total loss

hoping to get a bit of advise from anyone that's been in this situation..

girlfriend had a bump in her very cheap toyota starlet. she initially apologised due to shock and asked the other party through text to get a quote from the garage rather than go through insurance (which is in my name). As it was a new car she went to a frigging Mini dealership and the quote came back at over a grand, so decided to ring the insurers.

In hindsight, the other party were at fault as they were reversing out a their drive onto a main road but I'm obviously worried the missus' texts may be used as 'evidence' she claimed liability. hope not.

here's the 2nd issue...
my girlfriends car is at the garage being assessed and we have a courtesy car through enterprise rent a car.
We have had an email today confirming a total loss.... as far as I could tell, it was just a damaged headlight!!
Spoke to the garage and they explained that the bumper was damaged etc (bearing in mind, it was an old scratched car) and the total costs were over a 1000 so not financially reasonable.
They have given me options of going through them or through my own insurance to sort out. They also said that it might be possible, depending on what category write off it is, that I can have the car back to repair myself as well as the insurance pay-off. If that's the case, I will be happy.

Not too sure which route to take. Got three companies - insurers, underwriters and the independent garage!

If the car is written off by the insurance and they give you a pay out you will then have to buy the car back from them before you can effect the repairs yourself.

I would also give back teh hire car asap as if this goes against you you premium will be affected by the cost of hire.

P.s. This post would be better in the insurance section.

thanks. the insurer havent even spoken to me about this yet. I received the letter from incident management solutions limited and then called the garage for more info.

I was told the hire car was part of the policy and totally free. I would return it asap but my girlfriend needs it for work.

The letter has requested I choose to either continue dealing with them (who work on behalf of enterprise) or go back to my insurer. Dealing with them - no excess to pay (assuming I win, i guess?)

The settlement option was to get cheque for pre accident value and salvage price but when I spoke to them they said I could have the car back.. didn't mention cost for this (no doubt there was) then I would need to fix and pay vosa to make road legal again.

Happy for a mod to move if they want. I posted here as thought the insurance section might be for coupe insurance only.

Had the same kinda issue with the bravo, insurance offered a cash in lew of repare option, got the car back for free and a lump sum to repair car as needed with out it being written off.

i think the only confusing thing for me in this situation is why the insurers havent contacted me and offered this deal. Instead it's the 3rd party who work with enterprise rent-a-car (enterprise are used by the insurer) that are giving me the option to deal with them directly, or go back and use my own insurer.

Hello

Give me a call on 0800 542 0672 or 01527 857611

Regards
Sarah