A Car Written Off Every Minute in 2024 – A Growing Concern for UK Motorists

Posted on 16 June 2025 by Stephen Griffiths

In 2017, a report from Direct Line Group estimated that 384,000 vehicles were written off annually in the UK, equating to one every 90 seconds[1]. Fast forward to 2024, and the latest data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) reveals a dramatic increase. A total of 562,185 vehicles were recorded as written off in 2024, meaning a car is now written off every 60 seconds—a 46% rise since 2017.

The latest figures, obtained via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the DVLA, highlight the increasing number of vehicles deemed beyond economic repair by insurers. Over the last six years (2019–2024), more than 3 million vehicles (3,066,124) have been officially written off.

Yearly Breakdown of UK Vehicle Write-Offs:

Year	Vehicles written-off
2019	556,418
2020	414,593
2021	449,737
2022	524,321
2023	559,870
2024	562,185
Total	3,066,124

These figures demonstrate the sheer scale of vehicle write-offs in the UK, and there are concerns about whether insurers are fairly compensating policyholders when their vehicles are declared total losses.

Concerns Over Insurance Valuations

Most insurance policies are designed to pay out the pre-accident value of a written-off vehicle—that is, its market worth immediately before it was damaged or stolen. However, vehicle valuation is not an exact science, and insurers often rely on their own pricing models, which may not always reflect the most accurate or fair market value.

This issue has not gone unnoticed. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned insurers about unfairly low settlement offers, stating:

“We remind firms that attempts to control claims costs by making offers lower than the customer is entitled to under their policy is a breach of [the regulations]”[2]

Consumers have increasingly begun to challenge their settlements. The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) reported an 18% increase in complaints about insurance in 2023/24 compared to the previous year. A key area of dispute? Insurers undervaluing vehicles when settling write-off claims. The FOS itself noted:

“We’ve also seen an increase in consumers contacting us because they were unhappy with the value or amount of the payout received following an insurance claim”[3]

Allegiant Finance: Fighting for Fair Compensation

Allegiant Finance, a claims management company based in Warrington, has been at the forefront of helping consumers challenge unfair insurance valuations. Many customers have come forward after realising they may have been shortchanged by their insurers.

Stephen Griffiths, of Allegiant Finance, commented:

“If your car was declared a write-off in the last six years, you might be entitled to compensation. With the DVLA reporting over 3 million written-off vehicles in the UK during that time, it’s important to wonder: did I receive a fair settlement from my insurer? It’s not surprising that we’re seeing increasing numbers of shortchanged customers asking for our help.”

In one case, a customer successfully challenged their insurer’s valuation and recovered an additional £11,000 [4], highlighting the importance of scrutinising insurers’ payout offers.

With the number of written-off vehicles at a six-year high and consumer dissatisfaction growing, drivers are urged to review their insurance settlements carefully and seek assistance if they believe they have been unfairly compensated.

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