Auto Insurance Claims: State Farm Auto coverage in Florida, mutual insurance companies, salvage value


Question
I have a 1988 911 Porsche 911.  Auto journals place it's value around $20k.  My concern is that even with full coverage if the car is damaged due to a hurricane or even an accident will SF cover it beyond salvage value.  I have asked them this question and they can only say they will value it at current market price.  I do not have much faith in their ambiguous answer.  Can I trust them at their word?

Answer
Sorry, Ron, but I apparently clicked the wrong box when I first tried to answer your question. You probably have an actual cash value (ACV) policy with State Farm, which means they are contractually obligated to pay the cost to repair or replace your car with one of like kind and quality, whichever is less. So the value of ones like your car in the marketplace are what determines its value. If there is a claim in which it is totaled, they will base their offers in settlement on the cost to purchase comparable vehicles.

My experience with State Farm has been overall good. They are a mutual company, which means the profits go back to the policyholders or into their reserves. Mutual insurance companies are generally easier to deal with in claims than stock companies.