by fixortotal » Tue Feb 07, 2012 11:54 pm
My late 90s sedan was rearended by a mid 90s SUV. SUV's insurance has accepted full liability. Because there was a passenger and aches and pains I opened a claim with the SUV's insurance. Fortunately everyone is ok.
Body shop repair estimate for insurance company: $1900.
KBB private party value of my sedan: $1925.
the wrinkle: Body shop says insurance company might still fix it since their software says the value of the car is closer to $2900. I'm in California, so the insurance company owes me tax/title/reg, but I don't see how it could go so high.
Per the body shop, the cost of fixing the car to my specs would be about $500. No paint, no new parts, just fixing up the trunk seal that got bent and is now leaking a little bit. There's no other damage.
If it were nine months from now (when I could handle a car loan) I'd push for a check and be done with it. But since I need the car for a bit longer I'm wondering how I might proceed.
If they total it, I think I'd buy the car back and re-title. That cost would be about $130 in inspection fees + the cost of registration. Are there other things I'm not considering here? I think it would be a shame for a full repair because there's no way I'd get that much money out of the vehicle when I turned around and sold it.
Thoughts? Thank you.
Body shop repair estimate for insurance company: $1900.
KBB private party value of my sedan: $1925.
the wrinkle: Body shop says insurance company might still fix it since their software says the value of the car is closer to $2900. I'm in California, so the insurance company owes me tax/title/reg, but I don't see how it could go so high.
Per the body shop, the cost of fixing the car to my specs would be about $500. No paint, no new parts, just fixing up the trunk seal that got bent and is now leaking a little bit. There's no other damage.
If it were nine months from now (when I could handle a car loan) I'd push for a check and be done with it. But since I need the car for a bit longer I'm wondering how I might proceed.
If they total it, I think I'd buy the car back and re-title. That cost would be about $130 in inspection fees + the cost of registration. Are there other things I'm not considering here? I think it would be a shame for a full repair because there's no way I'd get that much money out of the vehicle when I turned around and sold it.
Thoughts? Thank you.
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 04:19 am Post Subject:
Any thoughts about what? You've stated what you think the value of your vehicle is, you've stated what the repair is and might be. You've stated what you think you could repair it for.
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 01:02 pm Post Subject:
This is not really an insurance question at all, is it? You want a second opinion on whether you should total the car?
Here's what I think: It depends on your needs. If you NEED the car, don't let them total it or if they do, buy it back and do whatever is required to get it back on the road again. If you don't need the car, ask your insurance company to cut you a check and see your car off to the salvage yard.
Add your comment