Got hit and insurance wants to salvage my TJ
- Thread starter myjeep3
- Start date
Also have an adjuster look at the car at your house not a body shop. If it can be driven, take it in to a shop on your own as a "cash" job then have the adjuster give you a number. I had rammed my 74 TR6 into the back of my own Ford E350 and the collector car insurance paid me $6800. Two body shops quoted me $1800 to fix, I made out like a bandit. One shop told me that they would have kep't the entire claim if I met the adjuster there.
Typically they will look at cars.com, Edmunds, etc. and look for same model and similar condition/miles. What you have going for you is that used car prices are through the roof right now so that can be in your favor.
The adjuster left a message wanting to get the car pickup to go to their location for inspection. Claiming it due to covid. Thinking of declining and having him come out. I cant drive the car, bust be towed. Should I take to a local body shop or okay ok to have him inspect it at my house?
Hmmm, is it their own adjustment location or a shop they want to deal with? If it is not too much trouble I would arrange for a shop to give you a direct estimate, maybe find one that has their own tow truck or rent one?
Its their adjustment location. I was thinking maybe ask them to come look at it at my house, give me a number then I can take the car to a shop and compare. Looking at the damage, I dont see it being much, at least to me, but want to maximize on how much they can give me.
Just make sure they write you the check so you can negotiate with the body shop for a cash job.
Jacket4256
TJ Enthusiast
most insurance companies will pay ''their shop'' more than they would a local shop so usually good to stick with a certified shop for the company in the long run, but defiantly try to get 2-3 opinions/quotes.
Had this happen on the wifes Audi, she rear ended someone just enough to mess up the bumper and took it to the euro specialty shop over the SF certified one and was a huge PITA over every little thing because the adjuster felt like they were ripping him off.
Had this happen on the wifes Audi, she rear ended someone just enough to mess up the bumper and took it to the euro specialty shop over the SF certified one and was a huge PITA over every little thing because the adjuster felt like they were ripping him off.
So okay for them to pick the car up and bring to their inspection shop? someone on here suggested to have them inspect it at my house or a preferred shop
Typical, I bought one hit like this, one of me best ever purchases. Very fixable. Expect axle damage if wheel hit and incidental...adjusters total them fast due to the likelihood of drive train/4wd parts damage , and they fix so easy usually, if not creamed,
Rubicon88
TJ Addict
Yes that's ok.
And remember....
Nothing is going to happen to your Jeep unless you approve it.
Moreover pending your state's laws with auto insurance and repairs...it might not matter if you oppose them using one of their approved locations.
Example...in PA...if an insurance company can use used parts to repair your vehicle they have the power to do so.
What does that really mean...it matters on little odds and ends like plastic grills or trim pieces...
Important things like a hood would get sourced as new as odds aren't good they can find one nearby that matches perfectly color wise...etc.
In the end it needs to look like it did before the incident.
That's their goal.
If it costs too much money to accomplish that based on the replacement market value they'll total it.
You might be surprised at the amount you get.
Some things need to go in motion before getting worked up. It will all work itself out in the end.
Rubicon88
TJ Addict
Iaa is a salvage auction company.
Unless I'm misunderstanding or you are they aren't taking this to an approved repair facility but rather straight to the salvage auction?
First... a previous comment mentioned that a title cannot be salvaged without possession. This isn't always the case. There's a difference between a branded title and reported salvage. An insurance company can and will report a vehicle as being salvaged without having the title in their hands. While it may not be exactly legal... it is done often because it rarely comes back to bite them.
Second... don't let it get to IAA. There is a BIG difference between an auction inspection and a body shop inspection. Auctions do an inspection at check-in that is almost entirely used as a CYA for additional damage or theft on the property. It is rarely an accurate report that can be used for estimates of repair. Case in point... a buyer at auction care very very rarely hold the seller/auction responsible for missed damage. It's the buyer's responsibility to inspect the vehicle and have an understanding of what they are getting into... as they are professional buyers. The other issue at point here is the inspector themselves. They are not paid enough for what they do. They are often getting into disgusting vehicles(food waste, used condoms, underwear, bio(fecal, blood, I've even seen grey matter from someone that shot themselves in the head). Not to mention their target numbers of how many inspections per day. They miss things... unless they forget to mark a vehicle as having structural damage and it comes back to bite them... they don't care.
WHICH... brings me to the other big issue with IAA/Copart/Manheim/ADESA/etc... They report to Autocheck. If they mark the vehicle as having structural damage, that will be reported to Autocheck(not Carfax... auctions don't care about Carfax), and an Autocheck branding will make it to other insurance and state agencies. Getting anything reversed from Autocheck is a really tough process. Don't allow it to go to auction unless you are done with it.
This is my experience from being both a TRA(Total Resource Auctions) and Manheim Commercial Accounts Manager. I spent 10 years with Manheim(and previously ADT Automotive Auctions) as well as a year with ADESA. I can't even begin to quantify how much time I've spent working with insurance companies and sellers regarding condition reports(CRs) on their vehicles. Or dealing with over or under zealous inspectors that just didn't do the inspection properly.
Pretty much... however some auctions have reciprocal relationships with their sellers. For example, Enterprise RAC has repairs completed at multiple shops. Sometimes it gets done at Caliber Collision, sometimes it gets taken to a Manheim auction for inspection and repairs. The buy and sale fees of vehicles are only a small portion of their revenue generation. Many auctions want to do mechanical and body repairs to increase revenue.
It's entirely possible that IAA might do an inspection *and be able to do repairs. But... that's not typically the case when it's an insurance company sending a car to auction. They are doing it because they want expedite washing their hands of your car.
The lady who called from IAA said they will pick it up and inspect it there... Told her thats a big NO.
I forgot the other issue with a car getting to auction... theft. Between transporters wanting to snag a part... or buyers walking the lot seeing something they want... They often just take it.
Not to mention some buyers will mess with a vehicle mechanically(usually something small) to cause the vehicle to be less desirable to other buyers.
There's just too many problems that can happen when it gets to an auction. You don't want to be in that situation. Oh, and IF for whatever reason you do let it go there for inspection, remove anything of value. It often times anything loose inside gets tossed in the trash.
Not to mention some buyers will mess with a vehicle mechanically(usually something small) to cause the vehicle to be less desirable to other buyers.
There's just too many problems that can happen when it gets to an auction. You don't want to be in that situation. Oh, and IF for whatever reason you do let it go there for inspection, remove anything of value. It often times anything loose inside gets tossed in the trash.
Rubicon88
TJ Addict
I doubt that. If it's at the auction house their intention is to total it.
That's exactly why I was asking...and odds are given the year to fix that properly they already know the cheaper of the two is to total it.
That said they still haven't given him a number. It might be surprising to the good.
Plus...
IAA isn't allergic to phone calls.
The OP should call them and ask specifically what their intention will be with the Jeep. Do they repair on site...or is it a strictly salvage/auction house.
Rubicon88
TJ Addict
@myjeep3
Call them and ask if they're strictly an auction center or if in fact they repair on site.
I'd also call the adjuster and simply tell him or her you're not comfortable with it going to IAA...what else can we work out here.
Explain that you're reasonable...accidents happen...etc etc.
Be professional about it and you'll be further ahead.
Call them and ask if they're strictly an auction center or if in fact they repair on site.
I'd also call the adjuster and simply tell him or her you're not comfortable with it going to IAA...what else can we work out here.
Explain that you're reasonable...accidents happen...etc etc.
Be professional about it and you'll be further ahead.
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