My Q45 + other car = mess...

[mryzza]

Well, I got into my first car accident today after driving with a 100% clean record for 4 years.

Anyway, it is the other driver's fault and he has insurance. He was also driving a company car.

Anyway, I called my insurance company and his to figure everything out. Then his boss calls me and asks for estimates and was wondering if he can pay for it all.

Now, here's what I don't get: How am I going to get estimates if I need major work on multiple sections requiring multiple shops: my front wheel requiring multiple parts, new tire (which was 2 weeks old.... brand ****ing new), new rotor, prolly new caliper, and all that other crap that makes the wheel turn when I turn my steering wheel.

Also, the front right side of my car is ****ed. The fender is totaly ****ed and the bumper is slightly bent.

So I will first need the wheel and all of that crap replaced, then need to go to an autobody shop, then get it repainted unless they can find me a fender and bumper with the same color.

Also, my car is over a decade old but it is in almost perfect condition. The engine is perfect, A/C works, seats are leather, still in good condition, all windows are tinted with tint (not the self install crap), new speakers, new tires, new rotors, and brand new OEM ceramic brakes which totaly didn't do **** to prevent the accident, ugh. Anyway, the car costs around 2500 dollars and the repairs will be over 1000 dollars.So

[Peterofdevon]

you are fine.

Its his fault and you should deal with HIS insurance company only. Have them get you a rental car. Choose the best body shop...etc.

I had a fender bender with a SUV insured by Harleysville Ins. I was stopped. I did not move the car till fiveO arrived. They paid for everything.

Peter


Modified by Peterofdevon at 5:26 PM 12/12/2006

[redmanfx]

I bet you that if Insurance has anything to do with this they WILL TOTAL your car dude! 25% of the total value of the car is all it takes and shops that deal with insurance companies ALWAYS jack estimates.

Get your own estimates and get him to pay without going through insurance if you don't want your car "salvaged"

Go through Insurance to do the "right" thing, but I think they will total your car.

[mryzza]

I bet you that if Insurance has anything to do with this they WILL TOTAL your car dude! 25% of the total value of the car is all it takes and shops that deal with insurance companies ALWAYS jack estimates.

Get your own estimates and get him to pay without going through insurance if you don't want your car "salvaged"

Go through Insurance to do the "right" thing, but I think they will total your car.

What do you mean "TOTAL" my car? And I will get my own estimates from a shop that I have went since I had my car.

So basically you are saying that if the repairs cost too much then the title has to be changed to "salvaged"?

[Jeff Williams]

Most companies are self-insured up to $100,000.00 or so. He will probalbly just write you a check for the damage.

Get a few estimates from a few good body shops. They can estimate all the necessary repairs.

[redmanfx]

What do you mean "TOTAL" my car? And I will get my own estimates from a shop that I have went since I had my car.

So basically you are saying that if the repairs cost too much then the title has to be changed to "salvaged"?

Yep. That's pretty much how it works with Insurance. If it cost more than 25% of the value of your car to fix it then ...if an Insurance company is paying to fix it, they will total it. That means Salvaged or Reconstructed title!

It sounds to me however that the man is offering a way around the Insurance game by taking care of it himself, which saves you a Title change. You can have any shop give you estimates so go to the one you trust and get back to the guy so he can see the estimates to get your car back to new and see if he'll cut you a check.......

[elwesso]

certainly this is a more than ideal proposition, i couldnt think fo any other way then to have someone just cut you a check.

[Rex]

I'm not sure redmanfx's number of "25%" is accurate, I'm pretty sure it's something more than 50% at least. For some reason I was thinking it was 75%.

Anyhow, if they determine the damages will cost more than XX% of the cars value, they'll just cut you a check for that car's KBB (they'll ty to cut it for less) and then auction the car for salvage.

In short if the damages are expensive enouggh to fix, your car could be headed off to the scrap yard, and you could find yourself looking for another car .

[Jeff Williams]

Another idea, is to take the 75% of the KBB value from the guy, and try to fix the car yourself. Thus keeping the clean title. Or, just take the 75%, and then auction the car off for what ever you can get for it. OR, you could part it out on the Forum. It really depends on your skills, and the type of damage to the car.

[redmanfx]

I'm not sure redmanfx's number of "25%" is accurate, I'm pretty sure it's something more than 50% at least. For some reason I was thinking it was 75%. .

It's 25%. Since I started selling cars I've delt with salvaged vehicles and have seen titles from all over including at the auctions and so forth...That's why you can pick up a great deal on some cars where their is so little damage like the headlight is busted and the fender is scraped, yet the cost to fix was over 25% of the overall value so it was totalled by the insurance company and is now salvaged... The older the car there less value it carriers.

The 99 Cadillac Deville I just sold was salvaged. The only problem it had was a busted headlight assembly, scratched fender and bent lower radiator mount. That's all it took. I fixed it in about 2hours! It sold for 1800 at the insurance auction instead of the 8500 it was worth, a steal of a deal!!

[bigjimmy]

25% is not correct. Insurance companies are in business to make money. They will do what ever costs them the least. My Lexus SC300 was rear ended 3 years ago and Geiko gave me a check for $5500 for body work, and paid the Lexus dealer directly for motor and transmission mounts and a linkage $1600. Book value at the time was $10000.

Insurance companies know what types of cars sell for a good price at auction. They also know which clients will take the money and which ones will sue. Thats why you see a lot of mercedes at auctions like iaai.

For your situation, get two estimates one from a body shop and one from a dealer (or dealer's body shop). Show them to the boss and settle for a number in the middle.

[Q451990]

Pretty sure it's over 75% from my experience with "Q1" earlier this year. Maybe that limit varies from state to state?

I also had a little issue with a moving truck and my pickup earlier this year. I went to the dealership body shop and got an estimate that was as "all inclusive" as possible. Any possible thing they thought could be wrong, went on the estimate. It was a one-shot, cut a check type thing as well. Pretty minor damage on the truck - so I felt comfortable signing the release after getting a settlement check that exceeded the price I paid for the truck a year or two ago...

In your case, you need to get a few estimates, and determine exactly what needs to be done.... If the guy says "this might be bent, but we won't know until we get in to it" make sure they assume that it is. If they feel like there is a possibility of some hidden damage - make sure that you don't sign a damage waiver to get the check... you want to keep them on the hook until everything is fixed to your satisfaction.

Good luck!

Heath

[goody90q45]

Pretty sure it's over 75% from my experience with "Q1" earlier this year. Maybe that limit varies from state to state?

I got in a fender bender earlier in the year and the body shop manager told me AAA sets the limit at 85%. He asked me if I wanted my Q repaired or salvaged and when I said repaired he set the repair estimate at $3750 which was 83% of the $4500 KBB value. If I had said salvage he would have made the repair estimate higher and have the insurance company pay me off.

With labor rates set high to cover a shop's overhead it doesn't take much damage to salvage an older car. By the description of this "fender bender" it will be much higher than the $1000 that Mryzza stated, probably closer to $4000 depending on labor rates. Try and get a payout from the business owner rather than deal with insurance companies. You'll probably get enough to buy another Q that may be in better shape than the one you own. Good luck.

[Q451990]

Mike is on to something here... depending on the damage you may want to just cash out and move on. A repaired car is never completely the same as before... depends on how much you notice details I guess. If you decide to ask for a settlement for the whole car, be sure to add for anything that's not typical. After my accident with Q1, I added for timing chain guide replacement, rebuilt Bose amps, aftermarket alarm and remote start, window tint etc. on top of full NADA retail. That put the value at almost twice book value - then we negotiated down from there. Ended up with about $5K for a 90Q with 200K miles.

Heath

[redmanfx]

Well I've said my piece. Call your insurance company to get the % of damage to total your car in your State. It will vary from stat to state. Peace love and hairgrease!!

[johngalt]

BTW redman - I am pretty darn sure the percentage value to total loss varies from state to state.

I am dealing with my insurance co right now, and they are totaling my Y33 '99 - and Georgia law is they can only declare a total loss if the repair meets 80% of the value of the car as determined by the insurance company.

[bbdaines]

My, my, this is an interesting thread.. Insurance laws are state governed and are therefor very different from state to state.. but, insurance companies are not that stupid!!

First, in most states if a car title goes to the insurance company the car will be sold as Salvage.. they have NO choice, if you take a car to auction yourself, it will be sold as Clear, regardless of damage. Theft cars are sold as Salvage with no damage at all, but they are being sold by the insurance company.. I have seen cars that were completely smashed sell with a clear title?? remember, lawyers made these rules, not car guys!!

Second, when you see a car that is not hurt very badly and can't figure out why its at auction... it is usually the frame.. even a tiny tiny eyelash of a tweak to a frame that doesn't enen hurt the car and you have a total on almost anything, and certainly anything very old.

Third, if the guy who owns the company is coming to you directly he is probably just trying to avoid an insurance claim that will cost him more in increased premium than paying you himself. I tried to do that with my 16 year old daughters fender bender a few years ago until the guy started to whine about his back..can't take the chance then. If it was about his Self Insured Retention you would still be talking to the adjuster.

Fourth, go to the NADA site and get the average retail price of the car, plus any upgrade you can document and that is pretty close to what they will give you for the car, then take the car in and get estimates on the cost to fix the car..see how close you are and work from there, the insurance company or the company owner will negotiate if its close. The very best would be to get paid for the car minus the salvage value and fix it yourself!!

Good Luck, Blair

[96QQ45]

Just get 3 estimates to put it back as it was and work directly with the business owner. Insurance companies just want to minimize costs. I would try to avoid them if possible. If he sees it's a fair deal he'll settle it.