The dreaded late night call

[bcp]

How do they figure out the value of the car?
It was a 2010 Toyota Corolla S with about 45,000 miles on it.

insurance company uses comparable numbers for a used car in the same basic shape/mileage from what Ive seen, that way the get a real number of what it sells for, not what it is estimated to be..

 

[TPD]

And I just spent $600 on new tires for her Christmas present.

I had purchased 4 new tires AND a new battery within a month of my wife totaling her car...

 

[bcp]

corrolla s sale prices

looks like the low is around 12k, high is around 14k, I would think they will claim it to be valued somewhere in the high 12s to low 13s.
that means they would total it if the estimated cost of repair was 9750.00
just looking at it, you have two doors, at least two air bags and most likely a bent center post. I can see where it could be really close.

 

[TPD]

corrolla s sale prices

looks like the low is around 12k, high is around 14k, I would think they will claim it to be valued somewhere in the high 12s to low 13s.
that means they would total it if the estimated cost of repair was 9750.00
just looking at it, you have two doors, at least two air bags and most likely a bent center post. I can see where it could be really close.

Insurance company paid more than 3 times KBB value on my wife's 12 year old totaled car.

 

[bcp]

I had purchased 4 new tires AND a new battery within a month of my wife totaling her car...

and that is considered just maintenance they dont really take any of that into consideration.

sucks if you put some really high grade tires on it.

 

[bcp]

Insurance company paid more than 3 times KBB value on my wife's 12 year old totaled car.

but its like I said, they dont really go by the books, they go by what comparable vehicles are selling for in your area at that time.

but 3 times???? Damn.

I got broadsided in a 86 town car signature series a few years back, it was already 20 years old at the time, had been garage kept so it looked brand new inside and out, brand new tires with 79,000 original miles on it.
It would have been a front fender, both doors and back quarter. Post was fine (after I pulled the door off) but that center post question was what the final straw was. They and I assumed that since the passenger front door actually pushed up against the seat, that it had to have bent the post.
They gave me 4700.00 for it

 

[DEEKAYPEE8569]

Glad the only harm is the vehicle. Darn shame a fender bender like that totals a car. They sure make them cheap these days.

Sometimes it's their way of saving money. The opinion being, it would be easier to replace the car than repair it.