How do I put a total loss car back on the road?
My M reg granada was recently written off because of a dent in the wing and a crack in the bumper, thanks to an idiot reversing into me at a junction….. I retained the salvage and was wondering what I have to do to get it back on the road?
p.s, it was a cat D write off for uneconomical repair, nothing dangerous.
If the salvage is owned by you (i.e not the insurance company) then all you have to do is get the damage repaired – a dent in the wing and a cracked bumper is not a big job for a garage (chassis damage would be an instant write off). Firstly register your car as ‘off the road’ i.e you do not have to pay the car tax, secondly recover any remaining car tax on the car (contact the DVLA – information about doing this is on the back of the disc), thirdly park your car off road or at the garage that will be doing the repairs. Personally I wouldn’t bother with the wing damage unless it has affected the electrics. Then get the garage that has done the repairs to give the car an MOT, contact the DVLA with the MOT certificate and they will either (usually the case) re-issue your registration or issue another one. Re-tax the car (main post offices can supply a form to do this). And last, but not least, pursue the prat that damaged your car. Many insurance companies give DAS as standard on their policies and they will do most of the work for you. Hope this helps – a git hit my car and drove off (I was fully comprehensive and DAS sorted the majority out but I still lost a lot of my no claims discount). Good luck !
It depends on what state you reside in. However, this is how it is in Kansas as I had a similar situation. Once your vehicle is considered salvaged you are not legally able to drive the vehicle without it being inspected first. To do this you must apply for a one day permit from the DMV to be able to drive the salvaged vehicle to the vehicle inspection office. Sometimes the inspector can wave you having to apply for an actual salvage title, but its up to them and may be different in each state. If you already applied and have a salvage title then you must go through the steps mentioned above to have it inspected as well. The inspector will determine if you pass to receive a rebuilt salvage permit. This inspection permit is to remain with the vehicle registration at all times and you receive a sticker on the driver’s side door frame that you have a rebuilt salvage. This process allows you to drive the vehicle, but also notifies someone else in case you try to sell it. This is how it works in my state, but it should help as a guideline for wherever you’re from. Contacting the DMV is the best step for how it works where you’re from. Hope this helps.
References :
If the salvage is owned by you (i.e not the insurance company) then all you have to do is get the damage repaired – a dent in the wing and a cracked bumper is not a big job for a garage (chassis damage would be an instant write off). Firstly register your car as ‘off the road’ i.e you do not have to pay the car tax, secondly recover any remaining car tax on the car (contact the DVLA – information about doing this is on the back of the disc), thirdly park your car off road or at the garage that will be doing the repairs. Personally I wouldn’t bother with the wing damage unless it has affected the electrics. Then get the garage that has done the repairs to give the car an MOT, contact the DVLA with the MOT certificate and they will either (usually the case) re-issue your registration or issue another one. Re-tax the car (main post offices can supply a form to do this). And last, but not least, pursue the prat that damaged your car. Many insurance companies give DAS as standard on their policies and they will do most of the work for you. Hope this helps – a git hit my car and drove off (I was fully comprehensive and DAS sorted the majority out but I still lost a lot of my no claims discount). Good luck !
References :
DAS, DVLA, Own experience