Insurance Payout

[lupi]

So looks like one of my vehicles will be rendered total vice paying for repair. This will also be a case of the at fault and ours being the same company. What are the tips to make sure I get a decent payout from this?

 

[boomhower]

Research and find out what your car is actually worth. 99% chance you get lowballed on the first offer. Who's the insurance company?

 

[lupi]

the lizard.

 

[quikah]

Geico gave me a very detailed report about the car when they totaled my wife's '07 focus. Listed everything that was broke, estimate for repair, valuation estimate based on various attributes (carpet stains -100, new tires +100, etc.) and a list of about 10 car for sale in the area. Gave me the mean of the sale price of those 10.

They gave me about $1500 more than I originally paid for it (got around $10k). I thought it was fair. This was our own comprehensive policy paying out. (wife was at fault)

 

[slag]

I'm in the same boat as quikah. I don't have geico, but have never had any problems with the insurance company trying to lowball me or give me a price that was unreasonable for my car. I don't know where boomhower is coming from.

 

[heymrdj]

My truck got totaled out last month. KBB was only 6200 at best, they gave slightly over 8K first offer. I had no complaints.

 

[lupi]

just got the offer from the adjuster. Looks like for my '04 they're giving almost what an '05 would cost at the used dealers in the area with my vehicle being in good shape and most of the model options included so probably don't have any real complaints, other than getting a car payment not as nice as not having one. Now have to decide whether I want to buy or lease. At least they've given us a long term paid rental so I have time to decide.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

look up the nada value.
note any aftermarket parts/mods.
receipts for recently changed parts/tires.

you also might be able to buy back the car as a salvage in case you want to convert it to a track car or use it for parts.

 

[Midwayman]

Don't forget to ask for the sale tax on the new car (if applicable) 29 states require it, and more will pay it depending on policy/fault. Not all will offer it.

 

[lupi]

There is a sales tax line on the sheet, but it's figured from the value of the current vehicle.

Went and cleaned out the car yesterday. Would need a new outer door and front quarterpanel and looks like the front wheel was hit pretty hard and pushed back into the rear of the wheel well (enough to shread the tire and probably need a good bit of front suspension work.

Interior is another story. 3 of the 4 airbags went off, so steering wheel, dashboard and whatever you call the airbag trim around the ceiling would all need to be replaced.