I have read on a number of forums that if your van is involved in a crash, dont let a salvage company take it to their compound, arrange your own because you no longer have any access to he vehicle. Is it as simple as arranging your own salvage and have them take it to their salvage yard. How does it work because I have not fully understood the way it actually works etc?
Insurance company ownership
- Thread starter Trekster
- Start date
Can't answer your question mate, but why would you need access following a total loss? Do you mean to gain access in order to retrieve personal possessions or are you thinking along the lines of stripping potentially valuable parts?
If the latter, then that could be highly problematic, as the van becomes the property of the insurer as soon as the payout is made - technically it could be viewed as theft.
If the latter, then that could be highly problematic, as the van becomes the property of the insurer as soon as the payout is made - technically it could be viewed as theft.
A few years ago my Dad's Mondeo with a personal number plate was recovered and he couldn't gain access. It was written off and he got another brand new identical colour model Mondeo. He got his personal number plate allocated to the new car. Happy days until the write off was back on the road with the personal plate. It picked up parking tickets on private land and public roads all over England. The tickets came to Dad. I helped him challenge them. Fortunately Ford had face lifted the Mondeo and we could use the photographs to prove it wasn't his replacement car. Just glad that my time in "the job" involved in vehicle crime and my understanding of persoanl plates was useful. I reckoned it was a "pool car" and the local police agreed to put a marker on PNC.
Has your car been written off? And do you want it back? Or is it just to get your suff out? If it's just for your stuff out the bodyshop won't let it go unless you have got everything or they will remove your items for you.. If you are wanting it back tell the insurance and the bodyshop that you want it back and don't let copart remove it from the premises. They will remove fuel which you won't get back and if it's suspension damaged they will just use a forklift truck to remove from the truck. HTH
Its purely just a question, keep coming across it on forums stating arrange your own recovery and dont let them take the van, arrange it from your own premises
I’ve written off cars before - salvage yard had no issue with access to get personal effects.
They love it if the settlement negotiations are protracted as they charge the insurance company daily storage.
Once you settle, the car and contents cease being yours
They love it if the settlement negotiations are protracted as they charge the insurance company daily storage.
Once you settle, the car and contents cease being yours
I've never heard of a salvage company recovering cars. It will always be a local recovery company with a compound that will collect it, which will either be delivered to a bodyshop or to there yard if after hours un till the bodyshop opens. It will always need a bodyshop estimate unless it is obviously scrap like fire damaged or where the occupants have sustained a blood injury. You will always get access to your car.
