My motorhome was written off (cat N) - should I buy it off the insurance company?

[neilydun]

When I was younger I bought a few write offs and drove them around without issue.
Mostly older vehicles with panel damage, which made them an uneconomical repair.
Never bothered me, never had an issue with insurance, and often sold them on for more.
That was some time ago, but if insurance is no issue, I would do the same again.

 

[Roger S]

You should be mindful that if you do repair and then eventually sell it or make another claim it will be in theory be worth 25% less than a non written off vehicle. So make sure the repairs plus the 30 % you pay for it don't exceed its value.

 

[oldiesontour]

The key words" in theory" ,if repaired properly and used personally for a few years,then sold privately many potential buyers will see it's been used and motd over a period so the current owner is happy with it and mot has shown no problems ,so are reassured the bit on the log book is not so important,so if it's the van they want and say 10% less than any comparable van ( depending on value this can be a few.thousand £) they'll go for it.With regards insurance payout it is possible to insure for an agreed value

 

[Roger S]

The key words" in theory" ,if repaired properly and used personally for a few years,then sold privately many potential buyers will see it's been used and motd over a period so the current owner is happy with it and mot has shown no problems ,so are reassured the bit on the log book is not so important,so if it's the van they want and say 10% less than any comparable van ( depending on value this can be a few.thousand £) they'll go for it.With regards insurance payout it is possible to insure for an agreed value

Possibly but if you had two vans next to each other ( which I know is unlikely ) and one had been written off how much less would it need to be to buy the written off one.

 

[Two on Tour]

Possibly but if you had two vans next to each other ( which I know is unlikely ) and one had been written off how much less would it need to be to buy the written off one.

Let's aim for the low side of the likely current valuation of the OP's pre-damaged 2017 Dethleffs T 6767 and say £40,000.
So buying back at 30% of £40,000 is £12,000, leaving £28,000, and even with a way over estimate of £10,000 for repair, this leaves £18,000 and I can not see there being a différance in value anywhere near £18,000 between a never damaged and a properly repaired 2017 Dethleffs T 6767 and the margin of difference will reduce over time as the values fall due to age.
Another point is that the OP still has the van that he feels is the right van for him without having to source another one, plus he has the goodies already on the van and would likely to have to spend out to get a replacement van up to the spec that is already on the present written off Dethleffs.

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[Roger S]

Let's aim for the low side of the likely current valuation of the OP's pre-damaged 2017 Dethleffs T 6767 and say £40,000.
So buying back at 30% of £40,000 is £12,000, leaving £28,000, and even with a way over estimate of £10,000 for repair, this leaves £18,000 and I can not see there being a différance in value anywhere near £18,000 between a never damaged and a properly repaired 2017 Dethleffs T 6767 and the margin of difference will reduce over time as the values fall due to age.
Another point is that the OP still has the van that he feels is the right van for him without having to source another one, plus he has the goodies already on the van and would likely to have to spend out to get a replacement van up to the spec that is already on the present written off Dethleffs.

Excellent

 

[gus-lopez]

My understanding also. If it's a write-off, the market re-sale drops and any future pay-out would take that into account. That's fair enough, I would expect it.

You can remove any reference to it being a category n ,etc; with non structural damage simply by repairing and having it inspected and passed. Then has a value as if never damaged ,and no requirement to inform any buyer;if that way inclined.

 

[Terry]

Afraid that the history will follow your van forevermore. You can pay for history checks on vehicles and once on file it will be there for all to see. Yes it may get repaired and checked but it will always show up on checks, it may even say it’s been repaired but it will always show cat N ins write off. That will always mean that come sale time it will always be worth a lot less than perhaps you think.yes you may find a buyer who does not care about the cat N but they will want a significantly cheaper van.
Ask yourself how many buyers will buy a write off ? 95/99 % would simply walk away and find another vehicle

 

[dna]

The steering wheel was cut to remove one of those after-market yellow bar locks...that's a lesson to get a round one that fully covers the steering wheel.

From what I gather, the dashboard was busted up in the hunt for a tracker and when it wasn't found, they parked it up to see if there was a tracker somewhere and whether someone would then come and get it.

that sounds positive then that they cant have done much hidden damage to the drive train etc by abusing it. If you dont buy it back i imagine it will go to auction and someone will buy it and put it back on the road.

 

[Barclaybasher]

that sounds positive then that they cant have done much hidden damage to the drive train etc by abusing it. If you dont buy it back i imagine it will go to auction and someone will buy it and put it back on the road.

They damaged the dash and cut steering wheel - they would have wanted to continue driving it after checking that it hadn't been traced.

I would have thought that the damage wouldn't cost too much to put right...

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[bobandjanie]

It depends on their offer, 30% can be OK if they give you a good offer.
It took me 4 months of rejected offers and every conversation ended with carry on storing it then.
They finally asked what I wanted and I gave them my figure and kept the car. Bob.

 

[vkr15s]

I would make an offer of 25%. Once you’ve got it photograph the damage before and after and as it is all in the cab would not worry and get on with enjoying the van you have at a knocked down price.

 

[Simon G]

As noted above, the difference now to 'a while back' is the record keeping. Its Cat N status will always be discoverable. That said, so what? You're getting your ideal MH back for 30% of its value, plus cost of repairs: has to be a bargain. Its future value will be discounted somewhat but you'll still be ahead.

As for what someone described as 'the ick factor', I've never understood. Maybe I'm weird but after 4 burglaries I've never felt 'violated' or whatever: it's just stuff... And as the OP says, the habitation seems to be untouched. If it were me, I'd go for it...

 

[mysomic]

Let's aim for the low side of the likely current valuation of the OP's pre-damaged 2017 Dethleffs T 6767 and say £40,000.
So buying back at 30% of £40,000 is £12,000, leaving £28,000, and even with a way over estimate of £10,000 for repair, this leaves £18,000 and I can not see there being a différance in value anywhere near £18,000 between a never damaged and a properly repaired 2017 Dethleffs T 6767 and the margin of difference will reduce over time as the values fall due to age.
Another point is that the OP still has the van that he feels is the right van for him without having to source another one, plus he has the goodies already on the van and would likely to have to spend out to get a replacement van up to the spec that is already on the present written off Dethleffs.

Here's the economics of it for anyone interested:

Purchase price in 2021: £44,000
Work done in 2021: Electrics (all Victron) / 600W Solar / 400AH lithium / Gaslow / alarm / MaxAir fans / external door locks: c. £12,000

Insurance settled for £53,500

I bought it back this morning for £16,000 (thanks for all the replies - figure I'd be a fool not to).

Needs the dashboard fixed up, new steering wheel, new ignition set and driver door lock, external Truma door locks replaced, driver side front corner bumper (cracked), passenger wing mirror (busted), driver wing mirror indicator, back indicators (ripped out), few minor dings on hab bodywork.

My ball-park is £5,000 to get it back on the road and fix most if not all of the cosmetic damage.

 

[Mr B]

Here's the economics of it for anyone interested:

Purchase price in 2021: £44,000
Work done in 2021: Electrics (all Victron) / 600W Solar / 400AH lithium / Gaslow / alarm / external door locks: c. £12,000

Insurance settled for £53,500

I bought it back this morning for £16,000 (thanks for all the replies - figure I'd be a fool not to).

Needs the dashboard fixed up, new steering wheel, new ignition set and driver door lock, external Truma door locks replaced, driver side front corner bumper (cracked), passenger wing mirror (busted), driver wing mirror indicator, back indicators (ripped out), few minor dings on hab bodywork.

My ball-park is £5,000 to get it back on the road and fix most if not all of the cosmetic damage.

Result. Try and sell it for 30k straight away

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[vkr15s]

Result well done

 

[ianp]

What was the insurers estimate of repair cost and why didn't you insist on a repair as they are liable upto market or agreed value ?

 

[Two on Tour]

Here's the economics of it for anyone interested:

Purchase price in 2021: £44,000
Work done in 2021: Electrics (all Victron) / 600W Solar / 400AH lithium / Gaslow / alarm / MaxAir fans / external door locks: c. £12,000

Insurance settled for £53,500

I bought it back this morning for £16,000 (thanks for all the replies - figure I'd be a fool not to).

Needs the dashboard fixed up, new steering wheel, new ignition set and driver door lock, external Truma door locks replaced, driver side front corner bumper (cracked), passenger wing mirror (busted), driver wing mirror indicator, back indicators (ripped out), few minor dings on hab bodywork.

My ball-park is £5,000 to get it back on the road and fix most if not all of the cosmetic damage.

Nice one, hope it all goes back together okay, and you get many years of enjoyment from your van if you decide to keep hold of it, plus of course you will be getting a warm and fuzzy feeling with also pocketing 30k plus into the bargain.

 

[Nanniemate]

Before and after pics please