Expert: Charlie Barone - 1/27/2010

Question
my insurer has offerd a price 750 pounds less than glass's price guide quoting that nationaly ther are two cars that i could purchase at the price offerd 0ne 120 miles away and one is 220 miles away i apreciate that thes may have the same milage of my car and there is nothing anywere at that price within 60 miles do i have to accept there offer or are they being unreasonable

Answer
I'm unfamiliar with the insurance regulations in the UK, but here in the states an insurer must provide cars of like kind and quality within a reasonable distance of the policyholder in a total loss claim. It would seen to me that the comparable cars to the one you had are farther than would be considered reasonable here. Also, you must be able to inspect the vehicles on which they base their settlement offer, and the distance is far too great for that to happen.

I would refuse their offer, as it is nothing but that---an offer. They may come back with a better one.