Not in the article is how and where to acquire a written-off car.
Copart claim to sell around 9,000 write-offs every week – most are repairable.
Autotrader allow searches with/without/only Cat-S/N cars.
Autolign offer a service to change the HPI marker status.
Vcheck is a cost-effective history checking service, which also gives photo’s of the vehicle prior to sale.
Buying a ‘repaired’ car may be cheaper – but who has repaired it?
With parts from where?
To manufacturers specifications?
- Any written-off car immediately has its manufacturer’s warranty cancelled.
- Finance secured against the car is not possible.
- Will the car come with an independent warranty – and if so, is it valid; ie. does that warranty provider know the cars history?
- Will the next owner have trouble re-selling the car, if it’s found to be sub-standard?
May not be such good value after all, unless you are the cash buyer of an out-of-warranty car AND the repairer, and plan on keeping the car for a few years.