Car insurance question...

[snacker]

My daughter was in a car accident last night. Someone went through a stop sign and hit her car. Thankfully, she's fine, but her poor car isn't. It suffered left side damage (can't open passenger door, rear bumper hanging off, and rear tire at 45 degree angle, according to her) and can't drive it. The other driver has insurance. What I'm wondering is...how does an insurance company determine if a car is worth repairing? I'm so afraid that they'll decide to junk it and give her next-to-nothing for it. It's an older car with lots of miles, but a Honda Civic that probably would have lasted for a few more years for her. Financially, she is not in the position to buy a different car (just graduated from college, looking for teaching job, paying off student loans, etc.) and will undoubtedly have trouble replacing her trusty Civic. It's worth a lot more to her, in other words, than the insurance company will give her. Anyone have any insight on this?....

[jessicazi]

1. It really depends...

but if it will cost more to repair it than to total it out, the insurance company will usually do what is cheapest.

[burythehatchet]

2. The insurance company can call it a constructive

total loss only if they insure the vehicle. They have to repair yours if I recall correctly.

[CGrantt57]

3. How do you know this?

How do you know what the insurance company will give her?

Since the other driver is to blame for the accident, his insurance company will have to foot the bill for whatever your daughter decides to do.

They can offer current retail price for it, but, I believe she can opt to have it fixed at their expense.

Rules vary from state to state.

Best advice is to ask your insurance agent.

[MindPilot]

12. Don't ask the agent, ask a lawyer.

the agent works for the insurance company and the insurance companies all work together to pay as little as possible to claimants.

[lectrobyte]

4. They'll estimate the cost of repairs and compare it to the value of

the vehicle. If the value is less than the cost of repairs, then they total it. I've never totalled a car, but my friends who have have bitched that the total value would not cover a comparable car.

If you know the car's history, i.e., it has high mileage but good maintenance history, never abused etc. and you think you want keep it in spite of the wreck, then you may be able to negotiate a deal where you get the difference between total payout and salvage value to keep the car and fix it yourself.

[karlrschneider]

5. Some insurance companies are better than others.

Try to find the bluebook value (your own insurance company or your bank can help with this) and don't settle for anything less. I still drive my old 1981 Civic often and I know it isn't worth much to anybody else but it's terrific on gas economy. Good luck.

[uppityperson]

6. Do some research on what it would cost to replace, to buy comparable

My ins co wanted to give me >$1000 for a accidented car since it would cost $3000 to fix. I said no way, found comparables at $5000. Then they wanted to fix it (since cost to repair was less than 85%), but I didn't want it fixed (frame was broken and I was spooked by it) so they gave me the $3000 and the broken car so I could get it fixed where I wanted. I traded all to someone for a good car.

Find comparables, even online works, print them out and be prepared. Good luck.

[Corgigal]

7. depends on what the value

your insurance company believes the car is worth. They can total it and give you the difference.
I took full collision off my 1995 van because even with under 60,000 miles the insurance company wouldn't give us much. Keep your fingers crossed.

[Tace]

8. If The Insurance Co. Wants To Pay Less Than The Cost Of Repairs...

You can keep the car and pay the difference for the repairs. I had something similar happen with a lovely old BMW 320. I went to a real good body shop and we used some used parts for repair, such as the plastic for the lights in the back. Since the car was already several years old, the used plastic actually looked better than new would have, because it matched the undamaged plastic. I was able to do a great fix for the amount the insurance company wanted to pay. However, the guy who towed the car after the accident really tried to strong-arm me into totaling it. He wanted the car, and knew that the repairs wouldn't be too expensive.

[Nimrod2005]

9. All cases I know, the person got more than a fair amount

for whatever car they had...At the end of the day, there is a fixed value for the car, the insurance will pay it.

So if your daughter was driving a $5000 car, she will get $5K --- Or whatever. She should be able to go out and find another civic, similar shape, and mileage, for that $5000.00 price. It is going to workout fine, don't worry.

[CountAllVotes]

10. find the value of the car here

http://www.kbb.com/

If the total amount to repair it is more than what it is worth, they'll have to pay you off. I hope it doesn't get ugly for her. I had a '68 VW and I was at work and got off work and it was basically totaled.

My insurance company wouldn't cover the cost of the repairs being I had no collision insurance. I ended up having to sue in court to get my money back. This was back in the late 1970s. It still makes me angry!

The man that hit my car had insurance but they wouldn't admit that the accident was his fault! I ended up fixing the car myself at my own expense which was not easy! I was young and had no money and would likely not be able to find an attorney to represent me. They (State Farm Insurance) was WRONG! Ever since this happened to me, I wouldn't buy anything from State Farm Insurance no matter what the price. They are CROOKS!

Best of luck. You'll likely be needing it I bet.

:dem: :kick:

[MindPilot]

11. The most important thing to remember

the insurance company is NEVER on your side, they will do everything they think think of to pay you as little as possible. Since laws and policies vary so much, it's worth buying an hour of an attorney's time so you are clear on where you stand and what your rights are. Good luck.

[izzie]

13. We had an accident once and they said --

it had to be half the value of the car to fix. I was a little shocked as that was what the truck would cost to fix just half its value and they did fix it. They used to say a bent frame would be a junk but I do not think cars really have that frame thing any more. I recall being at a Ford garage one day and they had some car all apart. Hanging in the air really and the man said they are fixing the frame and it is the last American style car made that old way but it can be fixed. I think now the parts of the car hold each other together. My God I can not believe I even would write an answer or try. All I know about cars is I hope it starts and I hate to drive. Course I was married and this man would not deal with ins. companies so I had to always do it. He even wished me to say I had the accident which I would not do. One can only do so much.:shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

[Sammy Pepys]

14. Wait and see what they offer.....

Knowing very little of the situation and the age of the car, I'd imagine the chances that it will be totaled are pretty good. The upside is that at least she'll have some money to put towards payments on a new/used one or at least be able to lease one until she gets on her feet.

While the Civic may not have had much value left in it anyway, being in an accident like that only kills its value more and could possibly invite further mechanical problems down the road (no pun intended). If the insurance company offers a fair payout to total it, I'd be inclined to take it.

[MissWaverly]

15. I really don't know but they fixed my sister's civic

She was on a trip, her civic is 98 or 99 with a lot of miles, and the hotel where she stayed
had a smart alec valet driver who crashed her car into a concrete support, the engine was on
top of the radiator and they replaced everything under the hood, still works.

[snacker]

16. Thank you...

for all the good advice and information. You people are great!!!!