Insurance Company Problems - Total Loss Appraisal

[RockOnACDC]

Well, here's the story. I was driving home from work when a Chevy Silverado decided that stop signs weren't his thing. He slammed my passenger side pretty much dead on, hitting from the side view mirror on back to the gas tank lid. I spun around 180*. Seat belts are awesome, honestly. So I get out, walk around the car and see that my passenger side is pushed in about 4-6 inches. Luckily, no glass shattered. I'm gonna skip the whole accident scene and just focus on the insurance company's dealings. It's been one month. I finally received a call today from the total loss unit. They offered me $4350 for my car. I think that's way low as they said that this was the price a dealer would charge for my car. Let me describe the car: 1996 240SX Coupe, non-SE, 5-speed manual, 83k mileage Power windows, power locks, AC, alloy wheels, cruise control, factory cassette player Perfect condition, bought it with 67k from an old man who kept everything, I have the receipts for evey oil change and even the original sales receipts, eveything. This car was seriously perfect, many Civic owners hated it! Just installed new clutch, documented Just installed KYB AGX shocks and Whiteline Springs, documented

I know that aftermarket parts cannot be added in value, just accounted as if generic parts were installed. There is no way in hell that I could purchase this car at a dealer for $4350. I asked him how he came up with this number and he said CCC Valuescope. I looked up the company and saw that they have been involved in lawsuits for intentionally undervaluing totalled vehicles in order to save the insurance companies money. Has anyone been involved or heard anything about this?I am going out this weekend to the local dealerships to have the sales manager quote what the car would sell for on his lot, I know it's gonna be more than $4350.What would you pay a dealer for this car? Any help would be awesome. Thanks.

[slide240slide]

Man that sucks, i know ive asked my State Farm Insurance agent many times about modifications to my vehicles and he told me as long as i have all the recipts for the modifications they would be added to the total vehicle estimate,I am planning on spending close to 5 grand on my 91 240 with a slivia front end conversion and would hate the insurance company to only give me 1000 or less if some a-hole Lamblasted me so yes i would be seriously PO'ed! sorry to hear about the ride, but they can always be replaced, a life can't! glad you had your seatbelt on!

[98s14inaz]

The first offer is a lowball. You can get more. Go to some dealers and get some sticker prices, do your research and shove it up the adjuster's a$$. He is giving you a wholesale value.

[574-240sx]

Stick it out for more. You may have to get your insurance company involved. You may also need to get a lawyer. Is the insurance company paying for a rental too. Also ask how much to buy the car back. You might be able to make some money parting the car out, if worse comes to worse. Also where are you located? From what you decribed the kelly's blue book is about $5100 not to mention the aftermarket parts. Don't sign anything, dont accept any checks, and don't give a statement to the other insurance company yet. Remember its the other perons fault and his insurance company is at fault. Tell the other isurance company what you want and feel what the car is worth to you. If they don't side with you get a lawyer involved.

[98s14inaz]

These wrecked 240's don't go for much to buy back. I bought my 98 back for $711. I am sure your 96 will go for much less.

[biggie]

These wrecked 240's don't go for much to buy back. I bought my 98 back for $711. I am sure your 96 will go for much less.

Indeed, buy it back. I bought my '92 back for $300 and it had well over $8K worth of parts on it.

[98s14inaz]

After I bought my 98 back I purchased a beat up 95 with great body, paint, and trashed engine/interior. I swapped everything useable from my 98 and rebuilt everything. This 95 is better than my 98 now . Wrecking that 98 was the best thing that ever happened to me.

[Bruno240]

i was in your shoes not even a month ago. My car was totalled and they offered me $1350.

My car 1991 240sx SE 172,000. Now i did by the car for $1200 and there was previous damage on the car on the bumper. but the guy rear ended me so i was like thats BS the car is worth more.

So we argue with the insurance adjuster who didnt even ask if i was hurt or anything. and told him he will hear from our laywer. Well he did and it took 2 months but im getting my $2500. accually we got $3000 but $500 is going to the lawyer.

What i did was i went online and printed out every add i could find that was close to my car's condition and proved that $2500 is a VERY reasonable offer on my part. And now i cant even find another 240sx to buy around my area. like everyone else says prove it to them that its worth more. I proved it with about 20 ads for 240sx for sale from $2500-$4000.

[aznromeox]

The first offer is a lowball. You can get more. Go to some dealers and get some sticker prices, do your research and shove it up the adjuster's a$$. He is giving you a wholesale value.

Just to let you know. I sold a customer a 240sx i put together with sr20det. It had new rims and tires etc. Radio, etc.

Anyways, Car was stolen a week later. Insurance said $4100 for the car. Even though it had new reciepts totaling $2k alone for the rims, $300 for stereo, etc. That was full coverage. THey said they did give money for the aftermarket. $24 dollars for the brand new rims. That was state farm

To get your parts insured. You HAVE to get optional insurance to cover the aftermarket parts. Full coverage is not optional insurance.

[4felix20]

i had to deal with the same crap. my old 96 SE was totaled and those fockers only gave me around $4800 for it. i had receipts too for all the stuff i had on it, but it didn't matter. i ended up getting a 95 afterwards for about $7000. it really sucks, but i couldn't stand not having my 240.

[d240sx]

best thing you should do is go to dealerships and get a couple actual figure and show them its worth more. If they decide that their still going to pay you that 4g's, then just slap a lawsuit on them along with the others and get more money out of it. ........................who knows you might walk out with 20grand.

Don't let them pull a fast one, cause some kid back into my door and quarter panel, so that day i went to a couple of body shops to get some estimates. I made sure the body shop were replacing and not doing any ghetto bonding. The estimates were around $2240 to $2500, then the next day i was scedule to let them see my car to get my check to fix it. They inspected and came up with $1750 bucks.........................I even told the person i don't want any bondo. I wanted all replacement so he described to me what their goning to do to the rear quarter panel..ok its sound str, but he didn't bother explaining the door. he said they got their own way. Told him i know what your trying to say.........their going to fill up that dent and not replace it. Caught him in the act then told him a little story about a lawyer and why i have the right to get to its OEM piece...walk home $2240 and a smile. I only got the car for $1800.

Modified by d240sx at 9:30 AM 1/2/2005
Modified by d240sx at 9:34 AM 1/2/2005

[MAXIMUS Nismo]

To get your parts insured. You HAVE to get optional insurance to cover the aftermarket parts. Full coverage is not optional insurance.

Some good info here. So in order for you to get everything you do to your car covered, you have to get full insurance and option coverage.

Interesting, I hav eot go call GEICO now for some info. Will post back here.

[BadMojo]

Yeah, I would agree with the poster to just get proof of the *real* market value for your car. As we all know, the market is inflated for our cars because of the whole sport compact/drift thing. Just show what a car like yours would really go for (listings on the web, etc.) and the adjuster will most likely work with you on it.

As for aftermarket parts, some companies will cover these with an endorsement, some won't. Like someone else said, you can always buy it back as salvage and strip the good bits.

[Tsukai240]

nadaguides.com

[The Mic]

[RockOnACDC]

Just figured I'd let you guys know. I settled with the insurance company today. I got $6800 for my 240. I think that's a pretty sweet deal. Now I have to decide whether to get this MR2 (non-turbo) or pick up my buddies old impreza for $1000.

P.S. Insurance companies can fondle me.

[Juujai]

i think its just state farm they suck. im not sure about the other ones.. take care of us my AZZ

[574-240sx]

Just figured I'd let you guys know. I settled with the insurance company today. I got $6800 for my 240. I think that's a pretty sweet deal. Now I have to decide whether to get this MR2 (non-turbo) or pick up my buddies old impreza for $1000.

P.S. Insurance companies can fondle me.

Good deal. You made out ok then.

[SimpleEnigma]

Best place to go for the market value of your car is Kelly Blue Book...Most all dealers use KBB as the basis for their offers, so this is a great place to get a bottom line idea of what your car is worth. Of course, you do have to take into account that the 240sx is making a very strong comeback in the tuner scene and is becoming a desirable car, so also it is a good idea to go to local ads/newspapers, etc to get an idea of the current market value for the car because KBB assumes that your car is sstill in stock trim. Also, if u have dumped a fat wad of cash into aftermarket stuff...definately look into getting aftermarket optional insurance at least to some degree to protect your investments.

[Japanese Steel]

Nice, good work. You got another $2500 out of them. I'm an auto damage adjuster and I was gonna tell you that the offer is totally negotiable. Did you have to show them proof of what the vehicle was going for in your area? We use CCC valuescope, too. I always have trouble settling the total losses.

I think you should hold out and find another 240.

[Lt.Mike]

Wow, a State Farm Insurrance thread thing. Here's my story, my friend reversed into my 89 fb and completely demolished my fiberglass bumper and crimped my front fenders. His Insurrance company was State Farm and they just decided to total my car. I ended getting $2,800 for it and was able to buy it back for $350. There was no structural damage so I was able to keep insuring it. At the moment, I am going to buy my friends 89 240 for $1000 since all I need is the bumper, fenders, bumper absorber, and bumper rail (to purchase new part in Hawaii would cost $700, so why not buy a whole working car instead). That's my story and I got my car for $2000 half a year ago

[Juujai]

why dont you just check out the classified for that stuff? a grand for just body parts is a lot. theres always s13 conversion, aftermarket stuff, etc.