Hi.  My beloved Octavia VRS 230 limited edition is a write-off following someone heading in the opposite direction very suddenly deciding that they preferred to drive towards us in our lane versus theirs.  I’m bracing myself for the insurance settlement figure - is anyone on here able to clue me in to roughly how much I might be looking at as a ballpark figure, please? It was a 16 plate with 58500 miles (registered in Mar 16 …. 2 owners ….500 mile demo then me). 

 

I’m gutted as I loved the car and was planning to keep it for another few years.  Looking at delivery timescales for a new VRS hasn’t lightened the mood and nearly new prices are high too owing to extant market forces.  Thanks in advance - I’m trying to build info to compare against the incoming figure.

Edited 1 April, 20224 yr by Alstox
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They'll almost certainly offer you something derisory in the first instance. Remember you don't have to just accept this figure.

 

Start collating your own information on similar cars and how much they're advertised for as examples of how much it will actually cost you to return to the position you were in.

 

It may also be useful to get some supplementary information such as WBAC, Motorway, carwow quotes for your registration as these will also help reinforce the true market value your car held.

 

Be firm with them if they try and fob you off with comparisons to 220s that are clearly not an equivalent car.

1 hour ago, Kenai said:

They'll almost certainly offer you something derisory in the first instance. Remember you don't have to just accept this figure.

 

Start collating your own information on similar cars and how much they're advertised for as examples of how much it will actually cost you to return to the position you were in.

 

It may also be useful to get some supplementary information such as WBAC, Motorway, carwow quotes for your registration as these will also help reinforce the true market value your car held.

 

Be firm with them if they try and fob you off with comparisons to 220s that are clearly not an equivalent car.

Good advice from Kenai. In 2004 I had my car written off by by a driver behind me not paying attention to the road ahead. I did what Kenai advises and rejected the first derisory offer, the second offer and accepted the third. I have a good solicitor, who at the time handled the case. He is my good lady's brother! Mind you, I did not have Carwow, Motorway and WBAC back then, just the Thames Valley Trader car sales mag to compare prices.  

Same thing has just happened to me, though mine was a 2010 VRS DSG. Wrote it off with what looked like minimal damage, although they said it could cost up to £7500 to repair. I bought the car on here for £8500 in 2013, and I got £6400 from the insurers, which really surprised me as I was expecting some miserly offer around £3 - £4000. I guess £2000 depreciation over 9 years isn't too bad Shame I had to find another £17k to buy the replacement 😞

Looking at the used car market, it's probably worth anything between £13-15k right now

Try and find similar ones on Autotrader and save the adverts and then if the offer from your insurer is lower than those prices share the links with the insurer