Auto Insurance Claims: white lies, suspision, vehicle owner

Question
I recently made a claim about my car being stolen. I lied about the condition of the car, saying it was in better condition than it actually was when stolen.  I ethically do not feel comfortable with this anymore, and wish to somehow amend the claim.  Is this possible? How do I do it? What are the consequences? Will this void the insurance company's obligation to cover my car if I admit that I lied to them?

Answer
Hi Joseph,

You need to be very careful how you do this. When a vehicle is reported as stolen, the first source of suspision is the vehicle owner. If you admit that you lied about the condition, they may begin to suspect that you had something to do with the theft. I don't know what the condition of the vehicle was that would give you concern. However, as you continue to have conversation with your adjuster you should start slowly giving hints that there may have been some issues. The insurance company will likely value your car at the lower end of the value range for your car anyway just because that's what they do. You should do your own research to determine the value of your car then when they make you an offer you will know if it seems fair considering the condition.

I hope this helps
Richard Hixenbaugh