I had an artificial snow can explode in one of our cars before Christmas. It hit the windscreen and cracked it. The foam went everywhere. My excess was $650 and new windscreen was $900 so I thought might as well use the insurance and I will get it detailed from them too. I called them and they sent out O'Brien the next day and replaced the windscreen. I called them back about detailing and they asked me to get 2 quotes and send it to them. One was about $1000 the other was $1500. There was also panel damage which was about $200 from the car dealer. I sent the quotes in.
I got a call from the insurance saying they are going to send the assessor to check the car. The assessor asked us to take the car to their upholstery guy who valued the repairs at $19000. The insurance has decided to write off the car and give me the agreed value $14000 (Its worth about $16500 if I buy another one). I had paid VicRoads Rego and Insurance 20 days before the incident which I will not get back (about $2000).
I called the assessor back to complain and he said we are not going to pay $5000 more than what we think its worth to fix it. I said but I can have it fixed for $1200-1700. He said you can always buy the car back from us for $2500 but It will go on the Written-off Vehicles Register (WOVR). I called 2 scrap places and they offered me $600 and $1500 for it. So if I can't get it to pass VIV inspection the best I can do is $1500 so a $1000 loss.
Now structurally there is no damage to the car. I will need to do the VIV inspection and road worthy again. Is it worth the risk? Why would VicRoad care if the seats have stains? Both the people who called me from insurance said not to go after it as its a lot of hassle. The car is a 2014 Subaru Impreza Hatch with 43,000 Kms. I don't know what is the best thing to do here.
get $14000 from the insurance
buy the car back for $2500
new windscreen + upholstery clean for ~$2000
Vehicle Identity Validation (VIV) - $523
roadworthy - between $100 and $150
rego - $816.50 (max for Metropolitan area -high risk zone)