What if my car was totalled and it wasn't my fault? Can I get paid more than the car is actually worth?

I was recently in an accident in which the other driver was held liable. She received a ticket, and her insurance company has already called and explained that they will take responsibility. The only problem is I was driving a 1987 Chevy Nova which probably has a market value of a few hundred dollars. Of course this car is worth way more than a few hundred dollars to me (80,000 miles on it, no problems, no car payment, only transportation). I doubt an insurance company is going to pay to get the body work done, right? Am I just screwed? The car is driveable, but it will at least be a few hundred dollars to get it back to road condition. I really just need some insight from someone with a similar situation.

Luna & Lawnboy

You are only entitled to the Actual Cash Value only. No insurance company will pay you more. Most states have what is called "a cost of transportation" value. In MA for example it is $500. The insurance company will pay you that amount if the ACV is less.

You can "buy back" the vehicle. The insurance company will pay you the ACV less the salvage value.

car253

You can do this. Call the other drivers insurance company and tell them the mileage on the car and the condition. They need to know that your is worth more than the average 87 Chevy Nova. And, you can send them photos. Also, give them reciepts for everything you have added or bought for the car. They do take all that into consideration when coming up with the value of your car.

Other thing is if you want to keep your car they can take a small amount off your check and they will allow you to keep your car as a salvage title. You might have a hard time selling your car later with a salvage title, but if you do not care about that and only care about keeping the car, then I would ask to keep the car with the salvage title.

Call the claim rep and explain all this to them. They will work with you to come up with the correct value of the car.

Don't forget to tell them anything you have put on the car, new tires, radio, low miles, condition, ect.

focus

Unfortunately for you the insurance will probable only pay out the market value of the car so you will more than likely lose out.

ReturnOfTheFly

This probably won't help you, but when I totaled my car It was my fault and they gave me about a thousand more than what I paid for it.

lbhietala

All you'll get is the market value of the car. That's the risk of driving an old car, but the upside is your investment in it wasn't that big.

Shop around - the Chevy Nova of that year was also sold as a Toyota Corolla, with lots of crossover parts. You may find the pieces you need under a different brand name at a better price.

The cost of repairing the car is way less than the cost of getting a new car - and that's the important part, not whether the repairs are worth more than the car you have. Unless there's significant chassis damage, fix it and keep driving. There's no reason not to drive it if it's mechanically sound and safe to operate.

Vaya con Dios!

junior

You will probably only get the value of your car in excellent condition in this claim. Since it was the other person's fault, you may be able to sue them in small claims court to get your car fixed, or to get a car in equal condition and mileage to the one you lost. A few hundred dollars will not buy you anything decent to drive. You should look into it.

Meghan

The insurance company will offer you fair trade in value for your old vehicle. You can appeal, but you won't get more than the vehicle is worth, and they don't have to fix it if the repairs will be more than the vehicle is worth.

GARY M

first,you should collect some resource by searching the relevant keyword in search engine,if you got good luck there ,then your problem solved.however,if you are not able to find the ideal answer by doing that,here http://www.CarInsuranceFree.info/free-car-insurance.htm is the resource i recommend.

Sotuff

you will only get blue book and if you were hurt you will get more

CAVEMAN THINKING {RULES}

My daughter's car was totalled by a drunk 4 weeks ago. Now we get junk main from attorneys wanting the case.I bet you could find a free lawyer to solve your problem

morrell2011

ok i was in a four car pile and the at fault insurance company agreed to pay out how ever if they consider my car a total loss can i then keep my car since theyre not even my insurance company i just hate to get rid of my past father car in which he gave to me as a gift on his death bed???

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