I almost bought a written off car because vehicle checks didn't have it registered - is this normal? | Ask Honest John

I almost bought a written off car because vehicle checks didn't have it registered - is this normal?

I was going to buy an Audi A1 online. On the ad, it stated that the car had passed a stringent five point check. I carried out my own vehicle check, which showed the car to be a total loss. Undecided, I paid for another check which came up as all clear. Eventually, the second company got confirmation from Experian that it was registered Cat D. The car in question was registered on July 2017 as total loss, but somehow wasn't entered into the system until January 2018. Is this a bit strange, or is it a case of the insurance assessor taking a bung to allow the repairer to to get it sold before he registered it? Do you think there are dodgy dealings going on in the car insurance repairs world?

Asked on 8 January 2018 by ROBIN COMPTON

Answered by Honest John

Definitely not a case of the insurer or the assessor taking a bung, as this quite simply does not happen.The repairer does not own the vehicle, the insurer does. This is purely down to the insurer being poor in the administration of the claim. But yes, I do think there are dodgy dealings. Insurers total loss vehicles that they should be repairing, and then they profiteer by selling the salvage.This can then end up in the public realm and may not be repaired as it should.

Tags: insurance cat d write offs hpi experian salvage total loss

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