Totaled Car

[mkynut90]

Yesterday I just found out that my car was totaled. I girl rear ended me, and from the back seat to the rear bumper needed to be replaced. So the damage was cost to much so my car is a total loss!!!!! There was nothing wrong with my except high miles. It was a 2005 Chevy Malibu.

This is the first time that I had a car totaled. Does anyone have any resources on the web or advise so that I know the insurance company it not going to rip me off? Thank you and hope everyone has a nice Holiday what ever you celebrate.

Jason

 

[WebmasterJohn]

So sorry to hear about your car Jason - I hope no one was injured.

The insurance company should just use the Kelly Blue Book value of your car to determine what they will pay you (minus any deductible). Assuming you live in a 'no fault' state your insurance company should take care of everything.

To help get an idea of the Kelly Blue Book value you can go to http://www.kbb.com/

Hope this helps.

John

 

[reeveha]

Not always, some times they find a comparable model ( year, make, model, mileage, condition but nothing additional for the options) in the market area (for us it was up to 300 mi radius) and give you the lowest price that can be found.

Hope you have better luck than we had my wife's '98 Prism Lsi got totalled. Progressive tried to only give us $6995 when the loan payoff was $8995. Luckly, the bank refused the payoff. Since we had the original invoice documenting the options on the car, a heated discussion with the adjuster, and a threat with a complaint to the state Insurance Commissioner to the adjuster's supervisor, they paid off the loan. But they wouldn't renew our insurance when that time came.

 

[medicjch]

Kelly Blue Book is an OK source as long as you are looking at the "private party" value, most often the KBB price is the retail price (what a dealer would get) and realistically unless your car had just been serviced and detailed, then it would not be "dealer ready". I'm not trying to be mean but just trying to manage expectations. Other sources are NADA and Autotrader. The insurance company will most likely be getting a market value (what your car is worth in it's condition just before the accident). They may be using their own valuation method specific to their company, but it should not be too far off from the above databases. If you do reach a point where you disagree with the the value they have given you, your best bet is to be armed with information and facts. Show comparable listings that you have found for a vehicle idential to yours, and remember that you have to be realistic. Paying for your car is simply a business transaction similar to if you were selling it on your own. I'm sorry for this to happen to you, it is never a fun experience and especially not good this time of year. I'm hoping nobody was hurt in the accident. Good luck with the process and hopefully the insurance claim will go smooth for you.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Hope nobody was hurt and if you were driving at the time and you haven't gone to your doctor, you should just to make sure everything's ok.

A few years back, my car also got totalled by an idiot driving a RAM truck ramming my car (I was stopped at a red light behind another car and the impact actually forced my car into the car in front and into the intersection!) I saw him coming from my rear view mirror and managed to brace for the impact. Even though I didn't hurt or feel that I was injured, the insurance company and friends told me to get checked out by a Doctor anyway. Sometimes you'll feel it a day or two later. I got checked out and I was ok but man, I became stiff for the next few days.

I'm in Canada so the insurance is probably different but I was pleasantly surprised when the insurance company paid me more than what I thought the car could have been sold for. You see... quite coincidentally, I had just arranged to purchase a new car the day before and was planning on selling this car to either friends or relatives. I had just put in a new battery too and when I told the insurance adjuster, he added the cost of the battery into my payout. Needless to say, I stayed with this company. LOL

 

[mkynut90]

My wife and I were just fine. Were able to salavage the weekend at Myrtle Beach. Everyone says it a bad situation I say its a @#$ situation. I have narrowed my car down to the Ford Fusion, Toyota Camera, and the Honda Accord. Any ideas?????


Thanks
Jason

 

[eeyorethegreat]

My wife and I were just fine. Were able to salavage the weekend at Myrtle Beach. Everyone says it a bad situation I say its a @#$ situation. I have narrowed my car down to the Ford Fusion, Toyota Camera, and the Honda Accord. Any ideas?????


Thanks
Jason

You weren't the accident by the Sheraton were you??? We were in Myrtle Beach this weekend with the USATF XC meet. Glad you are ok hope your insurane settles reasonably.

 

[dmccarty]

Our car was totaled a few years ago when a lady do not yield the right of way in an intersection.

I am lucky to be here. My wife has had two surgeries as a result of the accident. If you could walk away from the accident you are very lucky.

We looked at KBB and similar sources. But more importantly, we looked at dealerships selling the car that was totaled. This help us value the car. The insurance paid off the correct value but we were prepared to fight them on the value.

Later,
Dan

 

[Disneybridein2k3]

Just ask the insurance company how they get evaluate the dollar amount. Each insurance company has to choose the way they evaluate total loss vehicles so they don't pick and choose what is best for them each time a vehicle is a total loss. For instance, the company I work for uses NADA (clean retail unless your car was junk before the loss). If you disagree with the amount they offer because of additions of the vehicle or for any other reason, you can get arbitrate it. You can also get the prices of vehicles similar to yours but before you go checking around, ask the insurance company. Don't do a lot of work before you have to. If you aren't satisfied with the settlement, ask about your options then and let them guide you. Also, if you carry collision on your own policy, you can always have your company handle and subrogate if they evaluate the vehicle higher. HTH. Glad to hear you weren't hurt.

 

[mkynut90]

Two days ago I got an offer from the insurance company and it was 2k more than what I thought. The good news I just got a new 2012 Camry SE. It weird for me because I have always been a Chevy man. Chevy just didn't ride as nice as the Camry. I just wanted to say Thank-you for everyone's advice!!!! Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy New year, and Let go Mets LOL!!!! I just everyone has a happy holiday what ever you celebrate!!!!!

mkynut90

 

[pxlbarrel]

I have a Camry hybrid and except for the tiny trunk, I love my Camry. Congratulations on the settlement and the new car!

 

[Disneybridein2k3]

Two days ago I got an offer from the insurance company and it was 2k more than what I thought. The good news I just got a new 2012 Camry SE. It weird for me because I have always been a Chevy man. Chevy just didn't ride as nice as the Camry. I just wanted to say Thank-you for everyone's advice!!!! Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy New year, and Let go Mets LOL!!!! I just everyone has a happy holiday what ever you celebrate!!!!!

mkynut90

Most people are expecting the trade-in value and are pleasantly surprised to get the retail value. Glad to hear you were happy with your purchase.