3 weeks ago I was rear ended while on a busy street waiting to make a left turn. The back bumper of my 12 year old Toyota Tacoma is destroyed, the box has a slight ripple in it over the right side wheel well, and there is a small beat mark in the back of the cab where the box hit it. The tailgate opens and closes like nothing ever happened.
I don't have comprehensive coverage so my insurance company has washed its hands of the deal. The other guy admitted fault and his insurance company is paying up. No questions about that. Body shop gave me an estimate of just over $3k to fix, insurance is offering $1800.
What are my options?
I would get a few estimates and supply them all to the insurance company and see if you can get them to bump up that $1800 offer.
It's part of their strategy. They are no different than a pawn shop. Prices as marked, are just the beginning of negotiations. And, they often put a pretty lass to haggle with a big farmer, with a straw hat, and so he won't want to hurt her feelings. If they do that, put your own lass in there, and your PRICE. It is INTENDED as the beginning of negotiations.
Get several estimates. Go to the more expensive shops.
Bring them in, and tell them they have options, High, Higher, and Highest. Get an est for 3500, 4500 and 4850. See what happens.
Nate
On the other hand, what is the vehicle worth if you were to sell it in pre-damaged condition. That might be a limiting factor.
I'll add another item to the pot: don't agree to the use of cheap aftermarket parts. Some years ago I got backed into and the radiator on my Honda was destroyed. The body shop said that the other guy's insurance company wouldn't pay for a Honda radiator, only a low-cost aftermarket one. I didn't protest - a radiator is a radiator, right? - and the new radiator seemed to work fine for maybe 5 years. Then it developed a leak that none of us detected, and one recent hot day the coolant got low enough and the engine temp high enough to blow the head gasket. The cost to weld the head, replace the radiator with a high-quality aftermarket model (OEM, but not carrying the Honda name), and button everything up was about $3,200.00. The mechanic said the one that leaked was a cheap brand with a poor reputation, and they won't sell them.
Lesson learned.
You might want to someone to check out if the frame was bent in anyway. It is the hidden damage that maybe a problem.
Holy Cow, post: 331425, member: 50 wrote: On the other hand, what is the vehicle worth if you were to sell it in pre-damaged condition. That might be a limiting factor.
Not "might be", it is. They won't pay more than the value of the car. I agree, do your own investigating and negotiation. You got one quote, get some more. (and do you have a deductible?)
OK, so, they are saying it is not worth ____ in perfect condition, so we will not pay more than the truck is worth.
OK....
Go get TRADE in values at several car lots, in your area, in writing. Tell them you need it for INSURANCE purposes. They will help!
Have the reports mention important stuff, that makes YOUR truck worth more than just any old truck.
(Just being driven by a surveyor, makes it a historic piece of iron!)
🙂
N
Tell them you'll get back to them after talking to your doctor. Your neck/back has been acting up. They'll sweeten the deal on the truck to get you to sign off that is the final payment, you don't have any other issues. It was back in the 80's so thing's might have changed but it worked for me.
I've been thinking of the medical complaints gambit.
The truck is very low mileage (I don't use it for work, not even to/from the office) and Edmonds.com assigns a value of around $5k. So it's not a write-off. I just want the thing fixed, and fixed right. I don't see any reason why I should be out of pocket for that.
Go to several new dealerships. Tell them you need paperwork, to assist with ins co. Tell them what you are up against. They will give you stuff in writing.
On Company letterhead.
Tell ins co lets go to court. Along with copies of the value of the truck.
Tell them you will NOT loose money, if you go to court.
N
Welcome to the scam of insurance. It is a scam that sucks! My advice is don't give in til they give you an honest settlement. You can go above the lowly agent you are dealing with. Get your facts and estimates and keep pushing their buttons. Just like buying a car, you have to keep bartering to get the best deal.
Norman Oklahoma, post: 331418, member: 9981 wrote: 3 weeks ago I was rear ended while on a busy street waiting to make a left turn. The back bumper of my 12 year old Toyota Tacoma is destroyed, the box has a slight ripple in it over the right side wheel well, and there is a small beat mark in the back of the cab where the box hit it. The tailgate opens and closes like nothing ever happened.
I don't have comprehensive coverage so my insurance company has washed its hands of the deal. The other guy admitted fault and his insurance company is paying up. No questions about that. Body shop gave me an estimate of just over $3k to fix, insurance is offering $1800.
What are my options?
Been there, played that game before. Don't play by their rules. The other guys insurance co. is NOT there to help you - their ONLY goal is to protect their own pocket books.
First off, why isn't your insurance company helping you deal with the other guys ins. co.? If they refuse, I'd dump them - fast. You do have non-insured and under-insured coverage on your vehicle don't you?
If the other guys insurance isn't being cooperative in "making you whole" - file a suit against the other guy, NOT his insurance. Make him deal with his insurance company.
When you are playing by their rules - chances are you are going to get the shi...y end of the stick.
I agree totally with Brian. My experience is that the Body Shop will also work with the insurance company to come to an agreement. They deal with this everyday. They may recognize damage the insurance adjuster did not see. Get a referral from a local for a good body shop. It is the at fault party's responsibility to make you whole. The State Insurance Commissioner's office (depending on your State) may be able to help if the company does not come around.
Tell the insurance company you do not want money.
You want the car fixed by a reputable shop, one that you approve, and they pickup the tab, 100% of it.
And you need a rental for the entire time it is in the shop, and again they pickup the tab... they deal direct with the rental agency... and the rental is not going to be a geo metro, it must be a similar vehicle that you will use to work out of.
If they object in any way just ask for the correct name and address for the court summons...
I agree with the haggling comments.
Your body shop should be working with the adjuster to make sure that the repair estimates are apples and apples.
A good body shop knows how to account for EVERY aspect of the repair and will compare the estimates and point out the differences.
A significant difference in estimates could be re-using trim (that typically breaks when it is removed), or failing to blend a repair job into the adjacent panel.
How many times have you seen a car with a door that is a slightly different color than the rest of the car? They can never get the paint to match perfectly, so the correct way to do the repair is to blend the repair into the next panel so you can't see the difference in color.
I would get the repair estimate as high as possible with the intent of having the vehicle repaired. That way if you decide to cash out you will receive max. benefit. They do the opposite. They provide a low quote hoping you will take the check and walk away.
Robert Hill, post: 331441, member: 378 wrote: You might want to someone to check out if the frame was bent in anyway. .
I've gotta figure after "the Frame" spent $3200 hard earned dollars he was quite bent.
Licensed Land Surveyor
Finger Lakes Region, Upstate New York
Norm, depending on how nice you like to keep your vehicles....you might consider spending the time to get your repair estimate approved. At the last minute, have the insurance company write the check in your name and use SOME of the money to fix the truck to the extent you feel you can live with and keep the rest. There is nothing illegal or wrong with doing this.
For instance, replace the bumper yourself. The body shop can do wonders when it comes to pulling dents out of modern sheet metal. They may be able to massage the fender so the damage is barely noticeable.
If you approach the insurance company like you are cashing out, you will end up getting less than what it would actually cost to have it repaired.
Had one hand that turned his truck into a flatbed made of treated 2x6
Is possible to go to the maker's handbook on what year beds will fit other year models and go to Pipe's U Pull It and get another bed.
The body shop will tell you if the frame is bent. Some locations on the frame cost a few hundred and others cost a few thousand.
imaudigger, post: 331598, member: 7286 wrote: have the insurance company write the check in your name and use SOME of the money to fix the truck to the extent you feel you can live with and keep the rest. There is nothing illegal or wrong with doing this.
The only thing wrong with this is that, in my experience, some insurance companies refuse to do it. They will only write the check for damages to a repair place, or a check to you if it is totaled.
