Car will probably be totaled, does estimate include recent repairs?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
D

djheater

Lifer
Mar 19, 2001
14,637
2
0
At a stop light in my piece of crap 2000 caravan with 160k I was rear-ended by a mercedes 325 convertible going about 40, thankfully no one was hurt.
Last summer we looked at our finances and decided to get repairs finstead of buying a new car.
Rebuilt transmission, water pump and power steering were done.
If the car gets totalled, which seems likely, would the estimate include the price of those repairs?

I've left a message for my agent, just thought I'd ask if anyone has gone through this before

Guy hit me above the bumper, I don't think he even tried to stop.
 
C

Christobevii3

Senior member
Aug 29, 2004
995
0
76
Usually not. They estimate the car in working order when wrecked. If you talk to the agent they may be able to help you get a little more though.
 
V

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Nope.

Only thing you can add above its value is add ons like performance items, rims, etc... and even then they will either fight you on it or only give a % usually.
 
bruceb

bruceb

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
8,874
111
106
Usually not, but when my 1999 Grand Prix was declared totaled, even though damage was not that bad, State Farm did include the cost of New Battery, 2 New Front Tires and the GM factory rebuilt tranny I had just installed 1 month before the rear ender. I had all the receipts and that resulted in an increase from $4,000 to a total paid to me of $5,800 .. had car fixed for $4,000 .. still have it. This was 3 years back.
 
bruceb

bruceb

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
8,874
111
106
No longer have the photos, but it was just rear bumper cover, trunk lid, trunk floor. Rear quarters were fine.
 
MiataNC

MiataNC

Platinum Member
Dec 5, 2007
2,215
1
81
Can't hurt to take the receipts to your agent and make your case. Be cool, firm, and don't take the first "no" as the final answer.

The key is you need to be made "whole" (lawyer speak). You are the innocent injured party, and you are within your rights demanding that you be compensated with that in mind.
 
Dr. Detroit

Dr. Detroit

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2004
8,483
883
126
We have first hand experience from this same instance.

1992 Sable LS fully loaded was totaled in 2001. Car had thousands of dollars in repairs in the prior 2yrs and we successfully got our valuation up by over $800 by using the receipts we had.

Our carrier was State Farm.
 
S

Sluggo

Lifer
Jun 12, 2000
15,488
5
81
You got hit from behind by a speeding Mercedes, just toss a number out there of how much you want and stand by it. Threaten to take all of them to court if they balk.

My dad got T-Boned by a girl who ran a stop sign in his old Cadillac that he had just bought a transmission for. They offered him 2500 for the car, he stood by the fact he wanted 5000 for it. He sent the insurance company and the parents of the girl who hit him and the girl certified letters telling them all he wanted a check in hand for 5000 by a certain date or he would drag everyone through small claims court and not rest until he got the money he wanted. He got exactly what he wanted.
 
M

mizzou

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2008
9,734
54
91
no.

your car previously was worthless with damaged goods. after dumping $ into the car, it is now worth what a working caravan is worth...

alot of times your car just has no resale value, no matter how many aftermarket parts are in it
 
simonizor

simonizor

Golden Member
Feb 8, 2010
1,312
0
0
Almost definitely not. It usually works the other way around. If you have some sort of outstanding mechanical issue with your vehicle and it gets totaled, they will usually not notice the mechanical issue and value your car as if it were in good condition mechanically.
 
D

djheater

Lifer
Mar 19, 2001
14,637
2
0
mizzou said:
no.

your car previously was worthless with damaged goods. after dumping $ into the car, it is now worth what a working caravan is worth...

alot of times your car just has no resale value, no matter how many aftermarket parts are in it
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's the conclusion I've come to as well. Haven't heard back from the adjuster yet though. Mayabe I'll have a state-farm like experience as previous posters had and they'll pay, but I'm not holding my breath. Almost makes me wish I had been hurt in some meaningful way, at least then I could sue for damages, but at this point even my mild whiplash seems to be fading.
 
V

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
OP right now go to autotrader, craigslist, etc.. and print out ads for the same year, make, and model. It has to be the SAME. No off 1 year off, dodge, etc...

Get the 5 best one that are closest to your milage and highest price. If the number they come back with is at or above that then that is probable good. If not tell them that is not a good number and ask for their fax number and fax in a letter saying how you found these 3+ same type and year car at XYZ price PLUS reciepts showing your vehicle is in better condition as it has a new trans etc... and ask for about $500 above what the average is in your ADs. They will come back with a final number that is better than the first. Not as good/happy as yours but much more fair.
 
A

alphatarget1

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2001
5,710
0
76
Hitting you at 40mph... How bad was the damage to your vehicle? Pics?

Just sue the Mercedes driver for neck pain. Seriously.
 
boomhower

boomhower

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2007
7,228
19
81
Probably not. I had an Rodeo that blew a head gasket and overheated. It sat for a year. I finally got it fixed to the tune of $800. Two weeks later a guys ran a stop sign and i T-Boned him and totaled my truck. No money for the work. But they did give me a good bit more than I thought it was worth so I called it a wash.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom