Hi All,

You won't believe this, but there I was this evening when my wife called out from the dining room and said that a silver IS200 had just pulled up on the drive.

There was a knock on the door and there was the owner of my old IS200 that I wrote off in Februrary! He was after the service history and warranty documents. I told him I didn't have them. He then told me that he purchased written off cars, fixed them up and then sold them on. He was one very dodgy character I can tell you!

THIS IS IMPORTANT! IF A MAN TRIES TO SELL YOU A CAR REGISTERED "Y788 JAR" THEN DO NOT BUY IT! IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN OFF!

The guy said he could easily sell it for £16k or more and he only paid £1300 to fix it. The insurance told me that there was at least £10k of damage done! Well, it's not worth £16k as it's been stacked!

He's going to contact Lexus Hadleigh tomorrow to attempt to get the history from them. I'll be giving them a call in the morning to warn them.

If he's bought it as salvage, it won't be that reg, it'll be a "Q", surely

That will warn any future buyer

I gave all the details to the chap who bought my old car which the Insurance Co wrote off.. I was happy to

Didn't Randyreindeer get a good deal from his?

Nope, it was registered Y788 JAR. The car was written off without a doubt. There is something going on there I'm sure!

[quote name='MsW' date='Jul 10 2003, 07:28 PM']If he's bought it as salvage, it won't be that reg, it'll be a "Q", surely[/quote]
thought a Q plate was a kit car?

No - not quite sure what it covers, but Insurance write off's are definitely in there

if its written off it will be registered and will have to undergo tests before its allowed to be put back on the road
even then it should be recorded, so an hpi check will show it up

There are 3 levels of rating for accident damaged cars..

The first one is minor damage, easily repaired and won't show up on HPI.

Second, is serious damage, can be repaired, but shows up on HPI, will require a safety inspection before going back on the road.

Thirdly, the car CANNOT be repaired, and must be destroyed, it will show up on HPI as such.
There are people who repair these cars, but they are considered dangerous, even after repair, and would not pass a safety inspection..

These ratings are not related to the Insurance 'write off'.. that is simply a statement by the insurance company that it will cost more to repair than the car is worth.

This is the extent of my knowledge.. sorry..

The bloke said it was a category D.

[quote name='Matthew_McNally' date='Jul 10 2003, 08:30 PM'][quote name='MsW' date='Jul 10 2003, 07:28 PM'] If he's bought it as salvage, it won't be that reg, it'll be a "Q", surely[/quote]
thought a Q plate was a kit car? [/quote]

I think a Q plate is issued when the age of a vehicle cannot be determined.

Even with a kit car, if the vast majority of parts are from a single donor vehicle,
the plate of that vehicle can be retained.

Obviously if the kit car is almost exclusively new parts, it'll get a new reg.

[quote name='javaboss' date='Jul 10 2003, 08:05 PM']The bloke said it was a category D. [/quote]
category D is repairable.

the insurance company just felt it was beyond economic repair

a guy i know bought a 4x4 stolen and recovered written off done work to it and it was passed safe but had to go on a Q plate



jac

[quote name='javaboss' date='Jul 10 2003, 08:30 PM']Nope, it was registered Y788 JAR. The car was written off without a doubt. There is something going on there I'm sure![/quote]
Yes, the car may well have been written off, but it won't be able to be re-registered with it's old reg - it will be given a new, Q reg

It's common practice, not dodgy dealing

Presumably even if it's sold with a new index number, it will still have the original VIN?

Is the seller (i.e. the dodgey geezer) legally obliged to disclose to any would-be purchaser that the car was a write-off?

I think the Q plate would lead the prospective purchaser to ask questions, don't you

Absolutely - I'd certainly want to know why a spangley new IS has a Q plate on it Was just curious as to whether the law has a view on it? Duty of disclosure...? Mis-representation...? That kinda thing.

my first car (a "b" escort lazer) i bought was a rebuilt write-off (which i knew all about and it was priced so) it had a really hard smash at the front which ment it had to be jigged because of the crease in the roof the front wings , inner wings , slam panel , grill etc where all destroyed so a front end off another escort (rear stuffed) was welded on (where the factory welds were) when i got the car it was spot on . i had 4 years trouble free and sold it onto a mate who ran it for a further 2 years . anyway that car (if you saw it was real fit for scrap) kept its original reg no and i was the second owner (looking at the car before i think the first one was more than likely dead) so you don`t get a "q"after its been a write-off only if the history of the car (when made etc) cannot be traced . a word of warning though .... they can be tricky to sell/px as there is always a mark by the history (hpi) so people can check (fools if they don`t)

Q plate or not - surely someone spending Lexus type money (even a "cheap" old IS is around £9k isn't it?) is going to get a HPI check (£145?).

This will disclose that it has been a category D write off.

Back in 1987 I fell asleep at the wheel of my cool understated Metallic Grey XR3i That was the end of that as far as the insurance company was concerned, I was sad at the time as this car had been helped me snap the knicker elastic of a number of young ladies during the mid 1980's . Well, I got a praking ticket through for it 3 months later. The damage was not too bad and car was in fact repairable.... All those memories of country lanes parked up with the sunroof open....

However a badly written-off car must have had its identity swapped with a stolen car. Did you look to see if it was really your car?

Anyone else had a special car in their time? Do I feel a new thread coming on?

Justin.

Many years ago i used to deal in salvage very much like this bloke and the car will keep it,s reg number it will not go on a Q plate .It is not against the law to buy these cars and repair them and sell them on ,but it is against the law to not tell the person who is buying it about its history. anybody buying this car will HPI it and it will show up as a total loss .as for needing an inspection it do,s not have to have one to be put back on the road .I know there is a place in redhill that inspects these cars and isusse a certifacite .Also most of these cars are repaired to a high standard and can be real bargains but like everything in this life there are risks .Also if he contacts lexus they will sell him a new service history book all stamped up ,I know i have done it enough times but will add have never sold a crash repaired car as a uncrashed example

If it has its original Vin number (on the chassis plate etc) it will keep the original number plate.

I was involved in an accident years ago and the car I was driving was written off. A few months later I received a letter from the DVLA saying someone had applied to re-register the vehicle and was I still the legal owner. It basically said if I didn't respond within 14 days the new 'keeper' would be given a new registration document.

Categories 'D' and 'C' are deemed uneconomical to repair.

'B' category salvage is to be broken for parts only and 'A' crushed.

Therefore, 'A' and 'B' category salvage should never be returned to the road.

But what of 'C' and 'D'? These are cars which have been involved in major accidents but which are simply uneconomical for an [b]Insurer [/b]to repair.

[b]Insurance Claims and Accident and Repair Records:[/b]
There is no law requiring traders to inform purchasers that cars have been subject to insurance claims or have been 'written off' by insurance companies. Traders have no legal obligation to tell purchasers about past repair work. If you ask the trader about these matters, he must answer truthfully or tell you if he doesn't know and it is wise to write down the answers to these questions and make checks of your own before purchase. Prospective purchasers should study registration and service documents before deciding to buy. Prevention is better than cure, but if you have written answers from the seller and you find out later that they are wrong you may have a legal case for misrepresentation and/or a breach of contract.

[url="http://www.car-crime.com/accident_history.htm"]More Details Here[/url]

Just spoken to Lexus Hadleigh. Andy updated the computer records to show that the car had been written off. Hopefully, that'll help with any buyers attempting to trace it's history.

Bonjour,

Remembering a strange story happened to me 3 years ago.
The system is a bit different in France, the plate numbers is attached to the car, if you stay in the same department, for example 75 for Paris, 92 for hauts de Seine you don't have to change it, if you change of department location you need a new plate number.
So I was owning a CBR900, and I decided to change for an Honda SP1, my Honda dealer picked my bike as deposit and I had a flamish new SP1.
A few month later I received a call from the Police, you're guilty of injuries on an old lady...
Imagine my reaction !! I then called my dealer asking what was the problem. I then try to call the new propriatory without success guess why?
And my dealer gave me the home address of this (censored) guy.
The new owner didn't change the plate number, and I forget to send the selling copy to the plate service (was my fault anyway), I then called the police and passed to them the address of that guy, thanks to the police woman, she understand the situation and aws really cooperative with me.
He was guilty of injuries on an old ladies, he first destructed the lady wing mirror's car, then stop, started to argue with that poor lady and finally knock her !!

@d'taleur
Vince

guess I would really want to be sure that it was your car that rolled up in your driveway. Well, its not your problem I know but it's actually more likely that its a stolen car on your plates, vin and reg plates...


Sorry a s s world we live in!

Loz

[quote name='Loz' date='Jul 11 2003, 09:12 AM']guess I would really want to be sure that it was your car that rolled up in your driveway. Well, its not your problem I know but it's actually more likely that its a stolen car on your plates, vin and reg plates...


Sorry a s s world we live in!

Loz [/quote]
wouldnt that be pointless as that car has been registered as written off?

[quote name='Zee007' date='Jul 11 2003, 07:21 AM']But what of 'C' and 'D'? These are cars which have been involved in major accidents but which are simply uneconomical for an [b]Insurer [/b]to repair.[/quote]
my first IS was a cat D write off.

You should have seen it - I would not have wanted it back.

warped floor, transmission tunnel - the RAC engineer said that whilst it could be re-jigged, it would be exceeding difficult to get it back into the original shape, within the original specs etc.

but - it would have gone out to some one to do up and sell on - do you think they would have spent the 7k on a new body shell?

No way! The bloke said that it had cost him £1300 to fix it!

It all look okay from the outside. Even the side airbag had been replaced. However, I was told by the body shop that it would need a new body shell and all new suspension.

That's why the guy wanted the warranty and service history. He's trying to stuff someone up with a dodgy car sold as in mint condition!

Scum.

Maybe he had bought a stolen car to same spec. for £1300 and is just using your old car details to make it look legit.

Insurance companys write cars of as total losses all the time for silly reasons you have to remember the cost of say a new bonnet .new wing .slam panel, headlights bumper ,and all the silly little bits that lexus charge an arm and a leg for .etc etc .All these parts from lexus cost a fortune so it dos,ent take a lot to write of a car .Most repairers use pattern parts at a fraction of the cost and can repair things that the accessor said needed replacing.I can see your point that this bloke is trying to pass it of as a mint car but anyone buying this car without doing a hpi report or at least phoning or writing to the previous owner needs their head testing .I would keep well out of it you don,t know just how dodgy this bloke is after all he had the front to knock on your door .

I agree totally mate. I gave him the details of Lexus Hadleigh and was as helpful as possible. I said that I would be happy to give him the paperwork if I had it, but I didn't.

You're correct, I don't want anything more to do with this. My wife was none too impressed that they had just turned up on our doorstep.

Good move i think he was taking the turning up like that if he contacts you again inform the old bill

my rolla was written off 2 yrs ago when some careless foreign hgv driving pulled of the kerb where he was parked and int the side of my car whilst i was stopped at the traffic lights.
the actual dammage looked bad but inspection revealed no structural damage just 1/4 panel and door. after making enquiries i was able to by it back and got £1000 pay out too.
having worked in the body repair trade i bought new panels and rebuilt the car. all that was needed to put it back on the road was an RAC engineer inspection (£185) and an MOT and i kept the original reg#. i think it is recorded as a cat d write off and i believe that this is the least severe grading

[quote name='javaboss' date='Jul 11 2003, 01:05 PM']I agree totally mate.  I gave him the details of Lexus Hadleigh and was as helpful as possible.  I said that I would be happy to give him the paperwork if I had it, but I didn't.

You're correct, I don't want anything more to do with this.  My wife was none too impressed that they had just turned up on our doorstep.[/quote]
Rather than ranting about all the Y's and where 4's, I suggest you talk to your insurance company as they were the one's who sold him the car, how else do you think he turned up on your door step, he has all the registration doc's for the car.

I used know a couple guys who brought insurance write off's. To look at them, they looked like they didn't have a pot to in and they certainly were not the nicest people in world, walk in there workshop and it was like walking in other world, all the lastest equipment all brought and paid for and every job prefessionally done. Remeber never judge a person by there appearance are the way speak.

One other thing, All the Limos you see on road, they are all 'Cut and Shut', they all start out life as base car, then cut in half and all the bits added and then joined back together. Just because of few bad apples and there are some real :tsktsk:ing scum bags out there don't judge them all the same, he could just be guy trying to make a honest living, cos there is no law against repairing Write-Off's

[quote name='Risky3301' date='Jul 12 2003, 11:48 AM']One other thing, All the Limos you see on road, they are all 'Cut and Shut', they all start out life as base car, then cut in half and all the bits added and then joined back together.[/quote]
erm..... no....

Most limos are specially built in the factory using an extended version of the orginal chassis...

[quote name='Fidgits' date='Jul 12 2003, 11:52 AM'][quote name='Risky3301' date='Jul 12 2003, 11:48 AM'] One other thing, All the Limos you see on road, they are all 'Cut and Shut', they all start out life as base car, then cut in half and all the bits added and then joined back together.[/quote]
erm..... no....

Most limos are specially built in the factory using an extended version of the orginal chassis...[/quote]
O no there not, next time you get the chance look underneath one, BTW I've repaired several over years,

The are all modified by 'Coach Builders'

Okay.. .I used the word 'most'... because [today] a lot of manufacturers offer Limo versions (e.g. Mercedes)..

I can't speak for the american versions, and I'm sure your right about the 'unique' ones, such as Hummers etc..

The only difference being the strecth limo has to pass a test were as the crash damaged car do,s not .

[quote name='Risky3301' date='Jul 12 2003, 10:48 AM']Rather than ranting about all the Y's and where 4's, I suggest you talk to your insurance company as they were the one's who sold him the car, how else do you think he turned up on your door step, he has all the registration doc's for the car.[/quote]
I understand where he got my address from. He originally wrote to me asking for the details. I telephoned Lexus and was told not to worry about replying as he would probably just get in touch with them to get the paperwork.

I would have thought he would have got the message when I did not reply to him. Turning up on my doorstep was out of order. I agree with what others have mentioned above. If I hear anymore from him I'm going to phone the police.

surely it's on the log book???

I would imagine when you turned your car over to the insurance company you gave them the log book and they then give it to the salvage company with the car.I doubt it was the insurance company that sold him the car it was probaly the salvage company who buy all the write offs from them.You can even go to autions to buy accident damaged cars check out universal salvage .co.uk. you will be surprised what you can buy