Insurance Claims and Repair "Waiver"

**PietSwa** · 2017/05/11, 01:10 PM

I have had contact with a freezer truck on the highway the other day.. The damage was not that bad. Both the Arch Mouldings got some scratches and the rear one had some clips broken and came off. The doors have some light scratches but I think these can get buffed out.

Anyhow, Insurance came back with the cost and its around R20 000k in repairs. However it will be in for more than a week and I'm a bit busy at the moment and don't want to be without a vehicle for that long.

My thinking is the following, May I waiver the repairs and have them pay me out the money?

I was hoping to then use the money to get Aftermarket Wheel Arches installed and get the rest of the damage repaired myself. I'm also out of pocket a few thousand for some tyres I had bought as one of my wheels got damaged in the accident and my spare wheel was not the same. I got a pair of second hand BFG's cheap so that I have at least the 2 x rears the same.

Apparently they will not be paying for even the damaged tyre and this is why I thought I would rather then want the payout as I can recoup the cost of the tyres that way. I'm happy to get the cosmetic damage sorted myself.

Do I have the right to request this?

**Francois Theron** · 2017/05/11, 02:35 PM

I have done it successfully before. They will payout whatever the quote is minus your excess. Should be no problem

**Andre N** · 2017/05/11, 03:48 PM

I had it done once.

The second time (Different Car) they said No, The policy changed.

What happened was, more and more people took the money, and then didn't fix the car properly (or not at all) and pocket the money. Then next incident, they add some of the previous damage to be repaired to the new damage. Assessor had lots of stories of people cheating.

Can't hurt to ask your insurer.

**Barry Bowd** · 2017/05/11, 04:10 PM

I've just done it with Outsurance

Regards
BarryB

**Nico-MAD** · 2017/05/13, 11:06 AM

Did not know they allow that. Only if car is written off. Surely your insurance is there to repair your car to it's original condition if it's been damaged.
Nico

**Skylark** · 2017/05/13, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by Barry Bowd

I've just done it with Outsurance

Regards
BarryB

What kind of damage was it and how severe?

**faniedup** · 2017/05/13, 11:13 PM

I have done it on two occasions, where panel beater costs would have written the older type cars of.

They did remove the one from insurance, and reinstated it after the repairs were inspected by assessor.

**EttiennedK** · 2017/05/14, 08:34 AM

My Discovery's tupperware (i.e. the front bumper) had a close encounter of the worst kind with a reversing truck. As the cost of fitting a TJM after-market bumper was more or less the same, my insurance gave me the cash. As with faniedup, they insisted on me taking it to an assessor after fitment.