My wifes car was $20,000 used back in 2019. Now after basically 10 years it gets hit. The insurance declares it totalled. So the car can’t be legally driven. The insurance will only pay us $9000. But now we’re trying to buy a replacement and for the same model year they are asking 16000!
WTF! What’s insurance for? Its just a tax. I much rather save to pay for my own car and have some sort of insurance that really actually covers the other driver.
Farmer this and state farm that and whatever General lizard, all are total bullshit regardless if you caused the accident or if you’re are the victim.
They should call it “pay slightly less than full price if you fucked up your car”
You are probably too late as you have likely signed an agreement to take the money, but you could have sent those comparison vehicles to the insurance company as proof of value. Insurance companies hire appraisers (like Mitchell) to put a value on your car when it is a total loss … they work for the insurance company.
Also, you can (could have) attempt to dispute the total loss or having your car “totalled” and force a repair instead. The insurance company looks at a cost benefit analysis when it determines that it is cheaper to total your car. So they look at their own appraisal of your vehicle to determine if they should repair it or total it.
Every state in the US gas laws regarding this cost benefit analysis, you DO NOT legally have to take a “low ball” offer … but the whole system is rigged on the “neutral” total loss appraiser keeping the numbers low and also making sure appraisal numbers fall in line with KBB and the like.
Solution: Get your own local comparison vehicles and ask to see theirs. Request a specialty appraisal if they didn’t pull comp vehicles. Make sure the comps are LOCAL, if the use comps from other states they can find abberant vehicle prices.