auto insurance total loss peeps...got some questions for you

[skyhiranger]

Is it standard practice to apply a "condition" deduction to my vehicle's ACV when calculating its ACV vs comparables? My vehicle is rated at "normal wear and tear" in all areas, except in the trim and sheet metal, which are rated at "dealer ready" by my insurance and/or CCC1 (the company that does the ACV calculation). I honestly don't even know why some of the other areas aren't rated at "dealer ready"...there are no condition issues with the headliner, dash, carpets (yes, need swept out, but no wear, tears, etc.), seats (have a couple of light wrinkles in the driver's seat leather, but not at all abnormal for a 75K vehicle...I've seen the same vehicle with 38K on it they compared mine to with more wrinkles/waves in it), engine and transmission (no idea why those would not rate at dealer ready...other than if it is because they have dust on them...yes, insurance adjuster actually stated that is an "issue"). They are hitting mine with an $1145 condition adjustment deduction. Mine is in good enough condition that I would be thrilled to be able to find a replacement vehicle with 75K in the same condition. I really don't think I'll be able to...at least not for what CCC1 is saying my ACV is on my vehicle.

Also, when calculating my ACV using comparables, the CCC1 program/algorithm deducts more cents/mile when comparing my 75K vehicle to a 38K vehicle, than it credits when comparing my 75K vehicle to a 111K mile vehicle. Same years, same trims, same options, etc....only real difference is the mileage, from what I can tell. I have several examples of this practice, with various mileages both higher and lower than mine, since I didn't agree with CCC1s initial ACV and gave them some others to compare to (and they took it upon themselves to add about 12 other vehicles to the second valuation report as well (so they could average all of them and get my ACV where they wanted it...is my biased opinion). What is the justification for this? Or is there one? When I questioned CCC1, they said their huge database with all these vehicle values can't calculate my ACV wrong. But the way I look at it, with that huge of a database, they have every opportunity to cherry pick which vehicles they want to use to calculate my ACV (and according to what I have read about the past business practices of CCC1, that is exactly what they do, in some instances).

Yes, I know I have the option of hiring my own appraiser, to dispute the ACV, which I will be looking into next week. But I am just trying to understand if my concerns I brought up above are valid, or if what they are doing is standard practice and there is no way around it, even with a private appraisal?

Bottom line is I just want to be able to buy a replacement vehicle that is the same year, miles, trim, options, condition as mine for the ACV insurance/CCC1 is saying mine is worth (15K). But what I am seeing for averages out there, it is going to cost me $1000-$1500 more to replace my vehicle with a like one.

 

[BDK]

But what I am seeing for averages out there, it is going to cost me $1000-$1500 more to replace my vehicle with a like one.

You need to keep pushing to get a fair settlement. Send them your data and ask them to prove you wrong.

 

[Provience]

Last totaled car the insurance valued my wheels and tires at $10 for being new&alloy

So I put my roller stocker alloys on for the insurance company and sold the new wheels&tires seperate

Long and short, insurance is a scam, they aren't to make you whole, save money on premiums next time to justify the difference

 

[Provience]

All that was to say "condition doesn't really matter" at 75k your engine could've shit the bed next week. While to say

 

[skyhiranger]

You need to keep pushing to get a fair settlement. Send them your data and ask them to prove you wrong.

Tried that. That is when they used a couple of my comparables and 12 of theirs to bring my ACV up from $14.6K to $15K.
I’ve argued with them for hours over this and they have said that their value is what it is and if I want to dispute it, I need to hire my own appraiser. So they are done doing anything.
Not sure if it makes a difference, but this is actually my own insurance company treating me this way. Long story short the kid that hit me didn’t have insurance so my insurance company is paying me out and then will go after him for reimbursement.

 

[skyhiranger]

Last totaled car the insurance valued my wheels and tires at $10 for being new&alloy

So I put my roller stocker alloys on for the insurance company and sold the new wheels&tires seperate

Long and short, insurance is a scam, they aren't to make you whole, save money on premiums next time to justify the difference

Yeah, I really haven’t got much for add-ons or extras. I have got a trailer hitch that they are adding $82 to the value of the vehicle for but I will pull that off since I can’t buy a replacement cheaper than that.
I actually said to the CCC1 girl, that what they are saying the ACV of my vehicle is won’t buy me a like for like replacement. And she actually said that it’s not meant to. And I said, what the fuck do you mean it’s not supposed to? And she didn’t answer.

 

[BDK]

Which insurance company?

They're probably not going to go after the uninsured. They will eat it and raise your rates until its paid back.

Actual Cash Value is what it would cost to purchase your truck right now. If she said that it's not meant to be ACV, she shouldn't have said that. Ask to speak with her manager or higher and relate the conversation to them.

If it was me, I would try that, then just suck it up, get a new truck and look for another insurance company.

 

[skyhiranger]

SafeCo/Liberty Mutual.
I don’t know they said they would go after the other driver. They damn well better because they are withholding my thousand dollar deductible even though the accident wasn’t my fault so I will not get that back until they collect that from the other party.
If they wouldn’t be doing that condition adjustment bullshit that they’re doing the ACV would be where I probably wouldn’t argue about it and I would settle and move on.
Oh yeah, insurance is coming up for renewal next month and I will be shopping other insurance companies as I do every year. I have found there is no reason to be loyal to any one insurance company because they will all fuck you just the same.

 

[BDK]

KBB, Edmunds.com, Car Gurus, have ACV calculators.

This site has a bunch of info, or appears to, I didn't read through all of it

Actual Cash Value Calculator: Determine ACV

Actual Cash Value Calculator: Determine ACV - Being able to calculate your vehicles actual cash value is important for insurance claims and selling

yourcarbuyingadvocate.com

 

[dirtybird]

Fuck safeco. I've turned down good jobs because they are such assholes to deal with.

 

[Aisin]

PM fordguy. He’s our resident insurance expert.

 

[east_beast]

Do you know your agent? I'd call them. Straight up tell them you'll be cancelling your insurance and going with another company after settling this claim if they fuck you out of this $1145.

 

[M92PV4U]

Or call the insurance commissioner, or threaten to.

 

[skyhiranger]

Do you know your agent? I'd call them. Straight up tell them you'll be cancelling your insurance and going with another company after settling this claim if they fuck you out of this $1145.

Like I said insurance is up for renewal next month, so there’s a pretty good chance I won’t be with them after that anyway. In my past experience insurance doesn’t care whether you stay with them or not.
Years ago I had been with an insurance company that I’ve been with for many years and started shopping rates and found I could get the same insurance for half the cost. So I told my current insurance company that they needed to give me better rates or I was going elsewhere. They said do whatever you need to do.

 

[Provience]

Like I said insurance is up for renewal next month, so there’s a pretty good chance I won’t be with them after that anyway. In my past experience insurance doesn’t care whether you stay with them or not.
Years ago I had been with an insurance company that I’ve been with for many years and started shopping rates and found I could get the same insurance for half the cost. So I told my current insurance company that they needed to give me better rates or I was going elsewhere. They said do whatever you need to do.

And now you are quibbling over a grand, you probably saved more than that amount by switching over the same time period. Still mo ey ahead

 

[skyhiranger]

And now you are quibbling over a grand, you probably saved more than that amount by switching over the same time period. Still mo ey ahead

You are starting to sound like the CCC1 bitch.
She said something along the lines of…” it’s $1100, this is nothing to the insurance company “ My response was “great, pay me the extra $1100 and let’s settle this and move on”. She started backpedaling real fast.

 

[skyhiranger]

Or call the insurance commissioner, or threaten to.

I will definitely look into that.

 

[Leadfoot21]

Do you know your agent? I'd call them. Straight up tell them you'll be cancelling your insurance and going with another company after settling this claim if they fuck you out of this $1145.

Waste of time they won’t do shit for you there is zero point in having an agent . I’ve yet to have one represent me in a claim .

Or call the insurance commissioner, or threaten to.

This. When you ask to speak to their manager you just have to play hard ball . I usually say you are MY insurance company I pay you to protect me . You’re not acting in my best interest as you’re legally obligated to do . Each day you waste the price is going to go up because that’s another day without my primary transportation . They’ll argue that’s not how it works and you say idgaf… tell them your bottom dollar to settle tell them 18k no less and if they make NO effort to budge tell them listen I know the law and you’re not following it I’m going to just have to call the state insurance commissioner . They’ll either shut down completely or immediately make your offer . If you were to file a formal complaint it is a big deal and not good for them at all . I have yet to have this completely unprofessional asshole technique not work 😂.

 

[Black Sabbath]

From my stolen truck thread:


Insurance: We decided to completely ignore that you told us your truck had 103k miles on it. So we assumed it had 186 and its worth 12 grand.

Me: Here is 3rd party documentation of the 103k miles.

Insurance: OK we will revise our estimate but still use trucks with 160 and 170k as comps its now worth 20.

Me: Here are the only 3 comps nation wide with under 150k miles and the same major options on auto trader right now which coincidentally are all within 10,000 miles of mine and show a value of 26-27 thousand.

Insurance: Sorry there is nothing we can do.

Me: I want to invoke the appraisal clause.

Insurance and appraiser 3 days later: Hey turns out it is worth 26+ thousand.

Summary the “independent” reporting system that gets all its business from insurance agencies isn’t going to favor you. But the cost of an independent appraisal is going to eat up a good chunk of that 1000 if they fully agree with your assessment. Also I got feed the same line that a vehicle for sale at the dealer would be worth more then your identical one cause of the prep work they would have to do before putting it on the lot.

 

[Mikenike]

Jesus Ch. Rist. I really wanna know where yall fuckers are buying your insurance at. Like did yall go out of your way to find ones that fuck you sans lube? My insurance has never given me any of the issues you guys constantly bitch about on here. When my last mustang got totaled they offered me more than the book said it was worth. And when i asked the lady if the supercharger and aftermarket stuff made a difference or was factored in she said yes makes a difference but I didn't even notice them because the car was obviously totaled and we couldnt get the hood open. Asked for receipts i said i didnt have them because bought it that way. She called me back 15 minutes later and over doubled up the offer. (Which was already crazy high for what it was). Same with my two other claims. No hassle. Two phone calls and handled. Insurance increases were minor for all 3 too.

 

[east_beast]

Jesus Ch. Rist. I really wanna know where yall fuckers are buying your insurance at. Like did yall go out of your way to find ones that fuck you sans lube? My insurance has never given me any of the issues you guys constantly bitch about on here. When my last mustang got totaled they offered me more than the book said it was worth. And when i asked the lady if the supercharger and aftermarket stuff made a difference or was factored in she said yes makes a difference but I didn't even notice them because the car was obviously totaled and we couldnt get the hood open. Asked for receipts i said i didnt have them because bought it that way. She called me back 15 minutes later and over doubled up the offer. (Which was already crazy high for what it was). Same with my two other claims. No hassle. Two phone calls and handled. Insurance increases were minor for all 3 too.

If you're constantly switching companies or otherwise not being a great customer, probably expect to be treated accordingly. I've always kept all my insurance together. Car, home, all the policies. Gets me a discount for bundling and makes me a more valuable customer. Unless I'm saving quite a bit I'm not even considering switching. The two times I've had to make claims it was easy as pie and I was more than happy with the offer.

 

[Projectjunkie]

Do you have a rental on the insurance company's dime?

If not, get one. Make them not being agreeable cost them daily

 

[Kyle]

Is this your insurance or someone who hit you?

if the second, just casually reach out to the insured persons agent and talk to them like a person explaining that you are working to settle but aren’t making much progress and don’t want to escalate. Don’t mention lawsuits just mention how you are trying to be made whole and haven’t been.

 

[skyhiranger]

This. When you ask to speak to their manager you just have to play hard ball . I usually say you are MY insurance company I pay you to protect me . You’re not acting in my best interest as you’re legally obligated to do . Each day you waste the price is going to go up because that’s another day without my primary transportation . They’ll argue that’s not how it works and you say idgaf… tell them your bottom dollar to settle tell them 18k no less and if they make NO effort to budge tell them listen I know the law and you’re not following it I’m going to just have to call the state insurance commissioner . They’ll either shut down completely or immediately make your offer . If you were to file a formal complaint it is a big deal and not good for them at all . I have yet to have this completely unprofessional asshole technique not work 😂.

I have already been in contact with my adjusters manager, and she was as much as a worthless and uncaring bitch as the adjuster at the CCC1 bitch was. She just doublerd down on everything that the adjuster and CCC1 was saying.
They have all said this is the ACV that we’ve come up with and this is all we can do either take it or invoke the appraisal clause.
I also told them that I didn’t feel they were acting in good faith, and they just blew it off and didn’t acknowledge it at all.
Sounds like I definitely need to go the insurance commissioner route, so I will look into that this week.
I started out being nice and saw that was going to get me nowhere so I’ve been an asshole about this whole thing but evidently I need to be a bigger asshole.

 

[skyhiranger]

If you're constantly switching companies or otherwise not being a great customer, probably expect to be treated accordingly. I've always kept all my insurance together. Car, home, all the policies. Gets me a discount for bundling and makes me a more valuable customer. Unless I'm saving quite a bit I'm not even considering switching. The two times I've had to make claims it was easy as pie and I was more than happy with the offer.

What is your definition of being a great customer? Setting back and taking all their insurance rate increases when you don’t file any claims?
I will be a great customer if they are a great insurance company, but if they feel the need to constantly raise my rates because “other people have filed claims” then I will look for insurance elsewhere.
I do keep all my insurance together for that discount no matter what insurance company I am with.
What insurance company do you have?

 

[skyhiranger]

Do you have a rental on the insurance company's dime?

If not, get one. Make them not being agreeable cost them daily

No. I have other vehicles I can drive if I have to so I don’t see any reason to pay extra for something that is not really needed.

 

[skyhiranger]

Is this your insurance or someone who hit you?

if the second, just casually reach out to the insured persons agent and talk to them like a person explaining that you are working to settle but aren’t making much progress and don’t want to escalate. Don’t mention lawsuits just mention how you are trying to be made whole and haven’t been.

Someone rear ended me that did not have any insurance. So my insurance is paying me out, and then they say they will go after the other party to reimburse their costs and recover my deductible to pay that back to me.

 

[swtfman]

This. When you ask to speak to their manager you just have to play hard ball . I usually say you are MY insurance company I pay you to protect me . You’re not acting in my best interest as you’re legally obligated to do . Each day you waste the price is going to go up because that’s another day without my primary transportation . They’ll argue that’s not how it works and you say idgaf… tell them your bottom dollar to settle tell them 18k no less and if they make NO effort to budge tell them listen I know the law and you’re not following it I’m going to just have to call the state insurance commissioner . They’ll either shut down completely or immediately make your offer . If you were to file a formal complaint it is a big deal and not good for them at all . I have yet to have this completely unprofessional asshole technique not work 😂.

This is the way. State farm was trying to screw over my brother in a similar fashion until he threatened to call the commissioner.

 

[skyhiranger]

From my stolen truck thread:


Insurance: We decided to completely ignore that you told us your truck had 103k miles on it. So we assumed it had 186 and its worth 12 grand.

Me: Here is 3rd party documentation of the 103k miles.

Insurance: OK we will revise our estimate but still use trucks with 160 and 170k as comps its now worth 20.

Me: Here are the only 3 comps nation wide with under 150k miles and the same major options on auto trader right now which coincidentally are all within 10,000 miles of mine and show a value of 26-27 thousand.

Insurance: Sorry there is nothing we can do.

Me: I want to invoke the appraisal clause.

Insurance and appraiser 3 days later: Hey turns out it is worth 26+ thousand.

Summary the “independent” reporting system that gets all its business from insurance agencies isn’t going to favor you. But the cost of an independent appraisal is going to eat up a good chunk of that 1000 if they fully agree with your assessment. Also I got feed the same line that a vehicle for sale at the dealer would be worth more then your identical one cause of the prep work they would have to do before putting it on the lot.

That is exactly what CCC1 is doing if they use comps that are practically identical to mine. They also throw a bunch of other comps in there that have whole lot more miles than mine does so they can play with the numbers on the mileage adjustment and get the ACV where they want it, at least that it’s my opinion of what they are doing.
I told them there are comps out there that they can find that are practically identical to mine without having to play the mileage numbers game and skew the numbers, but they totally ignored that statement.
The one issue I did have when searching for comps was that some of them were 2015‘s where mine is a 2014 so I am not sure how much difference a year newer makes in ACV.
So did you actually have to invoke the appraisal clause or once you threatened that did insurance come back with a higher number?

 

[skyhiranger]

Jesus Ch. Rist. I really wanna know where yall fuckers are buying your insurance at. Like did yall go out of your way to find ones that fuck you sans lube? My insurance has never given me any of the issues you guys constantly bitch about on here. When my last mustang got totaled they offered me more than the book said it was worth. And when i asked the lady if the supercharger and aftermarket stuff made a difference or was factored in she said yes makes a difference but I didn't even notice them because the car was obviously totaled and we couldnt get the hood open. Asked for receipts i said i didnt have them because bought it that way. She called me back 15 minutes later and over doubled up the offer. (Which was already crazy high for what it was). Same with my two other claims. No hassle. Two phone calls and handled. Insurance increases were minor for all 3 too.

And who is your insurance with?