I was hit early this summer while standing in front of my car and did considerable damage to the vehicle. After a 2 month long insurance fight I am down to the brass tax of getting my cars damage paid for. The adjuster said they were going to total it of course and I will probibally get a beginning offer for around $1800. Naturally I am not going to let them do this and do have about 10 sales on ebay printed out ranging from 7,000 to the mid teens. If anyone has experience in this process and know how I would greatly appreciate any advise in getting them to fix it instead of totaling it. I think the irritating part is the fact that I have had to park it and wait for the insurance which has been two and a half months.

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Owen

87 300TD 603 I-6
94 Jeep XJ I-6 4.0 (see the pattern)
89 750il
seventy-two hundred feet above sea level (kinda cold up here)

Showing ebay sales will probably not have much of an effect. You also can't directly bargain with the adjuster about the value of your car. If you're not happy with what they offer, you'll have to sue them.

My girlfriend was tagged from behind in her '83 SD. The kid's insurance agent offered to pay her $1000 for the car. Fortunately, she had comprehensive insurance at the time, and her own company paid $2500, including the deductable which they eventually returned to her (after successfully suing the other insurance company, we presume). Still not a lot, but a whole lot better than $1000.

I really don't understand how they can total a car, and give book value to the owner. Of course a high mileage vehicle isn't going to have much "book value", but the cost of replacing it with a vehicle of the same model and mileage is considerably more than book value. Not to mention the fact that you never know what you are going to get when you buy a high mileage MB. You may be able to get one for the amount they paid you, but you'll probably also sink twice that in replacing items that the previous owner didn't keep up with. Please let us know how you make out with this. I'm sure most of us will have to deal with an insurance agency eventually in our lifetime.

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87 300D - Running on Veggie oil; 260,000 plus miles; Original #14 head

My mother suffered an accident recently with her pristine 1995 Ford Taurus........perfect body and all maintenance up to date. 42,000 miles.

Some a-hole ran the stop sign and clipped the rear quarter. She then lost control and hit a pole with it.

The insurance company didn't want to give more than $2500. for it. After significant wrangling, I got $3500. from them, less the $500 deductible. If they recover the deductible from the other insurance company, then she'll receive that as well.

I could probably show Ford dealer sales of that vehicle at $5K, but, unfortunately, not in the NYC market. And, my mom would have to sue them.........something that a 75 year old woman is not about to do.

It's a tough business..........they try to screw you every time.

This is why I spent $200 to have my car appraised! Insurance companies don't work for you, remember, they work for their stock holders. The adjuster's job is to get by as cheaply as possible. He/she is an expert. You are not. You almost always lose.

With an appraisal, you stand a better chance. If necessary, the appraiser is vailable (for a fee, of course) to testify in court on your behalf. My appraiser told me that much of their work (meaning, income) comes from such situations. In most cases, just the knowledge of that will convince the adjuster to cut the pie in your favor.

My 1985 300DT, in very good but not show condition, with original paint and interior, with all of the bits and pieces working and 212000 miles on the clock, appraised for $9000 here in northern California last month.

Personally, I think that's high, but I didn't argue. The appraiser provided two nice copies of his report, complete with photographs. I gave one copy to my insurance agent and had her sign and date the other copy as a receipt. That copy is locked up in my fireproof safe, you bet. Only then did I put collision on the car.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

this is the reason why i insure my 240d with hagerty... i have it insured for 14,000 so if its wrecked or anything i can fix it or replace it since progressive said thay would give me 500.00 if i wrecked it

nuckingfuts, probly the only bargaining chip you've got left..... start looking to sign up with new insurance company immediately. Otherwise your current "provider" could easily raise your rates to boot.

Ebay absolutely is a valid source for a value estimate. It is an open market where real people buy real cars at a real open market price. There is/was software available from turbo tax that offered value for items donated to charity. It established those prices by combing ebay sales info. The feds accept it. Your insurance company should too.

Its kind of funny, I was hit by a driver insured by progressive driving a vehicle insured by Safeco. I just got a denial of claim letter today from Safeco and now the claim is being filed with progressive(his policy) I have a recorded phone call saying my insurance will not raise. The only part that irritates me is that my jeep was in the middle of getting a huge transplant and was undrivable and I cant touch the benz till this is done. So now I have the bimmer....hope I can get some "rental car" money, I really hate buying cars out of need rather than convenience. Dont get me wrong the bimmer is nice till something breaks and then It will make the 603 look like a chevy 350 in comparison.

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Owen

87 300TD 603 I-6
94 Jeep XJ I-6 4.0 (see the pattern)
89 750il
seventy-two hundred feet above sea level (kinda cold up here)

I am under the impression that they do not insure cars that are regularly driven.

this is correct and is fine for me since my 240D is not a daily dirver