by moss_sylvia » Wed May 05, 2010 06:01 pm
I have a 2002 Century Buick Custom. A deer ran into the side of my car and dented the fender pretty good. My husband's head flew into the windshield shattering it. My car has other cosmetic problems and I am afraid that the insurance company will total my car out. I was just going to have them do a cash settlement with the lien holder. Do you think they will total my car???
Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 07:24 pm Post Subject:
doesnt look good...if the damages are more to repair than the car's value, they have to. even if it's close, they may total it due to previous law suits and state compliance issues with consistant claims practices (they cant just pick and choose who to help out) most companies have a total loss threshhold...70-80% repairs to ACV. when repairs hit this range, it's considered a total loss.
Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 08:36 pm Post Subject: Will the insurance company total my car?
Approximately how much would it cost for them to repair the fender and windshield? Does anyone know?
Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 08:43 pm Post Subject:
not without looking at the damage and calculating part price, labor rates, paint rates, etc in your area.
the problem is insurance companies cant spot repair to save the car (not the ones im aware of anyway). they have to write a complete damage appraisal.
if the car is driveable, you may can "owner retain salvage" meaning they settle the total loss with you and deduct the car's salvage value. you get to keep the car and maybe get enough cash to fix the fender and winshield.
the downside is the car will have a branded salvage title and in most cases it will have to be state inspected before they will issue the tag. think long and hard about going this route...ive seen where this works out great for some, and simply too aggrevating for others. talk to you adjuster and review your options before making a decision.
keep the forum posted pls!
Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 08:53 pm Post Subject:
I have one more question. If I have the adjuster come out and he decides the car is totaled can I decide to not go through with the claim and just not do anything about it? I appreciate your answers they are very helpful.
Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 08:59 pm Post Subject:
I am seriously considering not going through with this because I still owe more on this car than it is probably worth. I still owe about 3,000 dollars and I think it's only worth about 2,000 if that. I paid way too much for this car. it was 7 thousand something. So crazy.
Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 10:23 pm Post Subject:
once the claim is filed, appraisal is completed and if its totaled, the insurance company is required to report it to the DMV...or so im told.
if i were you, go to a bodyshop and ask them if they will do an appraisel, most of them work with most the insurance companies and can tell you if it will total...they can give you an idea of what it will take to do the repairs. this way at least you arent guessing and can make and informed decision. let them know what you are trying to do and ask if they were working with the insurance company's part and labor rate proceedures, what would the estimate be and would it likely total the car.
Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 01:11 pm Post Subject:
Thank you very much for the info.
Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 01:44 pm Post Subject:
the problem is insurance companies cant spot repair to save the car (not the ones im aware of anyway). they have to write a complete damage appraisal.
There's nothing that prevents an insurer from paying for new damage and not paying for preexisting damage. Happens all the time.
Aside from the need to replace the windshield (a $200 event at most), I can't conceive of a fender repair by itself as being sufficient to constitute damages warranting a total loss. You could go to an auto salvage yard and probably get a replacement fender for $100, and overpay $500 for labor and paint to install it.
If I have the adjuster come out and he decides the car is totaled can I decide to not go through with the claim and just not do anything about it?
Of course! Let the adjuster come and tell you what the damage is worth to the insurance company. You don't have to accept the offer, especially if it did mean a "total loss". You can choose to drop the claim and repair the damages yourself. Even if the adjuster is willing to write you a check on the spot for $1500 minus your $500 deductible, $1,000 net, you can take the money and use it for a vacation and not repair the damage to the vehicle.
What you can't do is try to make a subsequent claim for the same damage, as some people do. That's insurance fraud, and here in California it's worth up to a $50,000 fine and up to 5 years in prison if convicted.
Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 02:00 pm Post Subject:
Thank you so much. I think I will go ahead and do this. If I don't like what they say I just won't go through with it. I just want this money to go toward my car payments.
Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 02:04 pm Post Subject:
I should have added, if the vehicle is only worth $2000-$3000, you should not be paying for collision coverage. As you see, at this point it's a money losing proposition. Use the money instead to pay off your loan.
Hopefully, you learned your lesson and won't overpay for your next car.
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