Killed my car - can anyone help?

Can I claim on my insurance?

Hope you get it sorted cheaply; guy at work had an 07 525td. Operative word being 'had'...his wife drove it through a 'puddle' during the floods last year (or was that early this year - think last year though).

Needless to say she copped it for that one! Car stopped, she had to get out and wade away...same with the mother in law...anyway a £27k repair bill later (car was worth £25k ish) it was written off, he showed me the quote & they had quoted for replacing the engine at a cost of £10k! Still, that's what dealers do...I'm not sure how much in terms of parts it would actually cost to repair but I thought it would be (relatively) cheap - but you need to be able to do the work yourself...

Originally Posted by krhall

Can I claim on my insurance?

If fully comp, you can claim for any damage regardless of cause (I'm sure there's some exclusions), can't you?

Perhaps that is the answer then - I am fully comp. Just read through the insurance docs and it doesn't say whether I am or am not covered.

Originally Posted by krhall

Can I claim on my insurance?

Should be able to. A mate of mine did in a petrol passat many years ago. Drove into a flood and sucked up water twisting the crank when it locked up. He claimed his (fully comp) insurance without a problem. Hitting a puddle and trashing an engine isn't really that different from hitting a wall and trashing your bodywork. At the end of the day you have hit something and damaged your car so your insurance company should pay up.
best of luck anyway

cheers

Stewart

I'll have to bell them 1st thing then - It never rains.........

[G]

It will be hydraulicaly locked and therefore fecked without a rebuild happened to a friends 5 series, the airbox is in a stupid low place.

He did claim off insurance though for flood damage, although they did specificaly ask whether he DROVE into the flood or whether the car was stationary......he said stationary.....if you drive into it, its contributory negligence and they dont have to pay out.

Bugger - I just spoke to the ins company and they are getting it taken to an approved repairer for assesment.

The problem is that:

1. The market value of the car will be less than it is actually worth to us. It is on Parkers for about £3k ish!
2. It was my father-in-laws car before he passed away.
3. It was my fault for sure and I hadn't seen this post before calling the insurance company.

Originally Posted by krhall

3. It was my fault for sure and I hadn't seen this post before calling the insurance company.

Did you admit liability for it being driven into water? If you did... ouch.

Maybe get it back from the insurers and find a new engine from a breakers?