Auto Insurance Claims: totaled car, state insurance commissioner, missouri department of insurance

Question
i have a 2000 grandprix gtp that was in good shape not excellent but not fair it was good with 95,300 miles on it and my ins is offering me a raw deal of $3400.00 for it on a 8500.00 total to fix it. all i want is true market value of this car. i live in missouri and my zip is 64763.what is this car worth?  fred

Answer
Hi  Fred,
I researched your car at Kelly Blue Book.  (kbb.com)
You didn't list your exact model, 2dr or 4dr,  nor your exact equipment.
I checked the value for a 2dr Cpe GTP model with the standard options, based on your zip code.  
For retail value (dealer price) they only have one listing which is for excellent.  Less thaan 5% of all used cars fall in this catagory.  That value is $9,205.
Trade in value for Good condition is $5,655.
The next catagory is private party sales.  Good condition is $7,100 and fair is $6,380.
I agree that $3,400 is a really lowball offer for your car.
You need to go to kbb.com and get the value based on all your optional equipment.
Print a hard copy and visit as many used car lots as possible, tell the owner that this is an insurance problem and if he has a car similar to yours, you would like a written statement of it's equipment, condition and his lowest 'willing to sell for' price.  Even if he doesn't have such a car on his lot, he is knowledgeable enough about the used caar business to give you a written statement of his selling price if he had such a car.
You need at least 5 different statements from different dealers plus any newspaper ads you can find for like or similar cars.
This will give you sufficient information to battle your insurance for a fair settlement.
Every state has an Insurance Fair Claims Practice Law.
If your company won't increase their offer to the peoper amount, you need to contact your state Insurance Commissioner.
Just type 'missouri department of insurance' into your web browser and hit go.  This will bring up many sites in your state dealing with insurance.  Scroll down until you find tge one that says 'official site' of the department of insurance.  Click on that site and scroll through it and you will be shown how to file  complaint by e-mail and telephone.
I trust this has been of help.
Your feedback by rating my answer will be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Bennie
San Francisco Bay Area 11-15-07 11:40 PM PST