Interesting insurance conundrum

[hogweed]

Some of you might still remember me – had my 75 for over 12 years, but had to give up in the end as I was tired of taking wheelbarrows full of money to her. Anyway, got an Insignia of similar spec, and am generally happy with it – especially the auto box


However… somebody hit it and ran in the Tesco car park, and damaged the front n/s headlight. These are hideously complex and expensive units (like £1200 each), and there was also some scratching on the bumper. I have protected NCD, so I put it through my insurance. I’ve been driving over 50 years, and I think this is the first claim I’ve ever made (excluding numerous motorbikes ).


Anyway, problem is that it turns out headlights for these and some other cars have been on back order for a very long time. The insurance company has even asked the repairer to look at used units, but they say they can’t get one of them either.


So here’s my problem… presumably my car won’t pass its next MOT with one headlamp, and I can’t drive it at night. I’m asking the insurance company what they plan to do – after endless broken records that sound like they’re coming from a politician, she said “We may end up offering a cash alternative”.


I don’t know what that means, but unless it’s about £10k () it won’t help me… when the car fails its MOT, it’ll be sitting in the driveway indefinitely.
So… what do you think Hastings will do? Would they write the car off for want of a headlight?? Or will they just leave me without a car for months or years?


Hope you don’t mind me asking here, but the Vauxhall forums are a bit juvenile… any ideas?


Ta