Car Insurance advice.. I think they are being a bit unfair

So if anyone remembers the huge hail storm in perth a few months ago, my 1997 BMW e36 got completely destroyed. About 40-50 dents, each panel is dented.
We took it for a quote, at which they quoted $7000 for all repairs.
Anyway, so our insurance company said yep, we'll pay that.
We thought it would surely just be a write off, considering everyone else who's car got ONE dent has been declared a write off.
Ok so a few months went by and our claim had not been finalised yet, and then someone drove and hit the BMW from behind, shattering the headlight and back panel.
Again, a quote of about $3000.
Combining the two claims, insurance company still said they will pay it, not write it off.
WTH????
Plus it can't be driven, it will be yellow stickered if cops see it, and the wait is 1yr for repairs.
DH asked if they can just give us the cheque and we just find someone else to repair, at which they refused, and will only pay AFTER the job is complete.
Is it just me or is this absurd? Any advice?

Is there like an ombudsmen or something to call an ask advice? The car must be worth alot more I assume if they don't want to declare a right off but to expect you to wait a year for repairs doesn't sound right or fair, esp if the car is unroadworthy without them.

I think it's something like 80 or 90% of the market value. So if the repairs fall in that, then they'll have it repaired. Chase them up and see what other options you have. Good luck.

That sucks that it you can't drive it for a whole year.

I suppose all that other stuff depends on your insurance company but I would be calling the Ombudsmen too because you can't not drive your car for a whole year. Are you still paying insurance on it while you can't drive it? It must be costing you heaps while it is just sitting there.

Can you get other quotes, would that solve the problem with the insurance company?

From my experience, they will only fully write a car off if the amount of damage exceeds the current market value of the car. So if there is $5000 worth of damage and the car is worth $20000, they will repair the car.

I think it is crazy the amount of time you have to wait for repairs though. Are you entitled to a hire car paid for by your insurance during that time? If so, tell them you'll be applying for that and see if that helps them speed things up with your claim.

Good luck :)

They will also write off when there is damage to the main structure of the chassis as it can't legally be repaired, but it doesn't sound like it's the case.

I'm more concerned at the one year wait on repairs through your insurer? Is that even with them organist g the repairs? The longest I've ever had to wait is two weeks and I was pit out that it took so long.

Its normal for them not to pay til after they usually pay the repairer directly

We had the car quoted with two different repair companies, and then again with QBE's actual repair center. All three claim 1 year wait, because all Perth cars are waiting for repairs coz of the storm.
The car is worth $10,000 maybe $12000 maximum.
They said if we don't want to wait a year, they will give us $6000 and write off the car. This is NOT the market value, this is their way of compromising. Market value minimum would be $9000 I would say, but more likely over $10,000. I recall the blue booK??? had that amount.
I'm definitely going to contact the ombudsman or whatever it is.
The chassis is affected, the car is really not repairable, I don't know what the hell they are doing.
I'm also thinking we should have got it quoted at an actual BMW repair center, but QBE demanded it had to be one of their accredited ones.
I'm just amazed that so many other cars I know have been declared a write off because of one dent, whereas the BMW is showered with holes.

if they write it off do you get to keep it (and sell it privately)? might get your money back this way

There are 2 different types of write offs though. Sounds like yours is a repairable write off, in which case they can give you the money and you can have it repaired if you like. Go and get a 2nd quote and contact the ombudsman.