I've just bought an s reg mark 4 V.W. Polo 1400cc with minor front end damage to do up in my spare time this winter.

Does anyone know any good spares dealers? Or even have any spares themselves to sell? A handbook would be handy too, they're only £13 new but if anybody's got one better still.

Also does anyone know what the form is for registering them?

'Preciate any help.

I thought it was illegal to continue running a written-off car?


I'm probably wrong. Motoring is not my scene; but I thought the whole point of "written off" was that the car was de-registered, and officially no longer exists.

Cat D write off is just becuase it's too expensive to repair, nothing dangerous or illegal about it.

I thought it was illegal to continue running a written-off car?


I'm probably wrong. Motoring is not my scene; but I thought the whole point of "written off" was that the car was de-registered, and officially no longer exists.There are different classes of write off. I don't know the exact definitions but they start at class A which is completely wrecked with nothing salvageable and it must be crushed and thrown away to class C and D (I think) where the car is deemed uneconomical to repair with new parts but not too badly damaged. People get second hand parts for these cars and repair them on the cheap which is what Supertyke here is doing.

I would DEFINITELY recommend telling your insurance company about it - they may invalidate your insurance if they don't know.

All that 'write off' means is that it has been written off as a bad loss by the insurance company, I think.
It has just come to mean 'wreck' by common usage.
If its an old banger Ford, they are more likely to 'write it off', than if a new Rolls Royce for example.

All that 'write off' means is that it has been written off as a bad loss by the insurance company, I think.
It has just come to mean 'wreck' by common usage.
If its an old banger Ford, they are more likely to 'write it off', than if a new Rolls Royce for example.

Its not only old bangers they write off, lots of new cars get written off and hence theres plenty of salvage dealers and auctions.

If it's cat c you'll need to have a safety inspection done before the car can legally be put back on the road. You must inform your insurance company of this fact, though it is likely they will know from the registration.

Bear in mind also that the vehicles value is depreciated greatly in comparrison tovehicles of same type age etc and as far as I am aware it is also an offence to ell the vehicle on without informing the purchaser that it is an repaired salvage vehicle. Take photos of the damage before you repair it in order to show potential purchasers how bad the damage was etc the more up front you are the better, I have bought insurance write offs in he past that have been repaired and always prefer to see pics of the damage.

As for spares there's Volksgear near the wicker, e bay and pther than that general scrap yard hunts. Good luck and hope all goes well, know an excellent painter if needed in future.

A category D write off isn't really a write off, it's not usually very badly damaged. I'd not be concerned to buy a repaired Cat D write off. They would be cheaper than usual to buy and provided you get them inspected first they are usually a bargain. I've had a couple.

This a link about the categories.
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/faq.htm?id=33

Dont spend to much on this car remember the insurance firms only pay out once on a car , even if you spend £1000 repairing the car and it looks and runs perfect in the event of an accident or if it's stolen you would only get paid out the scrap value . These cars are ok if you can do the repair work yourself and know the pitfalls .

Dont spend to much on this car remember the insurance firms only pay out once on a car , even if you spend £1000 repairing the car and it looks and runs perfect in the event of an accident or if it's stolen you would only get paid out the scrap value . Thats not true. When the car is insured again the insurance are aware that it has been repaired and if they offer cover it is the same as any other car.

a freind of mine recently had his car written off, somebody reversed into the front of it whilst it was parked it needed a new bumper light and bonnet, the cost at a repair centre was around £700 to repair but the value of the car was only £1300, so they wrote it off.the car was perfectly safe to drive as the damage was only minor just a dent in the corner of the bonnet and a scape on the bumper most people wouldn't have been bothered repairing it.

there was recently a programme on tv, i think it may have been rogue traders?. a guy was buying luxury cars that had been involved in accidents he would insure the car and tell them that he had repaired them then wait a couple of weeks move the damaged car to a car park ect and tell the insurance company that it had been stolen and been involved in an acident so they paid out again.

a freind of mine recently had his car written off, somebody reversed into the front of it whilst it was parked it needed a new bumper light and bonnet, the cost at a repair centre was around £700 to repair but the value of the car was only £1300, so they wrote it off.the car was perfectly safe to drive as the damage was only minor just a dent in the corner of the bonnet and a scape on the bumper most people wouldn't have been bothered repairing it.
If they give your friend £1300 and sell it for £700 (maybe back to your friend) the whole thing would only cost them £600 which is cheaper than the repair. They aare only interested in the numbers. Your friend may well be able to then get someone to repair it cheaply. That sounds like it would only be a Cat D write off and if your friend buys it back they probably won't tell the DVLA about it. Your friend also needs to consider the implications to no claims bonus and claims record.

Thanks a lot for some very useful information guys /gals.
I was always going to tell the insurnce co about it - if someone farts in the car it's best to let them know about it these days!!!!!!!

I'm not intending to sell the car on - I'm not a bad (self taught) mechanic and I've got loads of tools and have just got a few of the parts from Jays.
But Volksgear sounds good and that painters contact details would be worth having Twoflags - though, I'm not wanting a showroom finish (it's all about price again!!) thuogh it must be o.k.
But light accident damage really is worth doing especially with all bolt on bits like these sre - no welding..
Thanks again all.