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my 87 760 turbo was also just totaled. the insurance companys first offer was 1,600. they said 13 year old car, >200,000 mi. plus wear(badly fading grey paint, small dent right front),
i said 13 year old VOLVO, listed work i'd done in last year, they wouldn't budge on price. i asked them to learn to multiply by 4 and hung up.
i waited a bit before contacting them again. this time i had done more homework. reminding them that they are required ( in usa anyway) to pay replacement value for your car in your local market.(should be somewhat above trade-in value from kbb.com)I quoted going price for simular cars in the paper and online. (aprox 3,800-6,200)they're next offer was about 3,300.
then i brought out recipts for work done in last year(not regular maintenance, but stuff like supension work, radiators, wiring,headgaskets, ect.) you should expect to increase the settlement by about 25-50% of work done.
also if you want your car back the going rate for retaining salvage is 10-15% of totaled value(15-20% on euro cars like volvo's and bmws)
also if anybody was injured they usually want to settle both claims together, DON'T.
settle for your property first, they will usually be nicer because they want you to be freindly when they settle on the injury later.
ok back to mine.
after litlle arguing and homework my final settlement was 4,000 for the car and i bought it back for 600, it still runs good and tho only real problem is the hatch wont open and the tail lights need fixed.
hope this helps and remember the first offer is just that a FIRST offer. they can do much better.
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