Vehicle & Motor Accidents
5. Costs & Quotes for Repair
Authors: Staff Legal Eagle
Firm / Chambers:
Last updated: 28 Aug 2015
- Drivers whose vehicles were damaged in an accident need to get quotes for fixing the damage. The quotes will help you decide whether to make an insurance claim.
- You should get two or three written quotes to show that the amount you are asking for is reasonable. You can get quotes from any car repairer.
- When deciding which car repairer to get a quote from you should ask whether they will charge for the quote.
- A vehicle is a ‘write off’ if the cost to repair the damage to your vehicle is greater than its pre-accident value. The amount that you can claim for a written off vehicle is the pre-accident value of the vehicle minus the amount a second hand parts dealer or a wrecker would pay for the vehicle (the salvage value).
- If you believe your vehicle is a write-off you should:
- get a report that shows the pre-accident value of your vehicle:
- search the phone book or internet for ‘car valuations’;
- the report should cost around $15 to $20; and
- get a written estimate of the salvage value of your vehicle from a second-hand parts dealer or car wrecker.
- You should then send the report and estimate to the other driver or their insurer in support of your claim.
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