What Happens If My Vehicle Is Written Off?

If the cost or practicality of repairing your vehicle means that repair is no longer economically appropriate, the vehicle may be declared a total loss, commonly referred to as being “written off”.

An engineer assessing a badly damaged carAn engineer assessing a badly damaged car

At this point, the focus of the vehicle claim normally moves away from repair costs and towards establishing the vehicle’s pre-accident value.

How is my vehicle valued?

A valuation can take into account the make, model, age, mileage, specification, condition and relevant market information for comparable vehicles.

It’s important that the specific characteristics of your vehicle are properly considered rather than relying solely on a generic figure.

Can I keep my vehicle?

Depending on the salvage category and circumstances, vehicle retention may sometimes be possible.

A salvage value will generally be deducted from the settlement if the vehicle is retained.

Our team can explain the figures and available options before you decide whether retention is appropriate for you.

Please note: this article is general information about how non-fault accident claims usually work. It is not legal advice and does not create a client relationship. Every claim turns on its own facts — if you need advice on your situation, get in touch and we’ll talk it through with you.

Related reading

Read more: Total Loss Claims
Read more: Replacement Vehicles
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