Total loss? What happens after my car’s been written off?
Not sure what it means if your car’s a total loss? We’ll help you know what to do after a write off…
Insurance after a write off
If your vehicle’s a total loss (or “write-off”) it means it either can’t be repaired or would cost more to repair than to replace.
Our skilled engineers will take many factors into account when assessing a vehicle including, but not limited to repair costs, structural damage and safety concerns. They’ll also consider other factors such as the market value of your vehicle, any hidden damage caused by the incident and age/mileage. They’ll review all the damage caused by the incident and decide upon the most appropriate and safest outcome.
You’ll usually receive your payment within 3-5 working days.
If your vehicle is a Total Loss and you have the cover on your policy then Enterprise Rent a Car will provide you with a vehicle for a duration of time, in line with your policy terms and conditions.
If you already have a hire car, and you’ve signed a Credit Hire Agreement with Enterprise, please get in touch with them to discuss the return of your vehicle. This is usually within 4-7 days.
If you already have a hire car, provided by us, the hire provider will get in touch with you and let you know when you should return your hire car. This is usually up to 21 days or until 4 days after payment has been given to you; whichever is soonest.
No. If your car’s a total loss (or “written off”) you'll need to put a new car on your LV= car insurance policy first. Our friendly team can arrange this for you if you call them within 60 days. Please call us on: 0330 678 5222
If you don’t contact us your cover will be cancelled; there will not be a refund due and any outstanding annual premium will need to be paid in full. For more information please refer to your policy documents.
Phone lines open:
Monday to Friday: 8am - 8pm
Saturday and bank holidays: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Calls will be recorded. For Text Phone: dial 18001 first.
Garages and recovery agents charge us for each day they have your vehicle. Synetiq UK will store it for us for free. If you're not happy for us to move the vehicle we may not be able to pay any future storage costs.
If your vehicle is at a repair centre you can go and collect your belongings. If this isn’t possible or the vehicle has been collected for salvage, please call Synetiq directly on 01606 555 496 and ask for the items to be sent to you or arrange to collect them.
The DVLA will automatically process a refund of the vehicle tax for any full remaining months when you complete and return Section 9 of your V5 to them, or after you complete the transfer of ownership online at www.gov.uk/sold-bought-vehicle.
If you’re not at fault for the incident and we’ve obtained full admission of liability from the responsible party's insurers, then you will not have to pay your policy excess.
If we obtain this after we’ve sent you your settlement, we’ll send you a payment for your excess.
No. If your car’s a total loss (or “written off”) you'll need to put a new car on your LV= Car Insurance policy first. Our friendly team can arrange this for you if you call them within 60 days.
Please call: 0330 678 5111
Phone lines open
Monday to Friday: 8am - 8pm
Saturday and bank holidays: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Calls will be recorded. For Text Phone: dial 18001 first.
Following a total loss claim, we'll record your insurance as a total loss on the Motor Insurers Anti Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR). We'll also update the Motor Insurers Database (MID) to show your original car’s no longer insured.
If you want your insurance to continue on another car please call our team within 60 days of the settlement. If you don't, your policy will be cancelled and we won't refund any premium.
Please call: 0330 678 5111
Phone lines open
Monday to Friday: 8am - 8pm
Saturday and bank holidays: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Calls will be recorded. For Text Phone: dial 18001 first.
Total loss and salvage FAQs
We'll arrange our salvage agents, Synetiq, to collect your car. If it's at home they'll contact you to arrange this.
Please remove any personal items before it's collected, including any paperwork that could show personal information, and remove your personal data from any media units (e.g. audio, video and navigation systems). If you’ve been unable to do this, please call us as soon as possible and we'll ask Synetiq to send the items to you or arrange for you to collect them.
If your car’s not at your home address or one of our recommended repair centres, we’ll also need you to call us as soon as possible to let us know where it is.
Please call: 0330 678 5111
Phone lines open
Monday to Friday: 8am - 8pm
Saturday and bank holidays: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Calls will be recorded. For Text Phone: dial 18001 first.
To prevent unwanted parking tickets, speeding fines or road tax queries, you need to let the DVLA know you no longer own the car. Your registration document (V5) has a section titled 'Notification of Sale/Transfer to the Motor Trade/Insurer/Dismantler'. In the newer V5s, it’s section nine.
Fill in that section of your V5 using Synetiq's address:
SYNETIQ Limited
Bentley Moor Lane
Adwick-le-Street
Doncaster
Yorkshire
DN6 7BD
Enter 'N/A' in the space for the VAT number and 'Not present' where it asks for the signature of the motor trader. Then sign and date it, the DVLA are happy to accept this.
Detach the slip from the rest of the V5 and send only the slip to the DVLA:
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BD
If your car's been written off and you don't want to keep it, you'll need to send us:
- The remaining sections of your V5 (registration document/logbook)
- Your current MOT certificate (if your car is required to have one)
- Any spare keys
If you have a personalised registration number and you want to keep it, you'll need to send the documents to the DVLA first, then on to us when you get them back.
If we know your car has a personalised registration number, we'll send you a separate letter and include a V317 form. If you're keeping the number you'll need to send the letter, completed form and documents to the DVLA.
If our letter hasn't arrived within seven working days, let us know and we'll send it again.
After 40 days your car will be sold or crushed. You'll lose the registration number if it's still recorded against it so if you intend to keep it please don't leave contacting the DVLA until it's too late.
If you don't want to keep the registration number, and have the time to let us know, please call us. If we don't hear from you within 40 days we'll assume you don't want to keep your personalised plate.
Please call: 0330 678 5111
Phone lines open
Monday to Friday: 8am - 8pm
Saturday and bank holidays: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Calls will be recorded. For Text Phone: dial 18001 first.
Not what you were looking for? Find your answer in our car FAQ hub.
Sorry if any of this sounds like jargon. You'll find an explanation in our car insurance glossary...