Wrecked '04 Camry XLE - Totalled? Pictures Inside!

from kelly blue book, "private party sale"

Condition/Value

Excellent $9,865

Good $9,190

Fair $8,040

so you figure it out when the insurance guy comes along...........will they pay more than half of the car's value, given its an old car...?? i don't think so.......especially since you say "both doors are pushed back". there may very well be A-pillar damage as well and let's also not forget, what's IN FRONT of the radiator...?? the a/c condenser, so that's wiped out, and what is BEHIND the radiator, the cooling fans, and whats holding those items in place...?? the radiator support, and so on and so forth...............i'd kiss it good-bye, and tell the wife to watch how closely she tails someone from now on.........

Well golly gee willakers! I supposed I could look up the KBB value but you already did it for me even though no one ever asked you to do so. Maybe you are the blind one, dear friend, if you think that insurance companies go by KBB values. When was the last time you received anything close to KBB value for a vehicle you were trading in? Or, on the flip side, when was the last time you paid KBB value for a used car you were purchasing?

What I am looking for from the experts on this forum is for someone to say, "yes, I was in a similiar situation and the repairs were $X,XXX." I know right now we are talking pie in the sky stuff since none of us really know what is damaged.

Maybe there is someone on this board that has dealt with insurance appraisals in the past that can tell me how much their insurance would pay out before totalling the car?

seadoons said:

Well golly gee willakers! I supposed I could look up the KBB value but you already did it for me even though no one ever asked you to do so. Maybe you are the blind one, dear friend, if you think that insurance companies go by KBB values. When was the last time you received anything close to KBB value for a vehicle you were trading in? Or, on the flip side, when was the last time you paid KBB value for a used car you were purchasing?

What I am looking for from the experts on this forum is for someone to say, "yes, I was in a similiar situation and the repairs were $X,XXX." I know right now we are talking pie in the sky stuff since none of us really know what is damaged.

Maybe there is someone on this board that has dealt with insurance appraisals in the past that can tell me how much their insurance would pay out before totalling the car?

Click to expand...

what are you some kind of an idiot..........??

NO ONE can say what their damages were and how their insurance paid as EACH accident will be different.........just because YOU HAVE records of how well maintained your POS car was, doesn't hold water with the insurance company. how many times a day you waxed the car don't matter, its the down and out blue book (or even black book) value, and that's all there is to it. iif the insurance compnaies were NOT to go by blue book value, what do you think they are going to do, go by your word how great the car was and how great a settlement you should get.......??

how do you think your state evaluates the car taxes you pay each year on your car........?? by guessing.........?? no KBB............how do you think each state determines sales taxes on a used car sale, by what's on the bill of sale.......??? no.......KBB values...........

I'm sorry, I must have missed something, Glenn. Or is your name Kelly - and do you own Kelly Blue Book? You are clearly mistaken if you think that insurance companies look to Kelly Blue Book to determine a car's value. Let me point you in the direction of facts - not opinions - on this topic (link to article below, and I also pasted an important section below for your reading pleasure). I would encourage you to read the first paragraph and then the second bullet point, and then come back to the class with your apologizes for not being nice and pretending that you know it all. You have 3 hours, Kelly, to respond.

Your car's real worth

The value of your "totaled" car may surprise you. Auto-insurance companies don't use the standard Kelley Blue Book or National Association of Automobile Dealers value. Instead, each company has its own proprietary list of car values, and most have specialized software for valuing cars in each region. They take into consideration the car's mileage and pre-accident condition.

The insurance company may also ask local dealers what they'd charge for a similar replacement car. However, the insurer will consider quotes from suburban towns as reasonable estimates, even if you live in the city. You might have to drive several hours to reach the cheapest dealer, just to save the insurance company money. And they might be quoted a better deal than you could get if you walked onto the lot.

Tip: If you disagree with your insurance company's value determination, there are several things you can do:

• Next time, get "gap" insurance. It will pay the difference between what an insurer will cover and what you owe, which can be several thousand dollars.

• If you have maintenance records that show you've had the oil changed every 3,000 miles and you've had the car checked routinely by a mechanic, present copies to the insurance company to show the car was in good condition. If you've been paying premiums on any special parts or upgrades, make sure those are included in the insurance company's evaluation.

• Get price quotes on replacement cars from three dealers within a reasonable driving distance and submit these to your insurance company. Ask the insurance company for a list of dealers within a specific distance who can sell you an equivalent car for the value the company is claiming.

• If you still aren't satisfied, you can step up the process and go to mediation or arbitration. Mediation involves presenting your case to a neutral party for help in reaching a compromise; arbitration is a binding decision. You can also, of course, take the issue to court.



Here is the link:
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/12hiddenWaysToSaveOnAutoInsurance.aspx