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.