Insurance valuation - Golf GTI Rivage

Hi guys

Wonder if you could help me? Having a nightmare at the moment with my insurer. They're only valuing my car at £900 and I'm trying to prove otherwise… with little success.

I have a Golf GTI Rivage 1.8:

- K reg
- 150k milage
- v.good condition, tiny marks etc..
- 1 previous owner
- full service history

Is there anywhere online I could find how much they've sold for? So difficult as there's so few out there, but I'm sure they're worth more than 900 quid!

Cheers in advance!!!

Who are you trying for insurance mate?

I'm with e-sure. I'm disputing the estimation of value of my vehicle after an accident. Should of mentioned that…

Ah rite.

Unfortunatly they will only pay out the book value, which is around what they offered you.

The only time you will get more is if you take out an 'agreed valuation policy'

Thats when you and the insurance company come to an agreement on valuation incase you need to claim.

I would then only use a specialist as they clued up on true values ect.

Have you asked them to explain it, and where they're getting the figures from?

Only real way is independent valuation, adverts aren't that useful because 1) you have no way of knowing what it sold for and 2) the actual sale price isn't necessarily the one in the advert.

The letter I've received mentions they favour trade guides - glass's etc to determine the valuation. So the actual selling price not adverts. Thanks for your responses…

If they favour trade guides which most do then the price they have offered you is right.

I doubt you would get any more without an agreed valuation policy

Shit. Thanks for your time tho!

Hahaha, wasn't aware of the swearing filter. daffodil though??

Who's fault was the accident? So long as you mitigate your losses, if it costs more to buy a replacement car than your payout, you can ask for the difference.

My fault annoyingly.

Don't give in pal, get as many sale adverts as you can and do not accept that offer. Explain that in order to replace the car with a like for like example you will need to pay out (in my opinion) circa £3000-3500.

You need as many adverts as you can find to back that up though.

Thanks Gav, that's the spirit! I'm gonna persist, see what happens…

Alrite mate, you in Birmingham by any chance?

A very strong email or letter to the company with as much details as you possible can.

i had an accident in my mk2 years ago and it was shamefully a bit of a max power machine.

anyway i paid 3500 for the car and 4 days later smash

They offered me £400. reason being it was old, only 1.3 and it had no back seats - big sterio…

even though i paid £2000 for insurance and declaired or mods thats what they came up at. so i sent an email with simular cars for sale a list of all the modifications i declared and the prices of the parts and also the condition and the paint job with the £1500 alarm and so on and so on and i finally go £2800.

better than £400.

worth a try and should be easier due to yours is a classic.

also the company may only have the car down as a gti not as a ltd edition.

fight your side and fingers crossed.

I am yeah. Have I got a stalker?

Is it Plottneck? If so, it's Robin from school. If not then just a coinicdence and sorry to hi-jack thread  

Hahahhaaa, alright Sidders! I did look at the username and thought it could be you… ah man, this insurance lark is doing my head in and needed some support from fellow mk1 lovers. Think I found it!!! You good anyway mate, and you keeping your motor in better nick than mine?!!

Cheers Danj, appreciated. I think they have got it down as a GTI not LTD edition, typical. This response letter's lookin' healthy now. just gotta find a few more sale ads…

Oh and send it recorded post so theirs no oh we didn't recieve it.

Alright mate, yeah I'm good ta - motor's good. Sorry to hear about your Rivage man, it was nice! Seen you around Wylde Green in it a couple of times - I'm only down the road.
I think like everybody said, just keep fighting it and back it up with evidence. I argued with them when I wrote my GTI off and eventually they upped the offer.
Hope you're well anyway, dude. I thought it might be you from the username!