My car got smacked. Insurance BS... guess I was never aware of what goes on behind the scenes.

[TheRobSJ]

whining? we’re buying the crack guys like you are selling. your customer appreciation kinda sucks ass.

Sales dept never threw me a bird dog compensation for the last car I went up front and closed for them. (Was a car just like mine, so of course they came and got me to do it)

After that transgression, I owe the sales end of the store nothing. Buy one, don’t buy one, whatevs.

Hell, I’m happier you all keep what the old cars you already have. You buy a new one, and now you’re coming in for the next few years with everything under warranty. Manufacturers don’t pay us nearly what they should for warranty work.

 

[Sharxfan]

Sales dept never threw me a bird dog compensation for the last car I went up front and closed for them. (Was a car just like mine, so of course they came and got me to do it)

After that transgression, I owe the sales end of the store nothing. Buy one, don’t buy one, whatevs.

Hell, I’m happier you all keep what the old cars you already have. You buy a new one, and now you’re coming in for the next few years with everything under warranty. Manufacturers don’t pay us nearly what they should for warranty work.

So that's probably why my local dealer keeps kicking me to the back of the line. Or why they go out of their way to find that it was wiring and not an actual part so it isn't covered by the warranty. But then again my local dealer sucks balls anyways and when I buy a new car I will drive 45 fucking minutes just so I don't give them money. Also going to have to buy a beater car for when its in the shop also.

 

[PorradaVFR]

Wild. State Farm totaled my former daily driver Accord as the cost of OEM parts was higher than the blue book. I said “screw how it looks, it’s 20 years old - just make sure it’s mechanically sound!”. Nope. They opted to cut us a check and total it instead of simply paying to fix it. Insurance is ... let’s say “counter intuitive”.

 

[mercurial]

Hey Bud, I would suggest that you get two prices from two autobody shops: cash price, and insurance price as the written quote. The insurance price will always be much higher than the cash price, because you are paying them for their time they will spend dicking around with the insurer and trying to collect payment.

Then what you do, is you take the written insurance quotes to the insurer, which and you make them pay you it as cash in lieu of repair services (which is your contractual right.) By doing this, you protect the autobody shop from getting completely boned by the insurer. Then you go back to the autobody shop and pay cash, and get your cash price discount. The discount will be more than enough to pay for any OEM parts you want.

 

[mercurial]

I will also say this approach works well for any insurance claim situation. Never let the insurer pay the service provider directly. Establish the market value of the services needed, get a check from the insurer, then pay the provider yourself.

 

[bikeama]

I have always hated insurance. It is a necessary evil if you own anything. Thought about it today following a new Bentley in Stockton. Most people who have insurance would not have a high enough limit to cover the Bentley if they were at fault in an accident. Someone driving a junker who was working paycheck to paycheck could have their live ruined.

I have only had two insurance claims. Had my 20 year old '77 Blazer totaled on Halloween night. Someone driving by through a whole pumpkin at the back window and bent the tailgate, the pumpkin stopped when it cracked the front window. Insurance paid me just enough to do a buy back and buy used parts and fix it myself. Hell I had a new motor in it. My 2020 BMW was my first motorcycle claim ever. Geico wanted to send me $4,500 based on pictures. I said no I will wait until the BMW shop finishes the estimate. The BMW shop would not do an estimate until the insurance said they would cover $350 to do an estimate, that took a week. I was ready to be screwed by Geico. I looked up comps to see what a used 2020 S1000XR was worth. Damn motorcycle sure drop a lot in 6 years. I told myself if Geico said less that $12K I would show some estimates. I was more than surprised when they said $14,500 plus $500 for my helmet and another $500 for my jacket.

 

[easy wind]

Sometimes additional things are found after they get it apart. Happened to us last year.
Once you accept a check it often releases them from further liability.

 

[TheRobSJ]

So that's probably why my local dealer keeps kicking me to the back of the line. Or why they go out of their way to find that it was wiring and not an actual part so it isn't covered by the warranty. But then again my local dealer sucks balls anyways and when I buy a new car I will drive 45 fucking minutes just so I don't give them money. Also going to have to buy a beater car for when its in the shop also.

Warranties on vehicles is honestly no different than insurance. The only difference being you prepaid for 3-4 years of this insurance baked into the price of the new vehicle. But dealing with them is pretty much the same when it comes time to get something covered. The provider of the warranty (be it the original factory warranty or some aftermarket one) is looking to retain as much money as they can. So they make the process to pay out a claim a massive inconvenience hoping you’ll just give up trying, try to cheap out wherever they can get away with, and are always looking to find blame for the problem with someone or something that they aren’t responsible for.

 

[EZ Rider]

Considering that your vehicle is a classic , remember to file for a Diminished Value claim also ,

as now it will be listed on Car Fax as having been in an accident & it will lower the interest of buyers

& what they will be willing to pay, well under Blue Book now after the accident .

Google Search

 

[Abacinator]

Warranties on vehicles is honestly no different than insurance. The only difference being you prepaid for 3-4 years of this insurance baked into the price of the new vehicle. But dealing with them is pretty much the same when it comes time to get something covered. The provider of the warranty (be it the original factory warranty or some aftermarket one) is looking to retain as much money as they can. So they make the process to pay out a claim a massive inconvenience hoping you’ll just give up trying, try to cheap out wherever they can get away with, and are always looking to find blame for the problem with someone or something that they aren’t responsible for.

This right here. Trying to get covered items paid for is like pulling teeth.

If anyone is looking at warranty policies (though you're better off just setting aside what you'd pay in premiums for potential repairs), always look at the policy's exclusions.

 

[Butch]

Speaking of Carfux, can you, we, legally direct a shop to not release any of our information to any third party?

 

[mercurial]

Thought about it today following a new Bentley in Stockton. Most people who have insurance would not have a high enough limit to cover the Bentley if they were at fault in an accident. Someone driving a junker who was working paycheck to paycheck could have their live ruined.

Yea that is something that has always irked me. There should be a law that caps automotive accident property damage claims at like the 90th percentile new car value for the year that accident occurred. Any car worth more than that, is presumed self-insured for the excess.

Sometimes additional things are found after they get it apart. Happened to us last year.
Once you accept a check it often releases them from further liability.

Definitely a potential pitfall, if you're not careful. Can be massaged if the work is already underway while you wait for the check.

Another key aspect with insurance, is having enough liquidity such that your entire life isn't on pause while you wait for money from the insurer. Easier said than done for many people, unfortunately.

 

[cheez]

When you file against your own insurance, you pay your deductible out of pocket. When they subrogate that to the liable party's insurance, your deductible would be paid back to you by their insurer. If you file directly with their insurer, no deductible. You should be able to require OEM parts and choose whatever shop you like for the work.