Does anyone work in auto insurance or at a body shop?

[zachzchw 5,000+ posts]

Basically, the repair shop my truck is at said it is "borderline totaled". State Farm will not be out to look at it until Thursday or Friday. An online estimator estimated its value at $5500......After seeing the pics, does it look like there is $5500 worth of damage, when it just needs a paint job and three tires? Other than that, one taillight has the little plastic piece broken and one taillight guard is bent.

Basically, I owe more than $5500 on the car, so I have a couple questions for you experts:

1. does it look like there is more than $5 grand in damage?

2. if they declare it totaled, what do I do to keep my car?

3. do aftermarket accessories improve the value?

Some pics follow, basically the car needs to be repainted because of key marks all over it (Im assuming key marks, maybe screwdriver or somthing though.)

I know theres another thread with the same pics, but figured Id put them here in case anyone can help me out with the questions I asked.

Click to read more...

 

[zachzchw 5,000+ posts]

Also, the shop said the truck would have to be pretty much completely taken apart to be repainted....Any truth to that? I dont know much about the process of painting cars, just never heard of them being taken apart because of scratches. I could see it with huge dents, but is it common with just scratches?

 

[zachzchw 5,000+ posts]

Another thing- how much is a salvage title?

 

[Chevillac 5,000+ posts]

Its true they have to take it apart to change the color. Not always for painting it the same color, IIRC. It doesnt look like more than 5500 in damage to me, unless those are more than just scratches. Just my opinion.

 

[ilaydit 10+ year member]

2 door/4 door?, is it just the scratches or dents also (not counting little bitty dings,I mean dents). Tell me that and Ill give you a little estimate ont the body work. And if your not painting it a different color then it doesnt have to be fully taken apart.

 

[photocrazy8 10+ year member]

down to bare metal, close to other pannels which means they have to blend into the other, one, three tires...labor, yea your about there...my dad owns a body shop so i see how much a littel damage costs. aftermarket things like expencive rims do, but stuff like systems that can be easily taken out are not considered things that raise the value...

 

[photocrazy8 10+ year member]

did some one key your car?

 

[Ignatowski 5,000+ posts]

its a crock of BS....

Autobody shops have been handing it to consumers and insurance companys for years - If I were you I would leave the insurance company out of it and get it fixed yourself,if u file a claim your insurance will prolly skyrocket and they might drop u from the policy

 

[lilmaniac2 5,000+ posts]

welll heres my .02 i believe in order for it to be totalled it has to be 3/4 the worth of the vehicle. Also you buy the salvaged car back from the insurance company at a discounted price and take the difference in the check u get from insurance and the price of the car salvaged and u have the money to fix it which should be enuf to fix it

 

[vosschs 5,000+ posts]

what panels are all f'd up?

i see the hood has scratches, and a quarter panel, and what is taht one door?

then three new tires?

 

[zachzchw 5,000+ posts]

No major dents, just the scratches. Shop didnt even ask me about a color change, just told me it would have to be taken apart to be repainted.

Its a four door, someone broke into my garage, keyed the shit out of my truck, stole my new deck, ipod, other stuff.

It needs a new paint job, I dont think they can just be filled. The body shop wouldnt even do an estimate, they are sure it is totaled- so State Farm has to come look at it,and they say their estimators have meetings tomorrow, so it will be there till Thursday or Friday before I even find out what they are going to do.

The main problem is I will be screwed if they total it- Ill still owe the bank and have no truck.

Is there any way afound this? Like if I agree to take less money or something? Id rather have less money, and still have my truck if it comes down to it......cant be without my vehicle.

As for aftermarket stuff, I have the taillights, the guards, all windows are 20%, woodgrain dash kit, chrome door handles, billet knobs inside, billet antenna, lots of deadening, cold air intake, front end bra, running boards, gas door, undercoating......

Heres a link with more pics http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=157128

 

[vosschs 5,000+ posts]

blah its hard to do an estimate on pictures. cant really see how deep the scratches are

 

[SATX210]

take it to a few shops and get quotes

 

[zachzchw 5,000+ posts]

blah its hard to do an estimate on pictures. cant really see how deep the scratches are

Down to metal. All of them.

Sax, cant take it to shops to get quotes- its on flat tires at the shop it was towed to. State Farm asked where I wanted it taken to, I just picked one.

Same place I took it to when it was wrecked on the highway, they were quick before with the estimate, so I just had it taken there again.......

So, how to avoid them basically leaving me with no car, but a payment?

Can I just take less money for them to not total it or anything?

 

[azbass 5,000+ posts]

woah they called that totaled?