Need some Insurance advice

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H

hanau

Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2007
Messages
1,397
Location
thomasville, nc, USA.
Bought a 2005 Ford focus with salvage title car about 2 years ago. Everything was fixed and i don't know what all was replaced. But i believe it was also a front accident.



Daughter was driving it tonight and hit a deer front end is pushed back to the engine. She is fine and just scared that her car is gone and mom is going to drop her from our policy and make her get her own policy.


I have called insurance and started the claim they told me that i do have comprehensive coverage with zero deductible.


What kind of problem will I have with the total loss title if they total it out?

Everything on the car worked fine.
I just got done replace the fuel pump, egr valve and few other things last weekend.

If it is total how do I find a value on it since it has a salvage title?

going thru Bluebook prices private party is $3200
 
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~Scratches Head~ I've never seen an insurance company insure more than liability on a salvage title with the exception of a collector type vehicle.

My guess is that they'll pay out very little as they'll fire back to you that it's a salvage title.
 
Call your agent rather than the 800 number for the insurance company. Your agent will probably be able to give you an idea of what will happen.
 
just got back from agents office he said they will knock some of but not alot since it was fixed from the first accident.

Book value is $3300 private and $4900 dealer can't check with salvage title, He said have to wait till the adjuster looks at it. Then will have to go from there.

Bank said to check with the tax office and see what value is placed on it.
But it is covered with zero deductible since it is covered under the comprehensive.

Just looked at the registration and the state says it has a appraisal value of $4200
 
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I'm just a simpleton in these matters, but it seems to me that the insurance company should pay out based on the book value that they used to set the rate for your vehicle. I don't really understand why a salvage title vs a new title should matter or how many times a car was repaired under either type of title. If they took your collision payments, they should pay for the collision loss IMO.

I've had my share of arguments with insurance adjusters over the years on things like this (although no salvage title issues). Some of them will really try to shirk their responsibility & you have to be firm & stubborn. Sometimes helps & sometimes doesn't.

I haven't had any claims issues since switching to USAA after I was in the Army though.

Good luck.
 
You did not say whether the air bag deployed or not. Most adjustors will total a fairly new car if it has. I would talk to a local body shop in your area on cost to fix whether air bag deployed or not for two reasons.

1st if damage exceeds X-amount of dollars expect a premium increase. If under certain amount might get accident forgiveness.

Might forego a premium increase if pay out less than accident forgiveness if haggle with agent or company.

2nd if just cosmetic damage might be worth fixing the car without making a claim.

Gray area here because parts from a junk yard & labor very expensive today. Won't know until you ask but proceed with caution.

So even if insurance pays out; policy limitations not understood fully by mere mortal will be less than cost to fix or down payment on new used car.

While dealerships and used car lots reference Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds they seldom actually pay those dollar amounts. A 10 year old Ford Focus not worth much as a trade, dealerships normally wholesale a car that age. If they give you book value on a used car, they normally do not come off MSRP much, or are making money on extended warranty or financing. You have to have worked in the industry to understand. The car & truck wholesale market changes a lot.

NC over values cars for tax purposes every Jan so that dollar amount meaningless.
 
The air bags didn't deploy, agent said that rates will not increase.I made sure I asked that a couple times.

I researched on other comparable cars close milage and years with salvage titles that are for sale i the state. They are listed between $2500-3500.

I have no problem with them fixing it, but agent thinks they will total it.

probably wont no anything till next week.

I am at least lucky this time that i don't have to settle quickly to get a car to drive we have a couple spare cars to drive so I take my time if the decided to total and want to offer a low settlement.
 
Had my 9month old van in an accident in april. Almost all airbags deployed, but there didnt seem to be that much damage. They were going to repair it (estimate at $14k) but couldnt get the engine to start after 2 weeks and about $2k so they totalled it.

They did a computerized comparison between 3 similar cars in my general area(about 50 miles) and gave me the equivalent value plus tax. I made out well but had to be persistent to get them to pay me the remainder after paying off my loan.
 
Insurance company called today. It is total for the second time.
The offer $3500 and they keep the car or $2800 and i keep the car.

i am going to try and counter offer $3000 and I keep the car since we didn't request a rental car that our policy covers.

Damage is pretty much all cosmetic. Just unbolt hood and light and radiator support and replace them and have safelite come out and replace the windshield.

Figure less than 1500 to fix but think it will be closer to $1000. Daughter will get most of what is left to use for her high school graduation next year.
 
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