Call for stricter regulation of crash write-offs

Potentially dangerous write-offs need to be recorded and tracked to safeguard honest motorists, according to the leader of a national motoring organisation.

Frank Harvey, head of the National Association of Bodyshops, wants to see a national register set up and the Code of Practice for the Disposal of Motor Vehicle Salvage to be made mandatory.

An Auto Express Freedom of Information request found the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) only records the number of write-off notifications it receives from insurers annually – usually around 500,000. It doesn’t track whether a car is classed as a Category A, B, C or D write-off, or what happens to it afterwards.

• Cat D cars and insurance write-offs explained

Many write-offs aren’t categorised at all, particularly those disposed of by large self-insured fleets or vehicle hire companies. And with the increasing complexities of technology and bodywork materials in modern cars, it’s a real safety concern, according to Mr Harvey.

He explained: “The problem we have with salvage is that it’s unregulated – as long as it looks okay, you can sell it.

“We need a process with enforcement behind it that ensures any vehicle that’s not going to be repaired in a commercial environment is logged and traceable.”

• Motorists too poor to fix their cars

A car is written off by an insurer if it will cost more to repair it than it’s worth. But those with limited damage will appear at auctions and can be bought by anyone.

They can then be repaired using second-hard parts and unofficial tools before being re-registered and sold on. The only check such cars have to pass is the Vehicle Identity Check, although this doesn’t look at the quality of repairs. Mr Harvey added: “We need to safeguard the consumer.

• Car insurance costs back on the rise

“Everybody is looking for a bargain, and this lulls people into purchasing cars because the price is right. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.”

Lack of action

This isn’t the first time concerns have been raised about poorly repaired write-offs. We reported in August 2013 on the inquest into the death of six-year-old Sadie McGrady. She was in her mum’s car when it crashed in Flintshire, North Wales.

The Vauxhall Corsa had been written off and repaired in 2008, and a police vehicle examiner told the inquest the integrity of the car had been compromised by a poor repair. It was claimed this contributed to Sadie’s death.

Coroner John Gittins said he’d be raising the issue of stricter regulations for write-offs with the relevant authorities. But nothing’s been done, and Frank Harvey, of the National Association of Bodyshops, said another inquest is about to start involving a written-off car and the death of a teenage girl in the north-east.