When it comes to a written-off car, there is plenty to consider. For many people, the question “what happens if insurance writes off your car?” is at the top of mind when dealing with a car accident or other damage-related car claim. With hassle-free insurance being at the core of all we have to offer, we’re here to help make the process as painless as possible!
Getting into an accident that results in your car being written off is pretty devastating, even if nobody was hurt. You work hard for your possessions and a car is probably one of the most valuable investments you can make, which makes it a no-brainer to insure it in the event the wheels fall off (figuratively and literally). With that being said, let’s take a look at the process around a car write-off and how your insurance comes into play.
What Happens If Insurance Writes Off Your Car?
What constitutes a write-off?
Contrary to popular belief, a write-off doesn’t always mean your car is unrecognisable and lying in a heap of metal and cogs. Oftentimes, your car may still be intact, but the cost of the repairs will be more than the value of the car itself, in which case it would be more beneficial to scrap the car for parts and replace the car entirely. So, if your mechanic cannot fix your vehicle or deems it not worth fixing, that’s when your insurance will swoop in declare your vehicle as a write off (and, trust us, you want insurance when you have a write off on your hands).
Getting insured – ASAP
In the event of a write-off, you’re going to want a good insurer on your side and, not to toot our own horn, we think we’re pretty awesome. Over 70% of South African drivers are UN-insured – and no, that doesn’t mean you should think about being one of them. What that does mean is that having an accident can become a serious financial dent – one that you possibly can’t even begin to afford. Not only is it incredibly reckless to be on the roads uninsured, but it is also a one-way ticket to being in loads of debt and ultimately paying for a car that doesn’t even exist anymore.
There aren’t many options for if your car is written off and you’re uninsured and a little broke – you either need to buy a new one or travel by horseback (or donkey if you’re really on a budget) until you can afford a new car. If you are still paying off your car, chances are, you will still owe your financier money, which ultimately means you’re paying off a car you don’t have whilst trying to save for a car you seriously need.
We never want you to have to be in these kinds of situations. They are stressful and we understand they often come when your plate is overflowing.
Here’s the (One)plan we can offer you
Oneplan works in strict compliance with the SAIA (South African Insurance Association) in reference to the Motor Salvage Code. This means that we can ensure our processes are fair, consistent, and regulated. If you’ like to read the code of conduct, you can download it here.
Because Oneplan Car Insurance is comprehensive at heart, we will always do our best to make the best decision for you when the going gets tough. We undertake to refund any return proportional to the percentage cover as per the policy schedule.
Our dedication to hassle-free insurance kicks in as soon as you need it with our experienced team of consultants and even more so with our seamless technology that makes the process as easy as it gets. You can load your claim onto our Oneplan App and start the claims process before you have to pay out of pocket – because who really has tens of thousands of rands lying around when bad things happen out of the blue?
What’s your job when a write off happens?
Because we want to provide you with peace of mind and smooth sailing insurance experiences, we want you to be able to hand over the process to us as quickly as possible. There are some steps you need to follow through, so we’ve laid them out for you!
Get in touch with your insurer (us, preferably) as soon as you can. Obviously, in the event of injury and hospitalization, this isn’t possible but if you can, it’s advantageous to get your claim in sooner rather than later. If you are a client of ours, you can do this from the palm of your hand via the Oneplan App.
Next, an assessor will come to look at the vehicle in question and decide whether it is a write-off or not. They will make a call as to whether it can be salvaged for parts and will start the process of calculating the cash value comparison between your car and the cost to repair any broken parts. In a nutshell, an assessor is there to try and make the most economical decision for all parties involved.
Your hassle-free insurance family,
Oneplan
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