Totaled vehicle......

OJ86

Promoted Users
So its been a long long time since there has been an accident in my house where the car might be totaled, and honestly I don't know how insurance companies handle payouts. My wife crashed her 2019 Flex yesterday and it may be fixable, not sure just yet. But I'm just trying to prepare myself for a battle with the insurance company if it does get totaled out.

What do insurance companies base the value of a car on? Looking on KBB(only real source I know) it says the value is right around 32k. I have state farm, in fact I have had them since I was 16, I am 43 now. I've made some claims over the years and they have never been a problem.


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If there is any damage to the front unibody rails the Insurance companies generally total them out. If the bags go off the insurance company will total them oftentimes even if there is not enough damage to reach the 75% mark. The long time guideline was 75% of vehicles value. That said sometimes I have seen that 75% based on trade-in value and also seen figured on retail value.

Looking at the pic I'd be inclined to doubt that it will be totaled. If the bags are deployed and there is any sort of rail damage then yes it's a possibility, but yours looks like a higher hit that takes out the radiator, condenser, fan etc. Just judging from the pic I'd be inclined to say they will pay for it to be repaired.
AFAIK Insurance companies all work off of the NADA values. Those values aren't published on the site, you have to subscribe and qualify (dealer etc.)

They will automatically write it up for aftermarket parts. You need to talk to the adjuster and tell him you do not want that. Aftermarket parts and the repair will lower your car's value, thanks to Carfax reports. They will try and tell you differently but it is the case. Some adjuster will try and work with you about that, most won't. Don't take their answer as the final word. Ask to speak to the head adjuster. State Farm has one guy who oversees the adjusters work in each region. Ask to speak to him if you do not get satisfaction. State Farm is pretty notorious among Collision Shops for implementing many of the cost saving things done by everyone now. They will also try and steer you to a State Farm Shop. So be aware of that as well.

You holding out for OEM parts could make a difference in whether it was totaled or not.
 
I am sending it to a state farm shop, but I know the head painter so he knows that I will want it fixed correctly since I own it. Air bags went off on the drivers side.
Cynical me says that will make little difference. Do try to get as much OEM parts on there as you can. AM fenders, lights, and hoods, do hurt resale value.
 
In my area, at least, State Farm will not figure aftermarket parts. The only one I know of that won't. They are fixing more than they used to because of the prices of vehicles. That looks like a parts replacement wreck, and I would guess they will fix it.
 
State Farm will not figure aftermarket parts.
Long time ago, used to be that way here as well, not anymore for at least 15+ years.
Chris, can he take it to another shop for a second opinion? Not sure how the process works.
Something that big they always send an Adjuster out. If someone felt their Insurance's estimate was low, they would have to really fight to get what the Insurance Co's adjuster estimate changed. 99% of the time you can't.

Read some State Farm horror stories ( body shop owners) here:

 
prices are crazy. replacing will cost 30-40% more today . if you can find one . i just paid 6k for an 84 bronco thats been setting for a good while and was proud to get it. a junkie one is running 7500 . this one was just parked and used very little . what i hear is they are repairing way more today although i would opt to total and replace . it's value will tank after a wreck .
 
Looks like a good job to me. With Ford it usually doesn't matter to us if the ins co writes some A/M parts, our dealer will usually price match. Almost looks DIY to me, other than the side not shown in the photo probably needing a little structural work. I think those have a bolt on rad support.
 
Have a 2017 Silverado 4x4 that has topped $18,000 after the first supplement, with another final supplement to come. They (State Farm) wrote $6700 on the original from pictures and I filed a $11,500 supplement. I told them they needed to come look at this one, but the adjuster told me he would like to, but couldn't. He said to keep taking pictures of additional damage and move forward. After 2 months of delays for parts (all new GM), there is still an issue with the frame keeping it from getting an alignment. Now it is going to a frame shop with a laser measuring system. Truck should have been totaled, but it will eventually get there. There was a period of over a year where I never saw an adjuster, not one. All done with pictures. 90% of the adjusters are working from home, and never leave. I hate it because I spend way too much time doing their job, instead of mine.
 
Looks like a good job to me. With Ford it usually doesn't matter to us if the ins co writes some A/M parts, our dealer will usually price match. Almost looks DIY to me, other than the side not shown in the photo probably needing a little structural work. I think those have a bolt on rad support.
I have no interest in fixing this one. I have 2 projects in my garage at the moment. Too much on my plate at the moment. I fixed her last wreck.
 
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