Anyone out there know what the legal definition of "totalled" is? Specifically, are they gonna try and drag Rumford away from me, kicking and screaming? Or do I actually get to fix her?
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Current Location:Crow Castle
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Basically, the insurer will do one or more of the following:
1) Send out a claims adjuster, who will evaluate the damage 2) Tell you to bring the car to one of "their" mechanics 3) Take a written estimate from a mechanic you bring it to
In the case when my truck was totaled, the insurance company had it towed to NH to one of "their" mechanics (on their dime, luckily).
Then, they will compare the damage estimate to the estimated value of the car (blue-book value, if not exact, is usually a decent reference in my experience). If the damage estimate is less than the car value, they pony up the money. If not, they pony up the value of the car, and they get it, to do with as they wish (sell for parts and scrap, refurb, whatever). Depending on what parts are new, it might matter. You should definately ask the agent about it. I know that the radio and bedliner in my truck bumped the value of it by a couple grand.
As Sven mentioned, especially in the case #3, you can work out a deal with the mechanic. I've known people, depending on who their insurer is, and their relationship with their agent, to be able to convince the adjuster or agent to perform a similar service, valuing the repair work a couple hundred short of "totaling".
There is also some weirdness dealing with salvage titles, that I'm mostly unsure of. I think a friend of mine managed to convince his insurance agent to give him teh "totaled" cost of the car, but kept the salvage title of ownership for himself. Then he did all the body work himself and put it back on the road. I'm not exactly sure how that worked, though.
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(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-01 09:33 am (UTC)1) Send out a claims adjuster, who will evaluate the damage
2) Tell you to bring the car to one of "their" mechanics
3) Take a written estimate from a mechanic you bring it to
In the case when my truck was totaled, the insurance company had it towed to NH to one of "their" mechanics (on their dime, luckily).
Then, they will compare the damage estimate to the estimated value of the car (blue-book value, if not exact, is usually a decent reference in my experience). If the damage estimate is less than the car value, they pony up the money. If not, they pony up the value of the car, and they get it, to do with as they wish (sell for parts and scrap, refurb, whatever). Depending on what parts are new, it might matter. You should definately ask the agent about it. I know that the radio and bedliner in my truck bumped the value of it by a couple grand.
As Sven mentioned, especially in the case #3, you can work out a deal with the mechanic. I've known people, depending on who their insurer is, and their relationship with their agent, to be able to convince the adjuster or agent to perform a similar service, valuing the repair work a couple hundred short of "totaling".
There is also some weirdness dealing with salvage titles, that I'm mostly unsure of. I think a friend of mine managed to convince his insurance agent to give him teh "totaled" cost of the car, but kept the salvage title of ownership for himself. Then he did all the body work himself and put it back on the road. I'm not exactly sure how that worked, though.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-01 12:53 pm (UTC)