Vehicle data expert Cartell.ie reports on interesting insights published in the UK by Motortrader on the number of written off vehicles in the UK – and their value. Accident Exchange, UK post-accident specialists, are quoted as estimating the number of write-offs last year topped 257,000 -worth an estimated £2bn (€2.74bn). The company said almost 12% of the collision-claims it handled last year resulted in write-offs.

The company emphasised that dealers should do more to assist owners of vehicles bought from their garage that are involved in collisions, saying most dealers weren’t even aware the vehicle had sustained an impact. Often drivers are left without a vehicle following an incident and this was described as an “opportunity” for dealers to assist by providing leads for their customer and in return receive the chance to display better customer service techniques and sell more vehicles.

In Ireland there are at least 37,000 vehicles written off annually with reports as high as 45,000. Approximately one third, or 15,000, vehicles are categorised as unfit for repair and these have become known as CAT A and CAT B write offs within the insurance industry. It is supposed to be best practice for insurers to notify the Department of Transport to have those “locked down” to prevent any further activity on them, but, at present, this is purely voluntary.

In 2014 Cartell called for swift action in relation to regulating written off vehicles in Ireland. Shortly afterwards the Government announced it would move on the issue. As we published in May 2015 all categories of write off should be notified to the Department so that CAT A and CAT B should be tracked to ensure they all go end-of-life. Also the new legislation must ensure that vehicles which are written off as CAT C and D will have an engineer’s inspection before returning to the road.