Ask an expert

I was involved in a car crash, not my fault, car was written off, Insurance gave me " Market Value" which was not enough to get a replacement at current prices. How is this a fair deal? can I get some adjustment to get me back to where I was before the accident?

Insurance companies will usually use an external source to provide information on what the “Market Value” of a vehicle is.

They will ask for what is called a “Pre-Accident Valuation”. This means that a valuer will actually look at the written off vehicle and provide a value based upon what the vehicle was worth before the damage caused by the accident.

If you feel the value offered by your insurance company is unacceptable and not a true reflection of your replacement costs then you do have an avenue to explore.

You may be able to pay for your own valuation to be done (try “Car Valuers” in the phone book or on the internet) and take this back to your insurer. Most companies will take this second valuation into consideration and you will likely be able to reach an agreeable outcome.

Before getting the valuation done however, it is advisable that you call your claim handler and discuss what you propose to do.