Ontario woman refuses insurance offer to write off car

Advances in vehicle technology come at a price, with more insurance companies 'writing off' vehicles after even minor accidents. Pat Foran reports.

Modern vehicles are safer than ever before thanks to new technology designed to keep drivers in their lane, control speed, and prevent crashes.

But, all the technological advancements come at a price.

Now, more insurance companies are “writing off” vehicles, even if they’ve only been in minor accidents, due to expensive repairs.

One Ontario woman said she left her car in a parking lot and was shocked when she came back to find it had been involved in a hit and run.

The car sustained extensive exterior damage, but she said she was still surprised when her insurance company refused to fix it and said it would be “written off” instead.

“Honestly, this has been a real nightmare to get my car repaired,” Theresa Bittan, of Mississauga, told CTV News.

Bittan said she had parked her BMW sedan in front of her bank, went in to do some business, and when she came out she saw that it had been side-swiped by another vehicle.

“I walked over to my car, and I could not believe how much damage was done to the front fender and there was glass under the fender,” she said.

Bittan’s car is a 2011 BMW 328i with 213,000 kilometres on it, and despite being an older car with higher mileage, she said she recently spent $10,000 on repairs and claimed the car was in in excellent condition.

Bittan said that was why she was shocked to be told by her insurance company that it was considered a total loss and would be written off.

“I’ve been back and forth with my insurance. The first thing they want to do is write off my car and I said, ‘No, that is unacceptable.’”

She said she was presented with a settlement offer from her insurance company of $8,900, which she refused. After more than two months of negotiations, she’s holding firm that she wants her car fixed.

“I’m not asking for the money they want to give me for the car, that is not the case,” Bittan explained. “I need the car repaired so I can get on with my life.”

“I could understand if my car was completely damaged, but the car starts and it drives.”

Reasons why a car could be ‘written off’

The Automotive Industries Association of Canada recently told CTV News that cars are being deemed total losses more often due to expensive parts and delays to get them.

Repairs have also increased in price and so have rental car costs. Safety systems using cameras, radar, and sensors are also expensive to replace.

• READ MORE: More vehicles are being written off by insurance companies after minor accidents. Here is why

Bittan is with TD Insurance and when CTV News reached out to the company, a spokesperson said in a statement, “TD Insurance is committed to supporting our clients throughout the claims process. Claims are assessed individually based on the details of the claim and the terms of the policy. This matter has been resolved after working directly with our client.”

Bittan was excited to find out her vehicle would now be repaired instead of written off.

“I’m so glad my car is being repaired. It’s a relief and I can’t wait to get it back.”

If your car is written off and you’re not happy with the offer, you can try to negotiate a higher price. You could also buy the car, but it may have a salvage title meaning it would have to be repaired and inspected before being allowed back on the road.