Questionhi thx for getting back to me. i have another question. why will i have to suffer and have to buy a new car and worry about making monthly payments etc... when national tire and battery screwed my surbabn up. the value of that car according to an estimate is 7500. the body shop claimed it will cost 8000 with custom paint and all. it a southern comfore company. if i am willing to get a used door instead of a new one that should drop the price and there fore the insurance company cant write my car off right.
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
i recently took my surbabn to ntb for a tire plug because i had a nail in my tire. long story short my surbabn came out of ntb with 8.000 dollars with of damage that the company admiths happened in thier possession . now my car is old but can still last me 5-10 yrs. the value of my surbaban is 7.000 not included all the inside equipment. ( buily my souther comfort conversions) like wood work, tv, etc...
should national tire and battery have to pay the whole amount instead of trying to give me the value of my car. it happened while in there possesion and my surbabn is still in very very good condition. that can be proved. i have never misssed a 3.000 mile service or inspection since i bought the car 10 yrs ago. mileage 120000
Answer -
Hello.
Is the value of your Suburban what you found in a book somewhere? If so, that may not reflect the actual cash value which is what they owe.
Insurance companies are required by law to pay the actual cash value, not the book value. The actual cash value is determined by locating comparable vehicles that are for sale or have sold in recent months. Book values are based on dealer reported "suggested retail" which is the inflated asking price.
As far as the additional equipment is concerned, they owe you the actual cash value for that as well. That is not what it cost new but what you could sell the equipment for at this time.
Good luck!
AnswerThe used door vs. a new one is not going to make enough of a difference to justify repair vs. total. The insurance company also has to take into account possible supplements for hidden damage that may be discovered after the vehicle is torn down. These supplements can often add 20% to the repair cost.
Depending on your state and the policies of the insurance company there may be some options here. If you really want this vehicle saved, you may be able to agree to a dollar amount that will be below the total loss threshold but will still be enough to repair the vehicle if you choose a shop that more interested in repairing vehicles than padding their bottom line. You may have to be willing to accept paint work that is different on one side than the other. My guess here, based on my own experience is that your vehicle would not be considered a total if not for all of the custom paint and body cladding.
The problem from an adjuster's standpoint is that it is nearly impossible to restore such a vehicle to pre-loss appearance and therefore, such a claim can turn into a very expensive, time consuming nightmare. The original custom paint work if it's a fade, is going to be different for each painter and the cladding, running boards, etc. have likely been discontinued. Then the adjuster has to consider the additional rental that will be required while these parts are tracked down which factors into the repair or replace decision.
If your state laws allow and the insurance company is willing to do this, you can offer to sign a full and final release for about $500.00 less than the estimate and they might go for it. At that point, you're on your own.
I'm not sure that I follow your logic regarding having to purchase a new vehicle and have payments. If the vehicle totals, you simply take the check and buy a comparable vehicle. If there is nothing out there that is just like your vehicle, that is not the fault of the insurance company or NTB. That's just life. With gas prices the way they are, I'd take that money and run with it because SUV prices have taken a dive and they are likely giving you more than you could ever actually sell the truck for. Do remember that I advertise an honest answer...
Good luck and I'd appreciate your feedback.
