MAX was wrecked and totaled. The insurance Company called and told my wife that they are gonna pay $4400 so I came home from work to call the Jacka**. Now I can't get my calls returned. My car had 143,400 miles on it and was in excellent shape. I think I should get something in between $6500 and $5300. What do you guys think? I have before and after pics on the homepage. Oh the insurance don't wanna pay the body shop all of there money either. Aint that a b****.

 

I going though the same. $4400 is WAY too low. I was offered close to $5 grand and I have a 92se w/ 140k on it. Here are some links to research. Just yelling at the guy ain't gonna accomplish squat. Either do your researched and get educated on the subject or don't complain when you get reamed. I'm doing my best not to get reamed.
http://www.claimcoach.com/index.htm?...tm~bottomright
http://www.stephencryanpc.com/about.html
http://www.consumersautodetective.co...settlement.htm

 

Private party value for you car is only around 5 grand, insurance companies usually give between a trade in value (3300, and a private party value 5100). if you were to sell you car you shouldnt get much more than 5 for it.

 

Don't forget to subtract your deductable too. (if applicable)

Also keep in mind, everything is negotiable. But be smart about it, not a smart a$$ about it.

 

Insurance adjusters are worse then thiefs. Wrecked an 84 CRX years ago... it was a write off. The Insurance adjuster said that the Red Book value was $1500 at the time. I said go away and come back when you are serious. He came back and quoted me a Gold Book value of $1750-(How many bloody Books are there). I stated getting a little upset and researched market prices. I used rags like the Autotrader, newspapers, etc... I went back to the adjuster with enough evidence to support $3750 settlement. A far cry from the orginal $1500 offer. Make sure you do the research requred to be happy with the offer, help them justify the dollars to their bosses.

My policy also states replacement value, I'm sure that made a difference as well.

New 98 GLE owner and love it.

 

Why would you accept the use of the "trade in value"?? He's not trying to trade it in so it shouldn't be a factor. That's exactly what the insurance companies want to you to accept(to be their sucker)

My claims adjuster tried using "wholesale" + lowball retail divided by 2 for an $average.

I said "wtf is wholesale?!" "I don't have access to wholesale!"

 

Ask meccanoble about his trials gettign decent value out of his totalled 95. I did some research to help him out and got a LOT more than the ins was initially offering him. Do your homework and you can easily bump that up. Go based on dealer retail- what it would cost you to buy it at a local dealer to replace it. Did you have any mods? Were you allowed to remove them? If not, you ccan start adding those costs on as well. PM me if you have questions.

 

I totaled my 1988 Honda Accord that I paid $600 for, my insurance compy gave me $1800

 

This isn't my insurance company it's the guy who was at fault during the accident. The payoff for my car is like $5200 that's all I want is at least for the balance to be paid. They talked to my wife and told her $4400 and I called them over and over with no response. i'm gonna call in the morning and if I don't get a response by ten I am going to Navy Legal.

 

Well, it is actually HIS insurance company. Get your ins co involved (on your team) to negotiate on your behalf. This worked for meccanoble. He got WAY more than he originally was offered.

 

Man they really did shaft you black rob, i bet your could have sold the car to a dummy for around 6

 

Now the adjuster is telling me that they don't go by the book value? Where the heck does he think the dealers get there pricing.

 

Tell the dumb *** you expect nothing less then "Fair Market Value". You should include any sales tax that might be applicable. You are not a dealer... why would yo be entitled to dealer pricing. One of the assumptions is that you will need to go purchase another vehicle, you will have to pay the same price any other consumer has to pay. Book value does you no good.

 

Did you read ANY of the links I gave you?

 

they should throw in a little extra for the trouble they have cause you too.....

 

I am telling you, get YOUR insurance company to call them and talk this over. YOu pay them money month after month- get something back for it. Use them on your side!

 

Get this I called my insurance company abd the adjuster says if they get invoved i'll have to pay a deductible. So I asked if they could have someone look at the car and compare notes with the other insurance company and he said that it'll cost them $80 to do that. After I have been paying nearly $200/month for almost two years they can't spend $80 on me. I advise anyone who has these lil unknown insurnce companies to get something better or deal with what I am dealing with. I faxed the guy some cars I found most of the cars were 1995's and had more miles and averaged $6000. He called and claimed not to get it the first time so I faxed it again and haven't heard back yet.

 

Ask your agent where that is specified in the contract. What company gurantees the policies that that agent writes? Normally they are affiliated with larger companies.

Basically, it sounds like your agent is a d!ck.

 

Put a claim in with your insurance company. If they pay out to you, then they will fight the other company to get paid.

 

I wouldn't go to your Insurance Company just because the accident will say on your record, even though not at fault.
I would negotiate with the adjuster and ask him that if he can not give you what the car is worth he must fix the car and not totall it.
It took me 3 months to get money from allstate.
Get this their first estimate was 1500 repair cost, and by the time I got done with them they ended paying me 13000 for my car and like 1500 for the rental that I drove for 3months.

Ask the adjuster for rental if youre not at fault the other guys insurance must give you a rental until your car is either fixed or you get a check for it.

 

All I really want is them to pay the car off I owed $5200 on it.I could be trying to get a lil extra out of them but I'm not just want the loan payed. The guy even had me return the rental car on Monday if I wouldn't have already bought another vehicle me and my family would be walking.