Think my Jazz will be written off

[SpookyGal]

Hi
Had some idiot in an Audi slam into the back of me on Friday whilst I was stationary at temporary traffic lights. Rear bumper hanging off, smashed in boot lid, cracked back light and I think a damaged exhaust.

My Jazz has given me 15 years almost trouble free motoring. The air con packed up last summer and I was hit in a car park about 12 years ago resulting in a slightly dented offside wing. My garage always says it's a great little car.
77880 miles.

I gather it will get written off. I have no funds to get a newer Jazz. Any ideas how much they are likely to offer me?

[TnTkr]

If it is otherwise in good condition, can't you just get money from the insurance company and let your trusted garage repair it by using second hand parts from salvage yard? That's what I would do, but again the insurance system in UK is very different to ours in Finland.

[SpookyGal]

I think we can buy the car back, but the repairs and parts are going to be £500+ before paint and labour costs. I have no idea where my car even is. I was 160 miles away from home and they were towing it maybe another 30 miles further away.
The bloke that hit me will get off lightly. I may lose having a vehicle because of this. He drove his car home. I don't understand why we have insurance if the person who caused the accident doesn't get properly penalised.
Sorry, just very upset with it all.

[cavosavosk]

If it is otherwise in good condition, can't you just get money from the insurance company and let your trusted garage repair it by using second hand parts from salvage yard?

Even if it has low mileage its not worth it, from the looks its not just bumper, trunk and the light, the main structure is probably bent too. It would require pulling out the trunk, which is stupidly expensive. Or re-welding some other bit from some other Jazz.

At this point your best bet is to, in my opinion, getting the most out of insurance and then buying some similar one.

If the damage is just bumper, trunklid and the light, then maybe you can get it fixed for cheap-ish.

[TnTkr]

Pulling is the method of specialized body repair workshops. And that is why it is so expensive. Good old fashioned handy independent mechanic would use sledgehammer and get it done at much lower price.  But of course you must calculate the options when you get the information how much the insurance would pay you.

To whom did you give the permission to tow your car away? I would have insisted it to be towed to a place I tell them.

[jasonevans]

Your prob looking at new light, new bumper crash bar, new bumper and new tailgate. Even if you get the parts second hand it will still prob add up a bit. Tailgate maybe able to be pulled out but may not be worth the labour invloved.

[SpookyGal]

Thanks everyone. You all just confirmed what I had thought.
I gave no-one permission, they just get a local company to tow my car. For those in the UK, I got hit in Surrey, they took it to Kent ??, and I live in Leicestershire. They would not tow me home with the car, they sent an Uber which was a 4hr drive home.

I seriously have concerns at buying a similar age Jazz now. Nothing major had gone wrong with mine, accept the air con, which didn't stop the car working. But it was only time before it was going to need major works. I wouldn't want to risk getting a car that may pack up in 5 months.

So angry because him, with his flash Audi and personalised number plate could afford this accident, I come off worse and can't afford to do anything about it.