INDUSTRY TERMINOLOGY

If you never have had cause to visit a repair centre before or you may feel slightly confused by the repair industry jargon. The following may be useful.

NON FAULT ACCIDENT

This is an accident where the other party is at fault and has accepted liability. The most common occurrence of this is when someone hits you in the rear after failing to stop. If you have been involved in a non-fault accident we can get you moving again with a like for like replacement car. Call us now on 02476 332303.

THIRD PARTY OR THIRD PARTY INSURERS

This is an often used phrase for the other party involved in the accident or their insurance company.

WRITE-OFF

This is the term used for a vehicle that has been deemed uneconomical to repair by an insurance company. There are four different categories of insurance write-off.

• Category A - Vehicle is destroyed, no parts sold.

• Category B - Vehicle body is destroyed some parts may be sold.

• Category C - Vehicle is worth less than the cost of repairs.

• Category D - Vehicle is worth more than the cost of repairs but the insurance company have other restrictions in place.

SALVAGE VALUE

This is the scrap value of a vehicle after it has been written off.

REPAIR ESTIMATE

This is a technical assessment of the work needed to return a vehicle to its pre accident condition. A cost may be attached to the estimate, however it is not a quote as it is possible to discover additional damage to a vehicle once exterior panels have been stripped away. Our senior estimators will run through the repair process and the likelihood of this happening.

INDEMNIFY

This is where an insurance company must indemnify the insured by putting them back in the position they enjoyed before the accident.

VAT

If you have any accident and you have told your insurance company you are VAT registered you may have to pay the VAT on the whole repair. You may then be able to claim it on your VAT return, however you should seek professional advice on this point. This arises as insurance companies are unable to re-claim VAT on repairs. If when you took the policy out you stated you were VAT registered, it may have lowered your premium.

NON FAULT ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY

This is a company who specializes in non fault accidents. They work on behalf of the innocent party in an accident by handling the claim on their behalf. Putting them in a like for like replacement vehicle , deal with any insurance losses and recoup all these costs from the 1/3rd party insurers.

INSURANCE EXCESS

This is the uninsured element of a motor claim. When you took out your policy you may have agreed to an "excess" to keep the costs of your premium down. This is usually due on collection of your vehicle and deducted from the cost of the final bill to your insurance. If you are claiming off someone else's insurance, you do not pay your excess or if liability has been established before your vehicle is repaired then your insurance excess "may be waived" but needs to be confirmed.