When the decision to total a car is a close call, its usually because the car is repairable, but the cost of repair just slightly exceeds a certain percentage of the value of the car.

Keep in mind that the cost of the repair is inflated by the retail profit made on the parts used, the labor charges of the body shop, and sometimes storage fees charged by the body shop. If you were in the position of the body shop and could get the parts wholesale, use labor that's not marked up beyond the wages you pay, and ignore storage costs, the repairs become much less expensive. Then, if you remember that the body shop is in a position to buy the car for "salvage" from the insurance company (usually a couple of hundred $), you can see that they could fix your car and sell it at a hansome profit.

If you try to buy the car for salvage, after all this time, the autobody shop is probably going to charge you for $30-$40 a day for storage, on top of the couple of hundred that you'd pay to get the car as a salavge from the insurance company.

Its a racket.

If you're ever in another accident consider having the car towed to your property (assuming you have a garage in which you can keep it). The insurance inspector can inspect it there, just as easily as at an autobody shop. If possible, keep posession of the car untill all the details are ironed out (what parts are needed, when it will be completed, etc). If its totaled, but you think its fixable, you can buy it back as a salvage and have it repaired on your own out of the settlement.

I'm so sorry to hear that you've gone through this. You can still consider filing in small claims court for the costs associated with the totally unreasonable delay.

 

Update......you ready....damage now at $26,000.00 plus on my car the sticker was 27,200.00. Allstate still wanting to repair! Have yet to install severed wire harness to find out what else burned when the accident occured. Currently will not align due to bent strut or something else.

Any one know a lawyer in the Houston area who would like to attack an Insurance company?

LGK

 

Terrible story, I feel rotten for your troubles! Two things I'm going to do:

1 - Make sure I have rental on the insurance (been so long, I'm not even sure)
2 - Never consider AllState for anything. They sound criminal

 

If the sticker on your car is $27,000, your car is SURELY not still worth full sticker price after several months. It's safe to say that your car has depreciated more than $2000. That's just how cars are. You are getting ripped off big time. I would point that out to insurance.

 

I would cease communication with the insurance company and retain a lawyer. Like C Girl says, your car is not worth the damage estimate even if it was/is in perfect condition...let alone after it has been repaired. The diminished value of your car AFTER the repair would be substantial. I know I would not touch a car having had that much repair! Carfax will have all the info for all to see. Seems like they are really sticking it to you. Friggin Insurance companies!