Auto Insurance Claim Help

[Beerambassador]

Hey everyone. I just got in my first accident the other night - police said the other driver was at fault. Being that I've never been in an accident, I've never made a claim, so I'm flying blind.

 

I went yesterday and got a quote on the damage to my car and was told $1,500 minimum, with the possibility they'll find more damage once they pull the bumper off. I was driving our "beater" car, a 2001 dodge stratus with 180,000 miles on it. It runs ok, but needed a lot of work even before the accident (rides rough, needs new brakes, new suspension, various minor mechanical issues, body's got minor rust and peeling paint). I'd thought on and off about selling the car BEFORE I got in the accident and would've been thrilled to get $2,000 or so for it. The auto body guy is telling me my car is nowhere near being considered totaled, saying that those damages amount to about 40 percent of my car's value. I realize he wants me to get the car fixed, because he doesn't make a penny if they total my car or I don't get it fixed.

 

My main concern is I don't want to spend AT LEAST $1,500 on repairing a car that's only worth maybe $2,000. I'm not convinced the car will make it to 200,000 miles anyway. Kelly Blue Book says my car is worth $1,900 in fair condition. I think I'd be way better off if they total the car, but it sounds like they won't. Can I "negotiate" with insurance on this at all? Or am I stuck having them fix my car?

 

My insurance agent, who I've never dealt with before, has me sort of steamed. It seems like I'm doing a lot of stuff he should be doing, like trying to get in touch with the person who caused the accident, waiting to hear back from her insurance company, etc. I kind of feel like he should be handling this sort of thing. I'd rather not call him back until I have a good idea of what my options are and after my first experience with him, I'm not convinced he'll be the most helpful in telling me what my options are. Unless he really comes through for me, I'm probably switching insurance agents once this is through.

[logan82]

I have never had to do anything besides file a police report and get the information on the other person's insurance. Then my insurance would contact their insurance and cut me a check.

[Beerambassador]

I'll just update this and it can probably die. I just spoke with my insurance agent and it went much better this time. I'm now hopeful the car will be totaled by the insurance company. No way of being sure until they look at the claim - but unless me and the insurance company have wildly different ideas about what this car is worth, it should get totaled out.

[Teatoe993]

Just get the highest estimate you can for the damage. Maybe they'll total the car. If not you'll just get a check for the estimate. You don't have to spend any of this money on the car at all. If the car is drivable as is, drive it and pocket the money. Or you have the option of taking it to a different repair facility where they will be willing to do the bare minimum to get the car legal to drive. Then you can pocket whatever is left from the insurance check.

PM me if you're in the Fox Valley. Maybe I can help.

[lodiness]

When I got in an accident they were going to fix my car. It was borderline if they would total it or not.I finally, with the help of my dad (who own's a car dealership) talked him into totalling it. Even if KBB says the car is worth 1900, they should still total it, the vehicle should be close enough to the thresh hold that if you talk to him a bit, he should total it. Tell him that you don't feel safe in that vehicle with how damaged it is, or something along that line, and he might give you the "Totaled" tag. When he goes to give you a price to settle with you, go online, and find a couple of cars that were the same as yours. Look at dealer websites. You'll have to find one that has the virtually the same equipment as yours does, but you might be able to squeeze him for a few hundred more if you prove to him that it would cost you more than that to replace the exact vehicle. If he realizes that you're educated about your car's value before you settle he might just throw in the towel so to say, and give you a better price.

[nate82]

Go by the Blue book value and any repairs that are going to be needed to the car that was caused by the accident will probably be more than what the car is worth right now. So they will probably more than likely total the car.