Non fault car accident - Write off

[TRAVEL]

Got non fault car accident last week. Crazy driver (crazy family 5 people… old women, baby in his car) went thru the red light and hit my car. Appraiser has already took pics of my dream car, Miata & informed the auto body shop people that it will be wrote off. Now I am awaiting the confirmation call from the adjuster and searching around the market to find a similar one to replace her.

My 91' Miata run perfect and in excellent condition, has rebuilt engine run only 60K, free of rust, 95% new soft-top w/glass window, wooden steering wheel, etc & etc. :( Obviously, this is a classic sport car in my eyes & I was going to keep it long. (hopefully the insurance people have same feeling too!).

I searched around the autotrader & I couldn't see a smiliar one which is selling less than $7500 in Ontario. Unfortunately, people told me that the insurance company mostly will give me a cheque for $2000 - $3000 or less??? As it is just a 1991, 16 years old car not dream car in their eyes.

Had read many posts in the forum and now I am wondering any suggestion or advise for me if I will not get enough claim money to buy another similar one? :mad:

[Atomic Chip]

You would run into problems if you wanted them to spend an uneconomic amount repairing the car; but since you apparently accept that the car is a constructive total loss, I doubt that you will have a dispute with your insurer.

I don't want to give specific advice, but generally speaking there should not be any problem agreeing on the car's "actual cash value". The latter should be based upon the cost of replacing it with a similarly depreciated vehicle, not some arbitrary figure plucked out of the air.

If the adjuster quotes a figure that is less than half what your research shows a similarly equipped '91 Miata in similar condition goes for, don't be shy about asking them how they arrived at that amount. Be polite but firm (i.e., assertive but not aggressive).

Hopes this helps! :)

[thephenom]

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=430232

Follow these steps, and you can try to squeeze more money out of insurance. :D

[latin-dss]

I had similar experience..insurance company wanted to give me $3000 less than actual value, I told them to **** off and fix my car, since i wasnt going to get similar car for their money...next day they call me back with higher offer than expected....they always offer youlow value, if you take you a fool

[TRAVEL]

Thanks everyone.
I am still awaiting the call from the adjuster...... :!:
By the way, I saw one rust 90' Miata posted on autotrader today which is selling $3000..... Not good news for me as it might be lower the average of my claim $???? Now the price range of the NA Miata is selling from $3000 to $12,000. :confused:

[Narci]

This might work.

Go through 3 or more reputable car sales sites/magazines. Find three or more cars listed for sale that is closest to your car (i.e. mileage, year etc). Give the three prices tot he insurance company (the actual ad, if it's in the autotrader magazine, bring the magazine with you) and let them knwo the current cost to replace a similiar vehicle. It should help you net more cash for your writeoff.

Also read this:

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=430232