Car deemed total loss not happy with value!!

by krazeykrys » Thu Feb 25, 2010 02:29 pm

my 99 alero was deemed total loss they offered $4,039.00 It has 90,000 miles but i am not happy with that because i had just installed a remote starter for $200.00 4 days prior to the accident which they did not include in the appraisal price. Nor did they include the remote door unlock/lock feature. I sent in the reciept for the starter and they offered $36.00 What can I do I am losing the money for the starter I just paid for! Plus their appraised amount in lower than what i could have sold the car for and they refuse to higher the amount! Thank you!

Total Comments: 10

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 02:34 pm Post Subject:

Is this a V6, 2 or 4 door, GL or GLS?

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 02:39 pm Post Subject: car info

v6 4 door GL. Good condition no dents just got it painted in Feb 2009.

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 02:53 pm Post Subject:

I am getting an ACV of $4900.00 However, a remote start and power lock remote is not going to add much value on an 11 year old vehicle. Have you conducted a comparable vehicle search of auto sales in your area to see what a '99 Alero is selling for?

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 02:56 pm Post Subject:

The amount added for the remote starter seems about right. If someone adds on an item it does not increase the value of the vehicle by that same amount. If you removed the started now and sold it do you think you'd get $200? But we are also talking about how much more someone would pay you for the _vehicle_ with a remote starter. When someone buys it they won't care if it was installed yesterday or 2 years ago. They are just going to be thinking of how much better the vehicle is with this option when compared to a vehicle without it.

Is the remote lock feature from the factory? If so, it's probably standard and already included in the value. If it's after market then it should be considered. But I can tell you, it's going to change the value vary little.

Have you checked NADA online to see what the vehicle is worth?

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 03:04 pm Post Subject:

havent check value yet and no i had power locks installed with the remote starter and alarm but they only put the value up $36.00 I know if i sold the car which we were planning to do i could have gotten more than 4,075 for it.
The worst part is that the insurance company is so rude they have never once called me or updated me on anything. I have been going through this since 12-22-09 and still no resolve. The claim adjuster wont answer calls and they just paid the rental car i had so i am going to get reimbursed through them Finally! They are the worst part.

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 03:12 pm Post Subject:

The $4039.00 is including tags, taxes, and stuff.
they discounted 156 for prior damage as in the paint job was crap which it wasnt.

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 03:23 pm Post Subject:

is there any way to sue the driver that hit me for the remote starter value since it is only 4 days old instead of going through the insurace company?

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:09 pm Post Subject:

krazeykrys,

You are taking your eye of the ball here. Why are you so hung up on a $200.00 starter. Trench came back with about 4,900 and you said that you think it is worth more then they are offering. Do some research find similar vehicles with similar options and show where they are wrong.

Can you sue their insured, sure. Are you going to get an attorney to touch the case, most likely no. Total losses within $1,000 (which is what it seems here) are easily settled all of the time without going to court. Get off the starter and get some documentation to back up your claim of the vehicle's worth. An extra grand for the entire car is better then a few more bucks for the starter....cause you are never going to get the 200. out of them for it.

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:06 pm Post Subject:

They won't higher the car amount because they say the car has previous damage which it had just been painted and they said that I should be lucky to be getting that much! I have called to negotiate pricing and mentioned the nada and kbb value and they still won't budge. They just keep mentioning previous damage meaning the paint job sucked! They are absolutly unbelievable!

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:43 pm Post Subject:

they discounted 156 for prior damage as in the paint job was crap which it wasnt.



There is obviously something wrong with the paint or they wouldn't have taken a deduction. This could be anything from fading, oxidation, poor repaint etc. Have they discussed what specifically is the problem?

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