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Totalized car or not: 5 tips for your carrier to declare a total loss

Your wrecked car is in the backyard when you get a

phone call from your insurance adjuster. They will fix your car! In many

Sometimes this is good news, but when your car is almost destroyed and the

the insurance company wants to fix it and return it to you, then

you have a problem.

Think about it. The car will never be the same again. If you want

to trade it or sell it, you will probably have to take a substantial amount

price reduction to be able to get rid of it. You should also consider the

safety aspect of the car. Will your car ever be as safe as it was before the

impact?

In most accidents, cars can be repaired without further ado

problems, but when you have a totaled car (or are almost there already) and the

insurance company will repair and return it to you, you may face a

uphill battle.

Insurance adjusters decide if you have a totaled car or a

repairable because. They must first determine the value of the car and then

Determine if the repair estimate is less than 70, 80, or even 90% of that of the car.

value. So how do you protect yourself? Here are five simple tips.

Tip No. 1: Request the repair estimate. Get the

The repair estimate will show you what the insurance company thinks is wrong

your car. Review the budget. Make sure the car is painted and everything

the parts needed to fix it are counted. If you don’t know mechanics

OK, take that quote to another store and ask them to review it. you

you will be surprised when other stores tell you that your car should not be

repaired.

Tip No. 2: Make sure you have the insurance company

Take into account all the costs associated with car repair before you start.

working on your car. Ask them to factor in all parts and shipping cost.

Make sure the parts you are buying are actually in stock. In many

In cases, insurance adjusters set the price for a part, but cannot find it. This will make you

wait longer and they would have to pay more rent.

Tip No. 3: Ask for a “demolition” so you know that

there is no totaled car, but rather a car that can be properly repaired. When insurance

adjusters and body shops write estimates, don’t stay under the damage

parts. They just look at and estimate the damage that is visible. A takedown is

the process of removing all damaged parts and seeing if the parts

below are also damaged. Most of the time, hidden damage will appear, and this

it will increase the damage estimate and bring you closer to a wrecked car.

Insurance companies don’t want to pay for this takedown.

But if you insist, they will pay. This is a good idea anyway for two

reasons. Disassembly will most likely increase the repair estimate.

You will also know if the integrity of the frame and chassis was compromised in

the impact.

There is no doubt that the body shop can put the car

together again. The question is whether a car with a fixed total will be safe to be in the

road. Make sure someone observes the mechanical and structural integrity of the

because.

Tip No. 4: Use the rental costs to your advantage.

If you are going to repair your totaled car, chances are that

Please take 20-30 days before your vehicle again. That only counts body work

and paint and that all parts are available at the time the mechanics are started.

labor. It will take longer if you have mechanical problems.

The insurance company will review a rental bill that

it could be more than $ 1,000, depending on your policy limits. We have seen

$ 2,000 rental bills. If you have a wrecked car, then the insurance company

you will only have to pay up to three days of rent (sometimes less depending on

Your state). They will save significantly if they declare a total loss.

Tip No. 5: Research the law in your state to

claims of decrease or decrease in value. If you file a claim against

your own insurance company, some states will allow you to ask for the difference

between what the car was worth before the accident and what it was worth after it

It’s repaired. Many states do not allow first party claims like this.

However, the restrictions only apply to first party claims. If you are doing

this claim against the insurance company of the person who struck you, then the

The claim will be allowed. Also, if you are filing a claim for damage to uninsured property

against your own carrier. The claim will be allowed.

Click here for more tips on handling a total automobile claim.

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