How long til ins pays me for totaled car?

[yh125d]

So I took my car in today to get the official evaluation done and it's totaled. Even though it was driven 400mi back from where the accident was, and I've driven it to work yesterday and today, my ins (USAA) won't let the shop release it to me (unsafe to drive) even if it was in one piece which it isn't cause they tore the front off to get a detailed look. I didn't have any notification I would be unable to drive my car back after the inspection.

I live 50 miles away from work and don't really have anyone I could ride to work with/borrow car from. I opted out of rental service (dumb move, hindsight 20/20, etc.). I can't buy a new car til I get the settlement for this one. I can't afford a rental on my own dime.

I asked ins if they had an idea of when I can expect to get my settlement, but they couldn't give me one. Anyone have a clue how long its going to be?

 

[Adrenaline]

My wife wrecked and totaled her car a few years ago. Geico looked at the car that night and wrote a check the next day.

With Geico it was about 30 hours total.

If you have full coverage insurance, it usually covers a certain dollar amount per day for renting a car when stuff like this happens. I think mine is $20/day and I cover anything over that.

 

[olds]

I have USAA. It took them about 1 week to pay me off but part of that was waiting to get an estimate on my truck. One they had an estimate, it was about 3 days.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Depends on the insurance co.

 

[Balt]

Depending on the insurance company, you might need to be a bit of a pest to get them to pay up in a timely manner. Call them up and ask. Don't be rude, but let them know you're in a bind.

 

[SKORPI0]

Pic of totaled car please. It would be interesting to see why they declared it "unsafe to drive" despite you driving it 400 miles after the accident.

 

[yh125d]

Well they ruled it unsafe because the seatbelts and airbags went off. Otherwise it's perfectly safe and driveable long term minus some fluid leaks


And olds can vouch, USAA is awesome, I'm not expecting too much trouble. The estimate got uploaded to them this afternoon, hopefully I can get cash to immediately pay off my loan and go get a new ride Fri or Sat. And yeah Adrenaline, they offer rental coverage but I declined (didn't know it was so cheap or I would have gone for it anyway)

 

[Fear No Evil]

How can the insurance company force someone to hold YOUR vehicle? They didn't pay for it. Not yet anyway. But anyways, you can't afford a rental? You can rent a car for like $25 a day.

 

[F1N3ST]

Pics?

 

[Evadman]

Well they ruled it unsafe because the seatbelts and airbags went off. Otherwise it's perfectly safe and driveable long term minus some fluid leaks

That is pretty much the definition of not safe to drive.

 

[yh125d]

Safe to drive meaning not a hazard to other drivers. Not safe to me.


I understand how they can refuse to release it though, since it has been ruled a total loss technically it is theirs and they owe me whatever the settlement is. Plus, they can't really insure it in its current condition

 

[ElFenix]

state farm cut me a check a couple hours after they informed me they'd totaled it. which was about 3 days after i dropped it at the body shop.


be careful on renting a car, i kept one for 3 weeks afterward and the taxes added 40% to the bill. fscking stadiums.

 

[Freshgeardude]

geico and state farm seem to be very quick (know from dad's lawyer experience)

not sure were this company lies though, but google should help answer

 

[Nik]

Good thing you asked a computer forum on the internet instead of calling your insurance company.

Here, let me grab my all-inclusive-questions-and-answers tome of knowledge and look it up for you...

 

[yh125d]

Good thing you asked a computer forum on the internet instead of calling your insurance company.

Here, let me grab my all-inclusive-questions-and-answers tome of knowledge and look it up for you...

Hey, dipshit, read the fucking OP. I asked my agent and she could give no estimate.

 

[yh125d]

Before

After
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o130/yh125d/IMG_1175.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o130/yh125d/IMG_1176.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o130/yh125d/IMG_1177.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o130/yh125d/IMG_1178.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o130/yh125d/IMG_1179.jpg

 

[BoomerD]

That sux...nice car. Or it was.

Every insurance company is different in how fast they pay claims. I always thought USAA had great service. (also, it may be governed by your state law)

 

[JulesMaximus]

Think about it this way, what would happen to them if they released the car to you and you were in a subsequent accident in which you were severely injured or killed because your seat belts and airbags weren't operational to protect you? What do you suppose their risk exposure would be in that situation?

BTW-USAA is awesome. I don't expect you'll have to wait long.

 

[yh125d]

Yeah I definitely understand how they could not release it to me, they would be opening themselves up to a huge liability

 

[SKORPI0]

Good update with pics. So it's cheaper for USAA to pay you, than fix the car? Not even salvageable? I'd take note of the VIN# and check on the car in the future if it is really declared a loss/totaled or put back on the road/fixed.

 

[yh125d]

Good update with pics. So it's cheaper for USAA to pay you, than fix the car? Not even salvageable? I'd take note of the VIN# and check on the car in the future if it is really declared a loss/totaled or put back on the road/fixed.

I got one quote for 8k and two more for 9200 and 9600+. 9 months ago I only paid 10k for it. They're gonna put it on auction somewhere

 

[bctbct]

At least your washer fluid is intact, siphon that before they seize the car.

btw, we had a car totaled last summer and it tooks weeks to get them to process the claim(other driver ins.) Then they lost the title we mailed to them.

They told us to turn in the rental, we said fine, day we get our check.

They got faster then.

 

[Nik]

Hey, dipshit, read the fucking OP. I asked my agent and she could give no estimate.

So you think a bunch of nerds on a computer forum know more about your insurance agency than your own agent?

Wow. You fit right in...

 

[F1N3ST]

Nice delivery on the pics

 

[yh125d]

So you think a bunch of nerds on a computer forum know more about your insurance agency than your own agent?

Wow. You fit right in...

Yeah because no one here has ever totaled a car? No one here works in insurance?



Go troll somewhere else, jackass