Car Totalled, Insurance Offering Crazy Low Amount

Belle & Ariel

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Aug 19, 2008
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2,388
Our son was hit and our 2014 Camry SE was totalled. Insurance values it at $11,000, about half of what we bought it for 3 years ago. Edmunds shows $17,000 but they do not use that. We cannot replace it for anywhere near $11000. What should we do?
 
Our son was hit and our 2014 Camry SE was totalled. Insurance values it at $11,000, about half of what we bought it for 3 years ago. Edmunds shows $17,000 but they do not use that. We cannot replace it for anywhere near $11000. What should we do?
It sounds like your insurance policy is for actual cash value, not replacement cost.
Do research and find an exact duplicate of your car that is for sale. If you can prove that your exact car is selling for more, the claims adjuster will be more likely to increase their offer (I had many years experience as a claims adjuster). But remember, it must be the same year, same condition, same mileage, and same options as your car to be a fair example. You can also ask your adjuster to give you the names of dealers that have your exact car for $11,000 - they also must prove their claim.
Denise
 
It sounds like your insurance policy is for actual cash value, not replacement cost.
Do research and find an exact duplicate of your car that is for sale. If you can prove that your exact car is selling for more, the claims adjuster will be more likely to increase their offer (I had many years experience as a claims adjuster). But remember, it must be the same year, same condition, same mileage, and same options as your car to be a fair example. You can also ask your adjuster to give you the names of dealers that have your exact car for $11,000 - they also must prove their claim.
Denise

Exactly this - my mom has become an expert at doing this (we go to her if anyone gets a car totaled)...
 
It sounds like your insurance policy is for actual cash value, not replacement cost.
Do research and find an exact duplicate of your car that is for sale. If you can prove that your exact car is selling for more, the claims adjuster will be more likely to increase their offer (I had many years experience as a claims adjuster). But remember, it must be the same year, same condition, same mileage, and same options as your car to be a fair example. You can also ask your adjuster to give you the names of dealers that have your exact car for $11,000 - they also must prove their claim.
Denise
The adjustor agrees it should be higher but says they use third party to set amount. Adjustor says it should be near NADA which is about $16000. He acts like he agrees with me, but doesn't seem to be movitated to fight for us. Maybe passing buck to third party whatever that is?
Toyotas are know for holding value, so I don't think cash value has decreased over $10,000 in three years.
 

Denise is exactly right. We had the same issue with our insurance company a few years ago when our SUV was totaled by a fallen tree. They gave us a very low offer. We showed them local dealers advertisements for the exact same vehicle selling for much more than they were offering plus our SUV was very low mileage. Eventually they paid us what we were entitled to but it took some time and negotiating.
 
It sounds like your insurance policy is for actual cash value, not replacement cost.
Do research and find an exact duplicate of your car that is for sale. If you can prove that your exact car is selling for more, the claims adjuster will be more likely to increase their offer (I had many years experience as a claims adjuster). But remember, it must be the same year, same condition, same mileage, and same options as your car to be a fair example. You can also ask your adjuster to give you the names of dealers that have your exact car for $11,000 - they also must prove their claim.
Denise

This is what I do for a living, and have for decades. The above is exactly right...except for asking for the names of dealers that have your exact car for $11k, the insurance company doesn't need to do that, and won't. Almost all auto policies are actual cash value, not replacement cost. If you feel the valuation is wrong, you need to explain why. What options did they miss? Is the mileage reading right (how many miles are on it??)? Look through their valuation report carefully and see if anything is missing or wrong. No, they wouldn't use Edmunds typically. Make sure you have a copy of the report...more than likely it's either from a company called CCC/Valuescope or maybe Audatex.

Honestly, without knowing a lot more about your car, I don't think they're that far off...a '14 Camry SE sells right around the $11k ballpark on dealer lots (they don't owe you dealer price, they owe you retail value). But like I said, I don't know how many miles you have on it and what geographical area you're in. I know you paid a lot more, but yes, the Camry does depreciate.

Any questions, let me know.
 
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This is what I do for a living, and have for decades. The above is exactly right...except for asking for the names of dealers that have your exact car for $11k, the insurance company doesn't need to do that, and won't. Almost all auto policies are actual cash value, not replacement cost. If you feel the valuation is wrong, you need to explain why. What options did they miss? Is the mileage reading right (how many miles are on it??)? Look through their valuation report carefully and see if anything is missing or wrong. No, they wouldn't use Edmunds typically. Make sure you have a copy of the report...more than likely it's either from a company called CCC/Valuescope or maybe Audatex.

Honestly, without knowing a lot more about your car, I don't think they're that far off...a '14 Camry SE sells right around the $11k ballpark on dealer lots (they don't owe you dealer price, they owe you retail value). But like I said, I don't know how many miles you have on it and what geographical area you're in. I know you paid a lot more, but yes, the Camry does depreciate.

Any questions, let me know.
Actually, I would provide the names of dealers that had cars for sale that backed up my offer. That was considered fair practice. I have about 30 years experience handling claims, underwriting, as an independent agent, subrogation supervisor, and certified intercompany arbitration panelist.
Denise
 
Fantastic. Not really interested in whipping out resumes to compare, but we'll just say mine is pretty similar (including being an arb panelist), though I've never left claims. :D Don't really want to get off topic of helping OP. Like I said, I agreed with nearly everything you said, except one small point. In this case, Camrys are on every street corner, so any valuation will include a very large amount of "comparables". However, sometimes current comps can't be found, so it's based on historical data (usually a less common car), or a car that's not exactly the same...and adjustment are made to account for the difference.

Anywho, I'm on the same page as you. I'd love to know how many miles are on the car. I really think $11k may not be far off, if at all. Used car market is pretty soft right now.
 
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I live in Chattanooga, TN. They have found one car in Nashville and one in Atlanta for almost 15,000, so they raised the offer to almost 13,000. Similar cars here are about about 16500. Do I have to drive a couple hours to get a car that might not be the color or type I want?
 
Color has very little to do with the value for most cars. The appraisals are based on historical data, current vehicles, etc...they try to find vehicles like yours. Yes, they'll go with the ones that cost less...wouldn't you do the same? If you have two identical cars at dealers...one is $15k and one is $12k, which one are you buying (they're the same exact car...mileage, color, etc...) How many miles were on your car?
 
which insurance company is telling you this? If its their insurance, get your insurance company involved.
 
If 2014 Camry's were 11K, my driveway would have a couple of them sitting in it right now.
We bought a 2010 for 10K last year.

Unless your car has more than 40,000 miles or so, the 15K range is where it should be.

As for travel to get the car, every car we've bought the past 14 years has been from a dealership 2-5 hours away. One was a total situation.
 
Again, please don't misunderstand me...I don't know your car...options, mileage, etc...just trying to give you insurance company perspective. Here's a car like you describe...a 2014 Camry SE with reasonable miles. Asking price is $11,000 at a dealer (again, they'll give you slightly less because they don't owe you dealer profit margin). It's one owner, no accidents.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=460174241&zip=37405&referrer=/cars-for-sale/searchresults.xhtml?zip=37405&startYear=2014&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&incremental=all&firstRecord=0&endYear=2014&modelCodeList=CAMRY&makeCodeList=TOYOTA&searchRadius=100&trimCodeList=CAMRY%7CSE&startYear=2014&numRecords=25&firstRecord=0&endYear=2014&modelCodeList=CAMRY&makeCodeList=TOYOTA&searchRadius=100&makeCode1=TOYOTA&modelCode1=CAMRY

If that example isn't right, no problem. Like I said, just trying to help.
 
Here is my frustration:
The same cars in my city are priced a few thousand dollars higher. So they found a couple in bigger cities with more competition at a lower price. I don't care to drive there when I can buy here. On Edmunds search I find 30 2014 SEs. The cheapest three all have way more miles yet are all around 14,000. Adjust for the mileage diff, add sales tax, and subtract deductible and we are still a couple thousand off. That's using the cheapest ones.
 
How many miles were on your car? That makes a difference

I understand your frustration, but they don't need to limit the search to your local small town market. Typically, a range of 100-150ish miles is reasonable. So they're going to use those. Everyone shops differently, but if I could drive 125 miles and save $2500, I'm doing that. Heck, I've bought over 80 cars in my personal life and have literally bought from all over the country (had cars shipped from AZ to PA). I'm not at all implying you should do that. But my point is that if it's within a reasonable distance...and most would consider 100-150 miles a reasonable distance, then yes, it will be included in the valuation of your car.
 
Are you dealing with your insurance company or the insurance of the person who hit you?

How much was the repair estimate that caused the car to be totaled?

Are they paying for a rental car in the mean time?

Totaling a car happens when the cost of repairs exceed the value (or a large portion of the value) of the vehicle. If you successfully argue that the car is worth more money, it may not be totaled anymore and they will pay to repair it. Keep that in mind.

Formally reject their offer. Send them your comparables and demand that value plus tax, title, license, and dealer fees. File your request as part of the claim. Put the ball in their court so that they have to respond.
 
Where you live makes a big difference in value. Checking my local CarMax, a 2014 Camry is selling for anywhere from $14,000 to $16,000 . CarMax tends to be $2,000 more expensive than other used car dealers here. So if you lived here, not knowing your car's mileage and condition, $11,000 would be in the ball park for actual cash value.




EDITED TO CORRECT MODEL YEAR AND PRICES
 
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In some states, you can just tell them to get you the replacement car. Then it is up to them to find a comparable car for the money they want to pay. A friend did that with a Ford Thunderbird. But insurance companies have access to auto auctions, so they can buy cars at wholesale, which is probably pretty close to the actual cash value.

Are you saying that in some states the insurance company will do the shopping for you and buy a replacement car? If so, whoever told you is giving you bad information. Some carriers will offer "assistance" with locating comparable cars, but that's not a state specific thing...that's a carrier specific thing. And in no circumstances will they buy the car for you.

They also do not have access to auctions...except for salvage auctions where they sell the cars. Insurance companies aren't in the business of buying cars, and they don't buy them for anyone (except for company cars, which are leased brand new). They don't have access to auctions where regular cars are bought and sold. They would never do it, simply from a legal liability standpoint.

Wholesale value is not even close to actual cash value. At all. It's usually 20-40% less, depending on the car.
 














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