Another Totalled Fd - Need Legal Advice! Please He
04-10-2003, 05:25 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 23
Well, insurance is declaring my car a TOTAL. 
My car was broken into and vandalized not too long ago.
They took all my lights and damaged the paint and body of the car.
I got an estimate and it came out to almost ~$8,000-$9,000.
Insurance is saying they will pay out a total of $11,800 for the car and declare the car a total loss.
Now, I know it is their discression to declare a car a total loss or not but I really want to keep the car.
Obviously, if I take their settlement I'll be loosing money but most of all, I would rather not see another FD totalled. And I also have an attachment to this car (as most of you might be able to relate with your own FDs.)
So, does anyone know what I can do so that I might keep the car? I don't understand why they would want to pay more money to total the car than to pay less for me to fix it.
I will be writing a letter of appeal to them asking them if they would accept a closed bid from a shop, but if anyone has any other suggestions that would be great.
Anyone know a lawyer?
My car was broken into and vandalized not too long ago.
They took all my lights and damaged the paint and body of the car.
I got an estimate and it came out to almost ~$8,000-$9,000.
Insurance is saying they will pay out a total of $11,800 for the car and declare the car a total loss.
Now, I know it is their discression to declare a car a total loss or not but I really want to keep the car.
Obviously, if I take their settlement I'll be loosing money but most of all, I would rather not see another FD totalled. And I also have an attachment to this car (as most of you might be able to relate with your own FDs.)
So, does anyone know what I can do so that I might keep the car? I don't understand why they would want to pay more money to total the car than to pay less for me to fix it.
I will be writing a letter of appeal to them asking them if they would accept a closed bid from a shop, but if anyone has any other suggestions that would be great.
Anyone know a lawyer?
04-10-2003, 05:28 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 4,985
uh, just let them total it, and buy it back, they usually will sell the title over to you for very little. Then you restore it and get the title cleared (because it will show up as salvaged on the title).
04-10-2003, 05:31 PM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 23
Wish I could do that.
They won't let anyone buy their car back in a theft or vandalism case.
And in Cali, its almost impossible to clear the title. The only way I know of to do that is to not register your car for 3-5 years with DMV. Then your VIN won't be in their system anymore. I'm not even sure if that'll work.
But anyways, back to the topic. They won't let me buy the car back at all. I've already inquired about that.
They won't let anyone buy their car back in a theft or vandalism case.
And in Cali, its almost impossible to clear the title. The only way I know of to do that is to not register your car for 3-5 years with DMV. Then your VIN won't be in their system anymore. I'm not even sure if that'll work.
But anyways, back to the topic. They won't let me buy the car back at all. I've already inquired about that.
04-10-2003, 06:58 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 1,679
give it to them without a interior, motor, tranny, glass and rear end.
**** them if you cant buy the car back, i dont understand why you cant do that, in NY it is your legal right to buy the car back.
**** them if you cant buy the car back, i dont understand why you cant do that, in NY it is your legal right to buy the car back.
04-10-2003, 07:09 PM
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 23
thats the problem, they're saying i can't buy the car back at all.
they're telling me that i can't buy it back but i dont know much about how california law works in this situation.
if by law, i have a legal right to buy it back, then i WILL...
so.. i dont know, if anyone can help me out, that would be great.
anyone know about this in califonria?
they're telling me that i can't buy it back but i dont know much about how california law works in this situation.
if by law, i have a legal right to buy it back, then i WILL...
so.. i dont know, if anyone can help me out, that would be great.
anyone know about this in califonria?
04-10-2003, 07:50 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Reno,NV
Posts: 1,081
the only time an insurance company should total a car is if the amount of damage is more than the car is worth..and they need your ok...you have the option of them rebuilding it...now some companies wont cover modifications or you need to insure them if its over $1000... they just don't want to repair your car.