What happens if my car can’t be fixed?
Sometimes, the cost of fixing your car is more than its market value. And so it's deemed a ‘total loss’.
If this happens, we’ll aim to replace your car with one of the same make and model if:
- Your car is no more than one year old
- You’re its first and only owner
Otherwise, we’ll pay you your car’s market value.
How we determine your car’s market value
Your car’s market value is determined by highly skilled motor engineers. They use a number of guides to determine a fair and accurate price, including Glass’s Guide. This is the UK’s leading car valuation publication.
They’ll also consider things like its:
- Mileage: A low mileage will increase the value – while a high mileage will decrease it.
- Service history: The quality of the service history will affect the valuation. Items that are replaced due to wear and tear, like tyres or brake pads, won’t increase the value.
- Optional extras and modifications: This is taken into account with recommendations in the valuation guides provided by the motor industry.
- Pre-accident condition: We consider any areas of damage that would have affected the sale of the car prior to the accident. We calculate appropriate deductions using standard repair methods.
