Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 10:58 pm Post subject: Total Loss California options
Hi Lori,
I was here a couple of months ago about an elderly lady who hit my car, and you helped me so much to resolve the issue. =) Now I have another problem.
Two weeks ago, I was rear ended, the driving claimed liability.
Now the body shop did an estimate on my vehicle, and an AAA claims adjuster came out to check it, and stated it was a total loss.
The damage is only to the rear. My car is a 1991 Toyota MR2 with ONLY 91k miles. I have been trying to get my hands on this car for 9 years. It has sentimental value. And to get another car in this condition is nearly impossible.
1)What are my options to fight this total loss?
2)If it is a total loss, can I take the new wheels i bought for my car? Does this get deducted from the total loss amount I would get?
Galak, sorry to hear of your bad luck and hope you're ok, just wanted you to know I saw the post...will put additional info in tomorrow...if you could plz provide, all options and mileage as well as any unrepaired prior damage? also do you still have the other wheels? and what exactly is the damage to your vehicle? be back in the morning....gotta run right now. _________________ Have you been helped by a poster? Do you want to show your appreciation? YOU CAN !! Just simply click on the donate button and send them some coin!
The damage was to the rear. Engine Lid(mid-sized rear engine), spoiler, trunk lid, bumper.
As for options, A/C, Power windows, power locks, Power steering an AMP with two bazooka speakers.
As far as damage, I never got my rear quarter panel repaired. I just took the settlement check, and was planning to repair it later on when I had some time.
Sorry, I meant I bought new tires just 3 months ago.
I understand the sentimental factor, but you are also required to weigh the options of retaining the car vs letting the adjuster declare it ‘totaled'.
The 1991 made vehicle may have suffered sufficient wears-and-tears through these years to bring down its value significantly, and hence, even minor damages to the car are enough to deem it as ‘totaled'.
However, if you want to retain the vehicle the insurer will further lower the check amount by deducting the amount payable towards the deductibles and salvage value. Hope lori will be able to guide you in the right direction, however, IMO you will be better off by letting the car go to the salvage yard.
You can't really fight it, it either is or it isn't...it's a matter of math...really...ACV (actual cash value) minus salvage value equals how much can be spent on repair or it's a total...also most states have percentage laws as well ie 80% of acv in repair equals total loss..
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2)If it is a total loss, can I take the new wheels i bought for my car? Does this get deducted from the total loss amount I would get?
yes, most times...i always tell people as long as they put some tires and wheels on it that will allow it to roll, then they can take the others..ask the adjuster first though, and no it shouldn't affect the value much if any...a vehicle of this age really the only option that helps is low mileage...your vehicle is worth (before the old damage is deducted) between 4500-5500, (turbo 5500)...now they will deduct atleast a percentage of that unrepaired prior damage probably...you always have the option to retain the vehicle which would mean the acv less salvage value (you are buying it back) and you keep the car....if it's safe to drive then that may be an option for you....
incidently I bought one of the few 2000 mr2 spyder conv. when they hit the market in 2000...i loved that car...traded it about four years later, got what i paid for it on trade, course didnt' have hardly any miles on it...i loved it but hardly ever drove it!
Let us know how things turn out and if we can be of any assistance to you. _________________ Have you been helped by a poster? Do you want to show your appreciation? YOU CAN !! Just simply click on the donate button and send them some coin!
1) I don't have any wheels to put on there. Will the total loss value include the wheels and the tires if I ask? Also, same question for my installed stereo/dvd/gps system?
2) So lets take for example, when it's ACV - Salvage value, 5500 - 2000.
3) My car is currently at the shop and is charging the insurance company 45 bucks a day to store it, but the adjuster hasn't called me back about the total loss amount yet. Is this charge going to be taken out of my ACV I receive?
4) They took my bumper off to do an inspection, but they did not put it back, If I want the buy it back, does the insurance company pay them to put it back on? or will I have to drive it home with the bumper off?
Then I get paid 3500 + I retain the car with the salvaged title? but the remaining 3500 wont even cover my repair costs of $4600.
I am going home with my car, a salvaged title, and not enough money to fix it back up to par?
WOW 72.00 an hour body and refinish and 35.00 an hour paint and material!!!! holy moly! no wonder there are so many totals there! gee mo knee! just as a comparision in the midwest the rates are 46.00 and 28.00! mercy! man that same estimate in my world exact same work would have been atleast a thousand less...wow...ok, looks to me like all of the damage is cosmetic...i can't see the prior unrepaired damage you mentioned...but you've been driving it so, apparently it also was cosmetic right?
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1) I don't have any wheels to put on there. Will the total loss value include the wheels and the tires if I ask? Also, same question for my installed stereo/dvd/gps system?
it won't add near what you paid for these items...ask the adjuster and see....
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Is this charge going to be taken out of my ACV I receive?
Nope they will owe the storage...have they not made an offer of settlement yet? once they make an offer you will need to make a decision about retaining the vehicle if you do decide to retain it ,then they should pay the storage up until the date of offer or a few days past...and if this shop is charging that much storage then they are also going to want tear down, the carrier will also owe this...
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4) They took my bumper off to do an inspection, but they did not put it back, If I want the buy it back, does the insurance company pay them to put it back on? or will I have to drive it home with the bumper off?
Personally I pay to have it put back on (if it will go back on)....as long as the people want to get moving on it...call the shop and ask them if they have heard from the adjuster either...also ask them if you decide to keep it what would the charge be to put the bumper back on ...NOT to take it off, the carrier owes that....
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Then I get paid 3500 + I retain the car with the salvaged title? but the remaining 3500 wont even cover my repair costs of $4600.
Well I don't know where you came up with that salvage bid to start with that sounds extremely high...also we don't know do we that they have figured your acv at 5500.00 could be less..you need to make sure they know about the tires/wheels and entertainment system...the later should add some...if you do not keep it I would recommend getting permission to remove these because I doubt you will get close to their cost....as to the 4600 repair ... I think , no I know you can get that done cheaper....if you can find a good shop that will help you look for used parts, and negotiate their labor rate etc...do some checking around maybe in smaller towns...ask friends, family etc...also talk to your agent for some shop referals...
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Aren't I losing out big?
Well no, you don't have to keep the car and they will be offering to pay you the value of the vehicle...I know you didn't want to get rid of it, but they would be paying you it's value...
I think you should give the adjuster a call and see how it's coming, I would also start shopping around for a shop that would work with you to find some used parts...
Let us know after you get the offer if you have any other questions we can help with. _________________ Have you been helped by a poster? Do you want to show your appreciation? YOU CAN !! Just simply click on the donate button and send them some coin!
My car is currently at the shop and is charging the insurance company 45 bucks a day to store it, but the adjuster hasn't called me back about the total loss amount yet. Is this charge going to be taken out of my ACV I receive?
No, it will not get deducted from your claim check, rather this is the cost the insurance company has to bear for keeping your car at the body shop, longer is the storage period higher will be the cost.
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WOW 72.00 an hour body and refinish and 35.00 an hour paint and material!!!! holy moly! no wonder there are so many totals there! gee mo knee! just as a comparision in the midwest the rates are 46.00 and 28.00! mercy! man that same estimate in my world exact same work would have been atleast a thousand less
Well, as we all know that Californians pay the highest towards their auto policies. The body shop charges reflect the same.
However, I second lori, you may only have to search more for a body shop that will agree in repairing the vehicle at a cheaper rate. Also the use of the AME and the LKQ parts can help in lowering the costs further.
Dear Lori,
About the $4,600 repair..I think it could be a bit cheaper...but would really like to know by how much it could vary in terms of the value of the vehicle...see, when both the ACV & the salvage gets lowered (over here I assume that the OP didn't arrive at a fair worth for both) then I believe the difference could mean somewhat a similar figure as mentioned. Please show us a bit further!
Regarding the body shop I'd like to say, that with a car which is not operating properly you're already in quite a bit of trouble. So, you're not in a position to add more hassles to it! You'd need to make sure that the body shop is chosen on the basis of the following-
* The staff are open to answer your queries e.g. do they attach towing with the facility that they have? .
* Make sure that the body shop gives you their warranty card for the different parts.
* Check out on their mode of payments. Now-a-days most people would opt for a shop that accepts credit cards.
Thanx, ArindamSenIndies
Hi yeah, choosing the right body shop is truly a vital factor. I've heard that some of the body shops are now offering installment payment facilities. This could be a real good thing for those who are trying with a restricted budget. Roddick
then I believe the difference could mean somewhat a similar figure as mentioned. Please show us a bit further!
maybe, but my point was if the OP retains salvage, then she should be able to get the vehicle repaired far cheaper than this shop bid, thus using the money she gets from the carrier to do so without much if any out of pocket expense on his/her part.
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Regarding the body shop I'd like to say, that with a car which is not operating properly you're already in quite a bit of trouble
I doubt there is much if any operating problems with the vehicle... _________________ Have you been helped by a poster? Do you want to show your appreciation? YOU CAN !! Just simply click on the donate button and send them some coin!
yes, the is no operating problems. It is only external damage. It's been 50 hours since they did the inspection, and they haven't called me back yet. It's friday, I don't think they will call me till monday.
So the estimator got back to me today and said, the are giving me 4900, and a salvage value of 1100.
I listed out all the new things I purchased for my car, entertainment system, new tires etc. The estimator said, those were factored in, and the value of the car was based on a third party estimates of vehicles sold similar to my car in the area as well as dealer prices.
But he said he would escalate it to the total loss specialist, and they will breakdown the value estimate. In addition, he told me to begin to do my own research on cars, like mine, that are being sold.
He was a nice guy, and helped me answer my questions?
So what should i do, besides the research? anything else I should prepare?
Do a market search, within 50 miles or so of your area, call GOOD, HONEST used car dealers, or new car lots that also sell used cars, ask them what they would ask for your vehicle on their lot, give them all the information and be honest about condition etc....you'll need atleast three or four, make sure you write down the names of the people you talked to figure an average from there...If they are in the ball park, well you know they did their job correctly...Ask the total loss rep to send you all the information showing how they arrived at this value. _________________ Have you been helped by a poster? Do you want to show your appreciation? YOU CAN !! Just simply click on the donate button and send them some coin!
Its nice to know that your are receiving helps from the adjuster.
To begin with the research, ask the local used car dealers to evaluate your car and get the quotes from them in writing. Also add the values of the entertainment system and tires and get those appraised as well. These documents will come handy at the time of evaluation.
