I hate idiots

Here in Ontario, if an owner retains the car, the title is not branded because the car has not changed hands. The insurance company deducts a percentage off the payment, and title is retained, no reporting done. Then you get to have the shop of your choice fix it for you, and here's the trick: Often shops charge less for a given repair when it is the owner, not an insurance company, picking up the tab.

 

Your best bet is to convince them with the economics. You've got to show them that the wagon is worth enough to pay for repairs. Question the value they assign to it. Question the salvage value they will deduct from the total loss amount.

Will this be the other guy's insurance company? There are negotiating tactics that you can use, if necessary - if you can't reach an equitable settlement, you have the option of persuing their insured to small claims court.........

 

Glad to here your getting some help with your wagon.
Good Luck with the repairs.

 

They will try to total it. They will try to lowball you for $600 or $800 or whatever they think they can get away with. It's an insurance company, they don't make money if they pay out every claim like they're contracted to. $9000 worth of bills on my son's broken arm, insurance would pay out about $1700 of that and the doctors GLADLY take it, it's guaranteed money. Without insurance we're pretty much stuck paying out the whole thing in cash (although as of this week after paying in two grand my wife claims to have them agreeing to settle for about $5400 total after a generous cash discount).

Only once in my life has car insurance helped me, I bought a Hyundai Accent for $1300 and a lady ran a stop sign, her word against mine, and her insurance wouldn't pay out to me but at least they didn't claim on mine. I traded that car and $200 cash, all I had on me, for a little Colt Vista wagon. Six days later a Volvo came flying onto I-635 and cut over several lanes and hit my right front corner. He pulled over, his insurance was good, they paid me $900 and didn't give it a salvage title. It was that or take $1400 and they would total AND take the car. So I got my loss on the Hyundai back on the Colt Vista, and it wasn't hurt bad at all, a marker lens and a couple clips on the bumper cover and it was perfectly safe to drive.

 

Late to the conversation and I didn't read every word of every post, but my '72 Impala got crashed into a few years back. After going through all the processes, they called me and told me that they would give me $1200 and they keep the car. I know it's not how it works, but my first reaction to them was "The Car is Not For Sale"!! Then I told them that the car is worth a lot more than that. It took me hours and hours and many phone calls, but I ended up with $3600 and I got to keep the car. I also wanted a Rental Car for a week or two, but they didn't want to give me one and I decided to settle for the $3600. It was also just an "In House Total" which means I still have the regular title.

Bill

 

Late also in this.... every part of the world is different when insurance comes into play/pay...thats the real kicker here!. Before I joined my Fox 86 Maquis wagon was stolen and trashed, mainly to the passenger side lower. After the bla, bla bs with insurance who wrote the car off due to age and not over all condition, just for the matter of....bla,bla, it's gona cost more to fix, yada, yada..... the car is not worth.... etc, etc... others have sold on the island for less (they, insurance around here watch older cars for sale)
The damage like this poor wagon was cosmetic and not a bent frame etc. They, ICBC inspected my old ride and deamed it safe and road worthy. I ended up with a 70% settlment and drove the wagon home.....I got a measly $700 if I rememer. But that was because they inspected the car and found jack sqwat wrong perioud other than cosmetics. I did have to sign papers saying I will never go back at them for existing damage etc, etc, but I got to keep the car and because of there inspection and 70% pay out the car never had a writen off, damage over $2000, etc, etc..... as long as I just took the cash and drove away (because they deamed it road worthy).

It's a bummer when this happens, I sure hope all turns out well in this case.

 

I actually told a pretty short version, but what you mentioned reminded me of another thing they said. They told me that there are cars for sale just like mine for about $1800. I then questioned that and they told me that there are cars for sale currently in my area for that price. I then said "How do you know that"?? They then said that, in general, they know the market and I can find cars out there like mine in my area. I then said "Well, let me know where they are at"!! ..."Cause I'd like to buy 2 of them"!!

...That pretty much shut them up.

I do agree that certain states have certian rules though. I did some research work early on and found out that Virginia calls a situation like this "An Open Case" or something similar to that. What it means is that things are actually in my favor and it is general knowledge that the insurance company's object is to close it as quick as they can.

Hopefully the original poster has this priviledge.

Bill

 

Yup, been there done that. The BS I went through was ICBC insurance based it on what has been for sale/sold in the past year. They gave no consideration when it came to the over all condition of said 'old car' mainly because I did not have $$$ reciets for upkeep, to witch I only had regular oil change, etc, etc. They, up here don't and did not give a crap about it's never blown up, needed extensive engine work, new trans, etc...a old car as well kept as it can be is just that, a old car, who cares

 

When my 89 Grand Marquis was written off, the insurance company went by the book for value, period. Since mine was one of about 60 with the 351/Trailer Tow III combo, the book did not allow for anything in the way of special equipment. That the car was a one of one did not matter either. Unfortunately, at the time it was not old enough, nor pristine enough, to have justified an agreed value policy. Mind you, they did try to deduct value because the interior stank. I told the adjuster that what he smelled was curdled cream from the extra large coffee that had been thrown all over the interior by the crash. I didn't mention the 2 dogs that almost called it home.

 

UPDATE: The insurance co. is doing an in house total... Which means they are going to report to the feds. that the car was in a collision. I am keeping the car, and they are paying out $2400.00 to me. i have found a body shop that will do the repairs on the car for $2100.00 minus the vinyl. The estimate with vinyl is $2700.00. So my question to everyone today is:I know someone who will redo all of my vinyl in satin black for $200.00. Do you think it will look good?

 

bad rendition

 

the guy that is going to do it is a professional, and also my co worker. He letters and decals all of our trucks. he is going to do it for the cost of the vinyl.

 

i like it!

 

I'm glad they found the guy who did it! I'd be livid! It's ridiculous that people think so little of old wagons. How many do you still see being used? They really are quite a rarity nowadays!