Insurance Companies are Bastards, you will never win, However you can offer a second opinion, go to a garage get a written quote, show your insurance company this is what you can get the repair for. insurance companies have there own "prefered Garages" there all out to make money from the other party, thats why the repairs are so high, any write off and thery make more. if needs be let them write the car off as there decision, insist that you dont want them to write a email or letting keep copies for you records. if they want to write it off get the money they want to give you BUY the car back. use the money for your own repairs, no claims from your side - No increase in premiums for you as the claim will be ffrom the other side. There are loop holes just play there games back to them. make sure you build a strong case with copies kept for you along with names and dates, even record any calls, i had an incident ages ago with a del sol, my family relitive is a lawyer and found the loops holes for me, put insure companies on the spot (ball in there court) they couldnt get out, and i did the same write off buy back not my fault not high premiums for me hope this helps, kind regards, Luke