Hi,
My car got rear ended the other day and today, after receiving the estimate from the collision shop, the insurance company declared my car a total loss.
The car is quite repairable. There was no chassis damage. The trunk lid, the rear bumper cover and both tail lights need to be replaced. I can get them all for $580 which is fine with me.

The insurance company, State Farm, from the driver who hit me is the one who declared the car a total loss. I have a few questions to ask. Any idea what they should pay me for the car? Is there any way to convince them not to charge the salvage they would get if I give them my car? What is the logic in them charging me for the salvage fee they will not get since they are not taking my Jaguar(!)? After all, shouldn't they be happy that they are not paying to fix my car at the collision shop who wants $4700?

For the record, the car is a 1996 Jaguar XJ6 and no person got hurt in the collision-just the Jaguar. Oh yeah, the other car got TOTALED.

 

Did you have full coverage insurance on your car at the time of the collision.? If you did ,than you should be dealing with your own agent. If you only had liability than you have deal with the other driver's company on your own. If the car is determined to be a total loss than that insurance company should pay you what they consider is the fair value of the vehicle. In California it is common to come to a negotiated agreement where you get paid a certain amount and you also get to keep the car. Perhaps you could avoid the entire issue of a salvage title for your XJ. Best of luck.

 

With all due respect, Rivguy is dispensing bad gouge. You want to deal directly with the responsible party irrespective of what insurance coverage you may have. The sole exception to this is if you need an immediate payment, then yeah, your insurance company (assuming you carry full coverage, which is probably a waste of premium $ on these cars) stands ready and willing to cut you a check, albeit one for less money than they are certain they can extract from the perpetrator's insurance company.

Having been a party to both scenarios, I encourage you to work directly with the perp's insurance: My son was sitting at a red-light in a 2007 Toyota Tundra with full coverage minding his own when a couple of his (female) classmates rear-ended him doing about 60 mph in a beetle. The truck's propshaft was broken and punctured the fuel tank, amongst much other damage. My insurance co (USAA) heartily offered to take up the charge to which I agreed, initially. However, a couple weeks on after arguing the value of the truck with them, I fired them and took up the matter with the perp's insurance co. A much more palatable settlement was obtained.

Back in 2002, I was sitting at a red light minding my own in my trusty 1991 Mercury Grand Marquis with Liability-only coverage when a tanker truck sitting in the opposing lane, elected to turn left with no mirror check. While I was at the back of the line, I was emphatically clear of the intersection the tanker was negotiating. His trailer wheels imacted the Merc just forward of the center of the rear wheel arch and he attempted to drag/climb over the Merc...."Gotta get me thru that intersection, by gawd!" I guess, who knows....makes one renew one's appreciation of trains for goods-transport. Anyway...The car was declared "totaled" and the trucking co's insurance co. sent me a nice letter explaining they were preparing a check for $2700 and I should get the title together as they'd be 'round shortly with the check and a roll-back to collect the car. I channeled Coach Lee Corso from College GameDay, "Not so fast, my friends! You don't just run over a man's car, pay him what you think it's worth, and then take it from him. That's not how this works, that's not how ANY of this works!" I graciously admitted that the $2700 was not an unreasonable value for the car, however, I'd not be parting with title for that amount. I further allowed they were welcome to the title if they tripled the offer. "Well, if we pay you $2700 and don't get the car, you have to sign a statement saying you release us from any and all other claims regarding this incident..."

Me: "So let it be written, so let it be done!"

Although not beat up and dented previously, the car was not in pristine, showroom condition (wouldn't get parked out front by the valet) and all it needed post-mishap was a new (I mean used, via eBay) tail light assembly and a bottle jack placed between the inner and outer rear fenderwells to push the outer back outboard clear of the rear tire to allow for full suspension travel. Otherwise, all damage was cosmetic. Bootlid sealed and opened/closed just fine, cabin area was fully intact, and left rear door and interfacing jam were undamaged and working properly.

As to value, I'm a fan-boy, and I hold a pristine, showroom condition version to be worth somewhere between $5k - $7k. However, I doubt you'll find industry valuations to be that generous. Just guessing, but I'd say you will probably end up somewhere around where I did with the Merc in 2002, maybe a few hundred $ more. You really should've gone straight to the doc after the accident as whiplash injuries can have a delayed onset, notwithstanding State Farm would be on the hook for the Doc's bill and your bargaining position would be strengthened. Doc says it's fine now, but needs to see me again in 3 months time....

 

UPDATE:
I just spoke with State Farm a few minutes ago and am shocked at what they said. They offered me $5076 for my 1996 XJ6. I am just floored by that amount. But of course they wanted my car which I don't want to part with--ever! Well they reduced the amount by $389 which I did not argue over. So in the end they will mail me a check on Monday for $4683.

 

Looks like everything turned out well. Sometimes it does, and other times it doesn't and you have to fight with the insurance company to get a fair settlement.The gentleman from Texas is correct in that you have to advocate for yourself. Usually they will low ball you with their first offer. The 5,000 dollar offer seems pretty fair. I would have expected closer to 2,000 dollars. With collector cars usually you need to have an "agreed upon value" specialty insurance provider to get fair coverage.

 

I too expected about $2000 and was going to be happy with that.