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Progressive Insurance wants to total my highly modified 97 Jeep Wrangler Sport

gte811f

gte811f

New Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2020
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16
Location
Atlanta, Georgia
I was involved in an accident and the other driver was completely at fault. My Jeep is at the shop now and a Progressive Adjuster called me and told me it was going to be a total loss. I told him I sent in documentation to Progressive of all the mods that were installed by a reputable shop totaling $17,000. The adjuster said, "Oh, I wasn't aware of that". So, I am beyond ticked off at the moment. So, I started researching how to combat a total loss. Here's what I found.

How to Fight an Insurance Company Over a Totaled Car’s Value

Receive a settlement offer from the insurance company.

Gather evidence, including an independent appraisal, the car’s sticker details, prices for comparable vehicles, photos of the car before the accident, and receipts for any features you added.

Send this evidence and a counteroffer to the insurance company.

If the insurance company does not agree to your counteroffer, contact your state’s insurance regulator to request help.

Ask your insurance company for third-party arbitration if necessary.

File a lawsuit as a last resort.

Does anyone know an appraiser near Atlanta, GA or north of Atlanta that knows how to value these vehicles?

Any advice on this would be very helpful. Thanks, I love my Jeep.

JEEP TJ.jpg
 
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That really sucks - sorry it is happening to you. :cry:

This doesn't help you but might others. My 1974 Mercedes has an "agreed value" insurance policy, whereby the insurer and I agree in advance on what the value is. I did this because the values can vary drastically. I can change it at any time by submitting new evidence and paying the extra monthly premium. If it is totaled I get the agreed value, no appraisals, no messing around. As I have fixed things on it I have increased the value upwards to make sure I can get a like-for-like replacement, by watching the market.

I have a folder for each of my vehicles where I keep a maintenance log and receipts for everything I buy.

Andy
 
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Without an AGREED value with an appraisal upon starting the policy (not a Stated value) , you were not paying the proper premiums for that kind of value

I wish you luck,
However the State legislator path will not likely be favorable simply because of your premiums paid being for a lower standard value.

I own two highly modified classic GM muscle cars
This is how the process works
 
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One thing you didn't mention is the extent of the damage, have you been provided an estimate from the shop or progressive regarding what they think cost of repairs would be?

Insurance companies determine total losses as a formula where the cost to repair is a % of the vehicles estimated value, and once the cost to repair exceeds a certain threshold of the vehicle's value, they declare it a total.
 
I don't think you're screwed yet. If you had an agreed value things would be much easier as your insurance would go to bat for you. But the other guy is still responsible for fair compensation. I take it progressive is his insurance company?

I'd contact the shop that did the work and see if they can help with the appraisal.
 
Well right off the bat they will total a wrangler if you get a scratch-

There are companies that are independent that will negotiate the claim for you for a percentage of the settlement- Essentially an attorney does the same thing he’s just charging by the hour

Before I went crazy I would simply stand my ground in a nice way and not accept anything- Until I was heard.
 
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I totaled a car in Az in the early 90s and had Mercury Insurance because its what I could afford. They threw out an extreme low ball offer. So I took an Auto Trader with all the comps circled and said try again. I ended up getting a check that was in the middle of the comps, bought the car back for $500, pocketed the rest, and drove the car for another year looking like it came from a demo derby 😃

You may have luck with a counter offer, but the premiums you were most likely paying are based off of a stock 27 year old car.
 
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So do y'all have special insurance on your rigs???

I have wondered about this...I'm sure a total on my Jeep would be half of what I just paid for it.
 
CreepinDeth said:
Without an AGREED value with an appraisal upon starting the policy (not a Stated value) , you were not paying the proper premiums for that kind of value

I wish you luck,
However the State legislator path will not likely be favorable simply because of your premiums paid being for a lower standard value.

I own two highly modified classic GM muscle cars
This is how the process works
Click to expand...

Chris said:
I think you’re out of luck for the most part. This is why I always opt for an agreed upon value if possible.
Click to expand...

As I understand it, it's not HIS insurance company that he's having to fight, it's that of the at-fault driver, who he obviously would have had no reason or opportunity to establish an agreed-upon value.
 
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You may have screwed yourself not adding in the value of those mods. Buy it back and strip it and part whats left. I will add we have Progressive and my wifes 4runner took a hit that was $3500 to fix. They raised our rates $200 every 6 mo before we even got the thing back. Pricks.
 
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gte811f said:
I was involved in an accident and the other driver was completely at fault. My Jeep is at the shop now and a Progressive Adjuster called me and told me it was going to be a total loss. I told him I sent in documentation to Progressive of all the mods that were installed by a reputable shop totaling $17,000. The adjuster said, "Oh, I wasn't aware of that". So, I am beyond ticked off at the moment. So, I started researching how to combat a total loss. Here's what I found.

How to Fight an Insurance Company Over a Totaled Car’s Value

Receive a settlement offer from the insurance company.

Gather evidence, including an independent appraisal, the car’s sticker details, prices for comparable vehicles, photos of the car before the accident, and receipts for any features you added.

Send this evidence and a counteroffer to the insurance company.

If the insurance company does not agree to your counteroffer, contact your state’s insurance regulator to request help.

Ask your insurance company for third-party arbitration if necessary.

File a lawsuit as a last resort.

Does anyone know an appraiser near Atlanta, GA or north of Atlanta that knows how to value these vehicles?

Any advice on this would be very helpful. Thanks, I love my Jeep.

View attachment 442722
Click to expand...

beautiful TJ. shame it got hit. I'm partial to red.

Don't know if it eases your mind any, but if you lose the battle over totaling it, there's always the option to buy it back from insurance (use THEIR value minus a good estimate of what the repairs would have cost as a starting point!) and swap all the usable aftermarket parts over to your next TJ, or use the opportunity as an excuse to change anything you would have done differently. I've done the build swap between two perfectly good Jeeps because I bought the wrong wheelbase, and at least a couple people here have done it with wrecked rigs pretty recently.
 
Gilaguy23 said:
You may have screwed yourself not adding in the value of those mods. Buy it back and strip it and part whats left. I will add we have Progressive and my wifes 4runner took a hit that was $3500 to fix. They raised our rates $200 every 6 mo before we even got the thing back. Pricks.
Click to expand...

A friend has Progressive and they got a crack in the windshield. Progressive asked where the car was and the said the grocery store car park. Progressive then wanted the grocery store receipt before they would process the claim! Bizarre. Andy
 
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Gilaguy23 said:
You may have screwed yourself not adding in the value of those mods. Buy it back and strip it and part whats left. I will add we have Progressive and my wifes 4runner took a hit that was $3500 to fix. They raised our rates $200 every 6 mo before we even got the thing back. Pricks.
Click to expand...

That was just bad luck on your part that your policy was up for renewal shortly after the accident happened. Could've happened with any company.
 
I bought my vehicle back from the insurance company after they totaled it. I done this with 3 different companies. They will sell it cheap because they don't have to mess with it. I put 2 of them back on the road and 1 I parted out and doubled my money.
 
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I just went through this last month… No fault of mine T-boned by Allstate insured Customer… I like you had a modified 97 T.J. but mine was an SE (4cyl) on a rebuilt title… I was able to produce receipts that valued the jeep at approximately $14,000… Jeep values right now or so high that the comp value on mine was $11,500 and that's with a four-cylinder rebuilt title!...He told me if it hadn't had a rebuilt title they would've added another $2000… He gave me an accessory allowance of 3500 so in my mind, I came out OK… Wait for his offer, and you may be surprised!
 
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