to enjoy her when we have finished is watching with a big grin on his face and super keen to get his hands on her after making a massive mistake with getting a TT....i did say Dave.
If she would of been really damaged, i would of gone nowhere near her, she is i really good nick with just bolt on items missing, that's all, and is making a nice project to keep a good solid rust free model still out there and being enjoyed for a very long time to come yet,,,follow the thread, i am deeply involved in this, everything is being sorted.
Insuring the roadster will not be any issue what so ever.
M-m

[Shaz_mx5]

Wayne think you misinterpreted the question, best way to get around the insurance companies not writing off your car for minor damage GlennyGills, which is what happened to the S Special, is to get an agreed valuation. Ring them and say you want it valued properly, send pics in of the condition of it etc. Adrian Flux, Greenlight, Footman James all offer this service as do most others bud. The S-special is a different kettle of fish, shame the guy had to go through is insurance and have it down as a Cat-D as the damage was merely cosmetic. Just because he didn't know what to do with them.

[Mazda Mender]

I went through repairing one myself and refused the insurance to have her taken anywhere to their repairers as i knew they would never do it to my personal standard,,,what i was told was a that if i wanted is that an assessor could be sent out and they would give me a Chq for the price i needed for repairing myself as long as i could prove what the full cost would be,Never heard of this before ?what i was told was that i was in a good place as i had no storage costs, labour costs, hire car costs and no injury claim going, so a Chq was sent after the chap came after a great chat as he was a petrol head, and he personally wanted me to send hem the repair pics and when finished and back on the road again (that was not part of the insurance),so all repaired correct (and to deep ;0) ) and back on the roads and not cat registered , which was not really a difficult fix but the insurance would of cat D her 100% Maybe even a C?
So that is another route to take that i was not aware of, but is locked in for the future if ever needed again.
M-m

[GlennyGills]

Thanks for the information. Like you say, the only way to get a "proper" assessment of what you could expect and to prevent a Cat-D write off is to get an agreed value. Wayne when you got the agreement to fix the car yourself, was it still declared as CAT-D ? Lots of people get overly concerned with buying a Cat-D car.

[Mazda Mender]

Thanks for the information. Like you say, the only way to get a "proper" assessment of what you could expect and to prevent a Cat-D write off is to get an agreed value. Wayne when you got the agreement to fix the car yourself, was it still declared as CAT-D ? Lots of people get overly concerned with buying a Cat-D car.

No did not need cat declared, but if i had gone through the insurance it would of been cat D maybe even a cat C?, i personally have no issues with cat D's as it is only light damage, but always want to see what the damage was and how good the repair is, as cat D's are mainly body work ,Cat C's are more structural, cat B's are for breaking only and cat A's are scrap only .
Does that help.
M-m

[GlennyGills]

Many thanks. Mine was a Cat-D when I bought it and I have had it for over three years now, with no problems. Thanks for the help.