Accident FE Bronco - borderline total from insurance?

[CCFarmer]

Rear-ended. door smashed turns out damage to RDU and will need to be replaced. My car was perfect, not even a scratch - over 100k miles. Now I'm trying to understand valuations, and why the insurance company would total before repair - looking for some feedback on value of FE - but for the rear, everything else is perfect. Any feedback ? repair and keep, or total ? I guess I probably will have some nice parts available LOL - or keep and enjoy still.

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[jkernitzki]

Insurance companies generally total a vehicle when the Actual Cash Value (ACV) minus Salvage Value (SV) exceeds the Repair Limit (RL).

Let's say your BS's ACV is $18,000 and the SV is $8,000. RL is $10,000. If the repair estimate exceeds that, your car is totaled.

Alternatively, it also could be a percentage of ACV depending on the state.

 

[Smith]

Be aware that if you keep the Bronco and take the salvage value the title will be marked "Salvage". Depending on your state regulations you may need to trailer it to the DMV (after repairs) to have it inspected to make sure that it is road worthy. The resale value of it is reduced dramatically when it's a salvage title. Depending on the offer from the insurance company you may be better off accepting the total loss and purchase another vehicle.

(I'm an insurance agent in CT)

 

[CCFarmer]

Thank you both! I am so sad, I kept such good care and it has been a great car - I got a good one .

 

[CCFarmer]

And, I still have not heard if they will repair or total. only that I'm borderline from the shop. my fear is they will use 'base' parts, but who knows.....

 

[Uncle Buck]

First, I am sorry that this happened to you. Since you were rear-ended the other driver is at fault and their insurance should be responsible for repairing your Bronco. Also, as you may already know, you can absolutely dispute their findings should they decide total your vehicle. You do not have to accept the insurance company's initial determination. It is a negotiation, and sometimes you are dealing with an adjuster that isn't really a "car person" so they are dealing from a perspective of ignorance. When my Super Duty was hit by an uninsured driver I ended up having to research my own comparable vehicles and pay $250 for an independent professional appraisal to establish the true value of the truck. It ended up being a 20+-page PDF, but it nearly DOUBLED the valuation. While in my case (frame bent in two directions) it was ultimately a total loss, I was able to advocate for myself and get a truly fair payoff. I also bought the truck back from State Farm for $2,900 and parted it put at a profit of over $2K.

All this to say - do some research, be your own advocate and don't settle for them totaling it without a fight if it's even close to being fixable.

 

[CCFarmer]

do insurance companies pad the quote for work to get it totaled status? I have a bunch of front end work on this quote. I was rear ended at about 3mp. is this normal? I have taken pictures, no damage, no dents only back lift gate was damaged (camera even worked and sensors, although skewed). I hate to be such a skeptic, but I guess someone will make some good money on some pristine parts, or just buy it at salvage and rebuild the title with a new lift gate (though they may not know about the storage issues in the torrential storms after being perfectly kept. SIGH I guess I'll wait to hear from someone on status, comps and go from there. I'll be following some of your steps - so thank you!

 

[Quashish]

post pictures im curious how bad it really is. i wouldn't think a 3mph hit would result in enough damage to be a total loss

 

[jkernitzki]

The problem is all the sensors and other fragile bits & bobs that will drive up the repair estimate faster than you can say "HOW MUCH?!". The liftgate alone is likely in the $3K-$5K range. It may just be the angle, but the hitch assembly looks a bit out of whack, meaning the unibody could've been tweaked.

Sure looks like more than 3mph collision. Depending on what the other vehicle was, I'd guess more in the 10-15mph range. Either that, or Ford's just building these things out of recycled Coke cans.

 

[CCFarmer]

Sensors work and camera wires at least when I still had vehicle just twisted because of the dents. I’m just going through sadness right now, death of a very good and well kept well traveled friend

 

[CCFarmer]

Stated repairs are over $17k

 

[fjbear!]

Rear-ended. door smashed turns out damage to RDU and will need to be replaced. My car was perfect, not even a scratch - over 100k miles. Now I'm trying to understand valuations, and why the insurance company would total before repair - looking for some feedback on value of FE - but for the rear, everything else is perfect. Any feedback ? repair and keep, or total ? I guess I probably will have some nice parts available LOL - or keep and enjoy still.

They did same for my soul 52,000 miles super clean every ticket for oil services and such. They said for front bumper and radiator and condsor 10,600 was to much for repair. And totaled it. But they paid me 14,600 to me and I bought it back fixed it for 2,000.00.

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