Accident repair advice

Evening,
Had a coming together with another car tonight (other driver fault) and now going through insurance. I'm really worried that an 'approved repair shop' will price it over the value by phoning VW and being told there are no parts any more. Has anyone else had any experience of getting theirs repaired through insurance? any tips?

Sorry to hear this but if you tell us roughly where you live that might help!  

Oh yes, Guildford

Unless you have an agreed valuation it may be difficult to convince the insurance company of the car's value, which could lead to them wanting to write it off!

It would be worth getting a quote yourself for the repair and then consider letting the insurance company write it off and buying it back and doing the work yourself?

It looks like you need bumper, front panel and perhaps a few lights - parts less than £200. but you will need to check chassis legs and perhaps the wing/inner wing too

Yes, I'm worried they won't authorise a repair with non OEM parts - it also needs a new bonnet and wing. Everything seems to be available from new apart from the foglight grille

adroy said

Yes, I'm worried they won't authorise a repair with non OEM parts - it also needs a new bonnet and wing. Everything seems to be available from new apart from the foglight grille

With new parts, I wouldn't be surprised to see a repair quote of £1000+

I recently had similar situation happen twice in 2014, the first time was my jag XJ6. It was proper bent but the insurance didn't even want the salvage, they insisted I kept it, they said they would charge £100 for the salvage, but never asked for it. The next time was my mk3 again they insisted I kept the salvage, it's had a grill and is still on the road.
My advice would be whatever happens, insist on keeping it, unfortunately there isn't a chance the insurance will consider a repair, speaking from experience. Also remember that you can take the car to wherever you want for the estimate, it's up to you who repairs / deals with your claim. I can recommend a company if it helps.

If the chassis leg under the battery tray is bent as it looks like it might be as that took most of the impact I expect they will write it off, the chassis leg is as crumple zone.
It will be expensive to repair that sort of damage so unless the there is a very good reason to keep the car I would let them write it off and then buy the car back and either fix it up or buy another one and transfer/keep any bits you want and sell the rest on, there is lot's of Mk1 out there.

Insurance company's are out to make as much money as possible from us and if they can pay as little out as possible they will and it seems common practice to write any car off over 10 years old.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I would expect the worse, I've not seen under the bonnet or the car close up so I hope I'm wrong.

The chassis leg is all crumpled. I did notice that it is possible to buy new inner wings that have legs on them

Has anyone got any experience of getting the best valuation out of the insurers?

I know common sense says I should just scrap it and find a new one on ebay, but I've kind of got attached to it and its foibles

Good news! Admiral paid in lieu of repair, £2000 and no write off!

I have to say they were so easy to deal with, and very straight forward. The assessor sympathised with my situation and seeing that I was willing to use 2nd hand and repro parts paid up.

Top marks to them

Really pleased for you .
I know what it's like to have a car you love that is worth more to you than the £s it's worth to an insurance company, so pleased they are going ahead with the repairs so anther mk1 golf gets to live another day.