CupraT

Had my car stolen. Assuming it is not returned anytime soon how long do you think it will be until the insurers payout?

I appreciate that this will vary from insurer to insurer and individual circumstances but would good to hear of 1st hand exeperiences with this.

Additionally any tips on getting a fair price would be appreciated as I suspect I will get 'robbed' by the insurers!

Cheers

BlkKnight

All I can say is never accept their first offer. . . .

CupraT

I have been reading up on my rights and have got a few valuations to hand (assuming the car is not recovered).

Bottom line they have to give you the value it costs to replace the car - their so called market valuation is bo11ocks apparently.

anyone else had any claim experience?

Mitchy260

My 1st offer was was £1000 more than i paid for the car so i was quids in when i crashed my car

GC8

Itll be a month before it is 'stolen'; so certainly not before then. Up until then its only taken without the owners consent.

Simon

Maz

iTrader: (34)

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, AFAIK they will offer you the market value and in most cases that is a good price. It helps to have photos, receipts etc if your car was in above average condition. Hope it gets settled forthwith.

Maz

P.S. Hope you aren't losing any sleep over it!

King RA

Obviously ensure these photos don't have pics of your undeclared 18"'s e.t.c

Lydia72

Mine was nicked three weeks ago, started the claim straightaway - had an interview over the phone one week after the theft and have been told we will have heard something by this Friday (so just under four weeks altogether). They did say that after three weeks the car is classed as stolen as opposed to TWOC'd but that didn't stop them getting the ball rolling on the claim.

Lydia72

You might like to spend some time looking at Autotrader etc for similar spec cars and working out an average value, our claims company did ask if we had done this and how many we had looked at, min-max price etc.

CupraT

Thanks all,

I did not have any undeclared modifications on the car (even though it was always tempting to tune the diesel engine ).

I have checked the auto trader prices so know what the rock bottom price I should be looking for (just had the first bl00dy service at circa £300!). Mine had low miles, new tyres, and a service 2 weeks ago.

If I am looking at 4 weeks for a payout (assuming car not returned) I may have to buy a run around in the meantime or face 5 hours public transport each day

mightyyid

Mate of mine had his car stolen outside his house one night in May 2005. He;s still waiting for the payout... all sorts of issues where he had to prove that the car was not in a police pound having been towed etc etc. In some cases it seems it can take a long time...

CupraT

Thanks mightyyid - cheered me up after a bad week

CupraT

OK been through a phone interview with the insurers (Privelidge - Direct Line).

Should get a call within 3 working days to agree a valuation then once this is agreed they send the cheque out. Assuming car not found then I may get a payout fairly quickly.

Still concerned that I will get robbed with the valuation!

The V5 has the car as an Audi 2.0TDi Auto

The car was a 2.0TDi S Line with the DSG auto box (this was on the insurance docs). The lady who took the details today did not seem interested in this but it does make a difference to the valuation.


I have searched the trader for similar cars and the cheapest car nationwide is £16, 500 (mine was a 1 owner and had just had a service with new tyres so mint condition) with valuations going up from there.

There appears to be a spread in prices from 16.5k to 18k with main dealer prices being more.

What should I pitch when asked for a valuation? I would like to get one from a main dealer as replacement and obviously get one localish to me.

wilkoca

took 5 weeks for my payout, they then sent me another cheque for the same amount.
Cashed it - that was 2 years ago

Ask for the higher amount and they will talk you down on it

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

er what is the difference ????

mightyyid

Sorry fella. Be prepared for some battles over price as, like when we all sell, we generallly always want more than we can get. It's like when people list their cars for sale with all the wonderful extra's it has. Most of the time it doesn't matter - like with the insurance company. And they may well look at trade-in value and work up rather than sale value and work down. I'm sure negotiation is a lot of it, as is the location of the call centre, if it's raining where they are (they feel down anyway), and as they think about whether they have time to get to Sainsbury's on their way home to get some lettuce...

Andy

CupraT

cheers guys,

Now done a glasses valuation and it lists it at £17,250 (price you buy at from a main dealer after negotiating from screen price) so this will be my minimum ).

GC8

'Theft' means to permenantly deprive whilst TWOC is simply taking away without permission.