My 'Written off' car is for sale again - Is there anyone to report it to?

[ShaneE]

Pretty much what the title says, but I wrote off a car in April this year, and it's just resurfaced for sale again (As code 2, with mileage rolled back 10k km) - I've confirmed the VIN number and Registration with the dealership.
I guess i'm not under any obligation to care, but should it be reported to anyone? Insurance, finance house?

 

[bwana]

Written off by the insurance company? If so it's their car now, ask them.

 

[ShaneE]

Yeah by the insurance company - I mean, it shouldn't have been written off, but they wouldnt budge and I had to let them - I still have the spare key and owners manual / service books for it too

 

[Drifter]

Thats fraud. Written off and rebuilt should be code 3.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Yeah by the insurance company - I mean, it shouldn't have been written off, but they wouldnt budge and I had to let them - I still have the spare key and owners manual / service books for it too

So it may have been "written off" as far as them paying you out for it, but they never officially wrote the vehicle off..

If its a concern for you, then get in touch with your broker and get them to possibly find out if the insurance company actually intended to Code 3 the vehicle.

 

[chrisc]

Ins companies frequently resell cars that have been declared "written off"

I had a 2009 BMW which was hit in front by a lorry whose steering had failed. The book value of the car was R144000 and the repair cost was R128000

The majority of that was 6 airbags at R14k each and parts that only BMW agents could sell (grille assembly R33k)

My friend who runs a motor workshop bought the car from Santam for R45k, spent R9k on fixing it (he replaced 2 airbags and got parts sent out from China). His wife still drives it, and it is perfect

So why not? Otherwise it is just scrap

 

[Desig]

Sounds unethical to me

 

[chrisc]

Thats fraud. Written off and rebuilt should be code 3.

No, it depends on the nature of the damage and whether it was de-registered. In my case, the car was not de-registered and the new owner paid road tax

 

[ShaneE]

I'm pretty sure it is fraud - They confirmed that the car was being deregistered when it was settled, so I see no reason that it shouldn't be listed as code 3?

The only part that upsets me is that I dont think it should have been written off in the first place. The sump and gearbox were cracked, and instead of just replacing the gearbox casing, they quoted R180k for a new gearbox, which ended up writing it off

 

[Drifter]

If the cost of repair is > 60% of the value of the car. It's deemed a write off.

 

[epah]

Well since you have the spare keys why dont you steal it and save someone from buying it?

 

[PaulMurkin]

I'm pretty sure it is fraud - They confirmed that the car was being deregistered when it was settled, so I see no reason that it shouldn't be listed as code 3?

The only part that upsets me is that I dont think it should have been written off in the first place. The sump and gearbox were cracked, and instead of just replacing the gearbox casing, they quoted R180k for a new gearbox, which ended up writing it off

The above requires a rebuild of the transmission. Definitely not cheap, but definitely not R180k

 

[rietrot]

Yeah by the insurance company - I mean, it shouldn't have been written off, but they wouldnt budge and I had to let them - I still have the spare key and owners manual / service books for it too

Sell this on to the new owner and make some profit.

 

[ShaneE]

Well since you have the spare keys why dont you steal it and save someone from buying it?

Is it really stealing if I have the keys and it shouldnt be there anymore ?

The above requires a rebuild of the transmission. Definitely not cheap, but definitely not R180k

Yeah I got quotes to do it, but they said I need to get a full second quote done (of all the damages), including the rebuild of the gearbox, or accept their full quote, which included a new gearbox

 

[rietrot]

How do you crack the gearbox without damaging anything else underneath the car?

 

[ShaneE]

Sell this on to the new owner and make some profit.

I kinda like this option too, I have the boot cover / parcel tray thing too, it's all just taking up space

 

[epah]

Is it really stealing if I have the keys and it shouldnt be there anymore ?

Exactly, If your key fits then its all yours.

 

[ShaneE]

How do you crack the gearbox without damaging anything else underneath the car?

Haha i'm not that good, I mentioned that the sump was damaged too, it was those 2, and then a bunch of covers / heat shields, and part of the exhaust was scratched too

 

[PaulMurkin]

Is it really stealing if I have the keys and it shouldnt be there anymore ?

Yeah I got quotes to do it, but they said I need to get a full second quote done (of all the damages), including the rebuild of the gearbox, or accept their full quote, which included a new gearbox

Automatic or manual?
Cracked- I assume it was a full frontal prang and that cracked the bell housing, which probably bent the input shaft too. Not too much of a train-smash, can be fixed.

I've rebuilt a transmission before, not easy, its time consuming but that car is still happily driving around out there

 

[epah]

How do you crack the gearbox without damaging anything else underneath the car?

If the car is manual then all you have to do is a be woman. Anything is possible with that bunch and manual gearboxes.