Car insurance write-off question - Other Topics Forum - Discuss Pop Culture, Arts and Entertainment

Inb4 Kramer "they just write it off" memes

So, last Thursday, this happened in my neighbourhood:

Tornado hits Barrie Ontario

My house was spared beyond minor cosmetic stuff, but my car was sitting in the driveway and was pummeled by debris. The adjusters were out and deemed it a write-off, and told me I'd be receiving their settlement offer this week.

In reviewing my policy, I have Comprehensive with $500 deductible. Car is a 2013 focus titanium 4 door with about 140,000km.

What do I need to know? Can I negotiate their offer?

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07-19-2021 , 02:04 PM

cs3

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 13,677

How are we supposed to understand wtf that article is saying when it's full of kilometres and premiers and politeness?

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07-19-2021 , 03:21 PM

rayfox111

adept

Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,184

They will probably come in with a low offer first, your mileage is on the high side. Try to find cars the same as yours and see what dealers are asking for them. You are entitled to be compensated up to what it will cost you to replace your car with as similar car as you can find. They wiil deduct your excess of course. You are entitled to negotiate with them.

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07-19-2021 , 04:18 PM

Tom Ames

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Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 45,763

Research various book values for your car. Use those as a basis for negotiating with the insurance people. You won't be satisfied with the ultimate settlement, but preparation is the key to getting as much as possible.

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07-19-2021 , 04:29 PM

Villian1

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Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 8,174

I will go out on a limb and say the offer will be around 3k. Try to get $3500.

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07-19-2021 , 07:19 PM

nutella virus

banned

Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 3,628

One of my cars was stolen last year and was found and written off. Just find a few car ads with your make/model/ and similar kms. Find at least 3 to 5 then don't settle for anything below the average of the ads you found. Whoever will contact you does this day and night so they will come in low balling and won't hesitate much to raise their initial offer to something that is fair. Also if you keep getting a stupid number from person A you can escalate the situation to their supervisor

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07-19-2021 , 07:52 PM

unlucky4me

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Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 4,079

Disappointed I opened this to see Kramer stuff

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07-19-2021 , 10:36 PM

AquaSwing

veteran

Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,259

I have no idea you could negotiate with insurance on payout. Is that a Canada thing?

Only time I had a totaled car I made money. Bought used 2000 Lexus from my boss for trade in cost in 2004. 15 months later my wife gets t-boned by idiot running red light, car totaled. Insurance sent a check for $1000 more than I paid. Score.

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07-20-2021 , 12:19 AM

nutella virus

banned

Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 3,628

I'm in Toronto and was able to negotiate. Can't speak for other insurance providers tho. Got the price I paid for the car after they offered abt 1k less

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07-20-2021 , 07:43 AM

#10

Punker

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Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 8,347

Thanks for the comments so far. Looking on autotrader for Ontario, the only really close comparable (same year, same model, within 20,000 KMs) I can find is this one:

Comparable

though mine doesn't have those fancy leather seats. Kinda hoping to get 6K but not too optimistic.

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07-20-2021 , 01:53 PM

#11

sixfour

should be called sevenfour

Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 74,720

Quote:

Originally Posted by AquaSwing

I have no idea you could negotiate with insurance on payout. Is that a Canada thing?

You can certainly question the pre-accident value of a total loss over here in the UK

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07-20-2021 , 02:01 PM

#12

pokeraz

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 3,867

Keep in mind, at least in the US, used car prices are soaring.

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07-20-2021 , 05:38 PM

#13

Villian1

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Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 8,174

Quote:

Originally Posted by Villian1

I will go out on a limb and say the offer will be around 3k. Try to get $3500.

Nevermind. I somehow missed that you are in Canada.

I'm going with $6,000-$6,500.

https://www.kbb.ca/ford/focus/2017/4...rice/?ID=48238

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07-20-2021 , 06:47 PM

#14

All-inMcLovin

Wholesome Mod

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 49,538

GL OP, get that money!

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07-21-2021 , 04:47 AM

#15

DisRuptive1

adept

Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 959

Whatever offer they give you, their payment will be reduced by your deductible.

Here in the states I'm familiar with, some insurance companies will have replacement programs so instead of getting a check to buy a comparable car, you get the comparable car itself (at the cost of your deductible). See if your insurance company offers that.

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07-21-2021 , 03:55 PM

#16

Punker

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Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 8,347

Just spoke with them again. Because I have both a residential and auto claim due to the tornado damage, they waive the lesser of the two deductibles, so I shouldn't have the write-off reduced by the $500 deductible (house deductible is $1000). They've said they'll be sending me a feature sheet to clarify the specs on the car and I'll get their first offer on Friday and I am prepared to reject that offer. What is their second offer?

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07-21-2021 , 08:23 PM

#17

Alpha Fish

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Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3,826

a set of steak knives

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07-21-2021 , 08:45 PM

#18

nutella virus

banned

Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 3,628

I hope that's a glengarry glenross reference

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07-21-2021 , 09:35 PM

#19

Alpha Fish

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Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3,826

you can't think on your feet, you oughta keep your mouth closed

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07-21-2021 , 11:54 PM

#20

nutella virus

banned

Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 3,628

Put that coffee down coffee is for closers

I could go on for too long so I'll stop here

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07-22-2021 , 12:54 PM

#21

Punker

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Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 8,347

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutella virus

I hope that's a glengarry glenross reference

my post was actually an office reference

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07-25-2021 , 05:38 PM

#22

MSchu18

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 17,451

quote inflationary statistics and how they have driven up secondary market automobile dynamics to a level never seen before. even used car market prices from last year wont be accurate.

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07-25-2021 , 07:29 PM

#23

AzOther1

veteran

Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 3,089

Create 3 burner e-mail accounts. Post 3 ads (craigslist.org or Canadian equiv?) "selling" (not) your car for hugely inflated price. Show the insurance adjuster. Profit.

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07-26-2021 , 08:55 PM

#24

nutella virus

banned

Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 3,628

^^^we have craigslist and it is a great place to find a guy who wants to watch someone bang his wife

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07-28-2021 , 08:34 AM

#25

Punker

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 8,347

So, after loading up with comparables in the $7500 range and girding myself to overcome my Canadian non-confrontational nature, I got a call and they offered a settlement of $9400 (offer is a bit higher than value of car because they also factor in sales taxes, which in Ontario are around 13%). I didn't really have any standing to argue their offer so I accepted.

So...I guess I wasted everyone's time. Sorry

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