If your car has been damaged and cannot be safely or economically repaired, it may be declared a total loss (also known as a "write-off").

What is a total loss?

A vehicle is considered a total loss when:

  • The damage is too severe to repair safely, or
  • The cost of repairs is more than the vehicle's pre-accident value, or
  • It has been stolen and not recovered.

In these cases, you won’t get your car back. Instead, we’ll offer you a settlement payment based on the pre-accident market value of your car.

How is my settlement calculated?

We’ll calculate your vehicle’s market value before the accident, then deduct your:

  • Policy excess (shown in your insurance documents)
  • Outstanding premium if you pay monthly

Example: If your car is valued at £10,000, and:

  • Your excess is £750
  • Your outstanding premium is £1,200 Your payout would be: £10,000 – £750 – £1,200 = £8,050

Is my policy automatically cancelled if my vehicle is written off?

No. Your policy will continue until its end date, and you’ll still owe any outstanding payments. So, if your vehicle is written off, you have three options:

  • Buy a new car - You can update your policy with a new vehicle and stay insured until the end of your policy.
  • Pay for repairs privately - You can keep your car and get it repaired at your own cost. We’ll need an engineer’s report to confirm it’s roadworthy again.
  • Cancel your policy - If you would prefer to cancel, please contact us via Live Chat in the app or on our Help page.

Are my monthly payments automatically cancelled after a write off?

Your monthly payments will continue until your claim is fully settled. For total loss claims, any outstanding premium (the remaining amount you owe for the year) will usually be deducted from your settlement.

Once your claim is paid and your balance is cleared, we’ll close your monthly payments and email you to confirm.

Will my car insurance policy renew if my vehicle is written off?

If your claim is ongoing or you’ve already added a new car, you’ll receive a renewal invitation as normal.

If your claim has been settled, we may ask you to:

  • Add a new car to your policy, or
  • Provide an independent engineer’s report confirming your car is roadworthy