Have been driving for nearly 23 years and fortunate enough to never have been involved in an accident. Well, until last week. Someone reversed into the side of my car in a multi-storey car park - minor prang (nowt serious).
Driver was very keen to sort everything without involving insurance companies - suggested I sort some quotes and give her a ring. Having got no prior experience of this kind of thing, I was naturally sceptical and all the advice I got was to hand it over to insurance to resolve (clean, secure, leave all the repair arrangements to them, etc).
What I hadn't bargained for - and clearly should have done in hindsight - was the impact of the age and mileage of my car. It's now the secondary vehicle in the household and used nowhere near as much. But it's a 12-year-old gem. Had from two years old, solid, reliable, comfortable, cheap to run and maintain. Problem is that the early indications are that a repair would exceed 60 per cent of the car's value and, therefore, won't be sanctioned.
It's still to be confirmed but all signs are pointing to official write-off. My understanding is I can keep the car (damage is minor and cosmetic, doors still open and close easily, locks work, etc) but should expect issues when I come to renew my insurance next year. Don't want to get rid, though, and any payout will be nowhere near enough to replace with something similar. I don't do the commuting miles any longer to justify getting a new one on HP or something.
Live and learn, I guess.