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Estimated value of Prius C hatchback after collision

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by Mark Braxton, Nov 9, 2014.

  1. Mark Braxton

    Mark Braxton New Member

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    Does anyone know how or where to estimate the diminished value of a Prius C after an accident? Almost one month ago I was rear-ended by a moving van; completely obliterated the back bumper, taillights, windshield, and part of the trunk. Because the rear frame was not bent, the Toyota body shop estimated they could repair the car for about $10,600, but they refused to estimate the NEW value of a 2013 Prius C hatchback that's been in an accident (I had under 9,000 miles at the time of the collision) and my insurance company said they wouldn't do this either, telling me "The diminished value claim is presented to the at fault carrier's insurance company." Unfortunately, my insurance company is "having difficulty" trying to get the insurance information from the moving company, which has a commercial auto broker as an insurer and hasn't responded to calls or letters! So my insurer says they will have to get back to me on whether a diminished value claim can be made under this policy. I have heard that autoappraisal can do an appraisal online-I know Toyota has to report this accident and that the car was repaired at a collision repair facility, so CarFax will probably get a report. I don't even know if the repairs will make the car whole again, but I want to know how much less the car is valued now so I can file a claim. View attachment 71935
     
  2. KYBlue

    KYBlue Active Member

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    I paid 18k for my '13 C2 brand new, I can't believe that aren't totaling it at almost 11k in damage. Thats insane.... Good luck man - maybe they'll find more damage when they get it on the rack and it'll get totaled?

    C
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i think it will cost you a good 2 or 3 grand when you go to sell it.
     
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  4. Mark Braxton

    Mark Braxton New Member

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    Yes, I paid a little over $20,000 for the 2013 Prius C, but unfortunately they won't count the car as 'totaled' if the damage does not equal over 60-65 percent of the value. My insurance c. (USAA) has already paid the Toyota body shop for the repairs, even though they have not gotten a response from the at-fault driver's insurance co. (which is a commercial broker called USA Auto Brokers). The car is supposed to ready tomorrow --- we'll see how it looks and drives--but if I'm unhappy with it maybe I could negotiate with USAA to trade it in? They own the lien since they are financing the car!
     
  5. minkus

    minkus Active Member

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    Wow - $18k for a '13 c2? Is that including tax/fees/a trade-in? Was it after the '14s were released?
     
  6. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    I don't buy previously wrecked cars....so MY estimation for the value of your car would be pretty close to $0.00.
    Oh...and CARFAX was looped in on the wreck when your VIN was attached to the accident report.

    How long do you keep cars?
    If this one stays together for 300,000 miles and they didn't botch the paint too badly (you won't care in a few years....) then you're technically not going to be out by much.
    If you trade every 2-3 years, then you're already going to take it in the shorts when you trade it in, so technically you won't be out that much more.
    Me?
    I use cars for 10+ years, so I'd probably drive away from the repair shop and get on with my life.

    We're probably dealing with 2-3thousand in real world street value right now gradually diminishing to nothing much in a decade.
    Not enough to excite a lawyer over, but enough to sting a little - especially when the whole thing wasn't your fault.
    USAA's job should be to make you whole, and then go after the people that did this to you, but that's NOT their job.
    Their job is to maximize profits for their investors, which means fixing your car and letting you go after the fly-by-night insurance company.
    No bag on them....I use USAA myself.
    Their rates are low because you have to work at getting money out of them.

    You might get some sleazy lawyer to go after the other driver for half of the recovery.....and sometimes half is better than none.
    Negotiate or litigate......

    Good Luck.
     
  7. KYBlue

    KYBlue Active Member

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    18k in July of '13. Midwest toyota was selling them for that all day long with 0% for 5years - I flew from KY to get it :-o I believe with KY taxes it was just over 19. My local dealer swore they'd match the price but only if I had it in writing - since I was flying to get car the dealer in kansas had overnight ed the actual toyota financial paperwork + sales forms to me, I took them to the dealer, his jaw dropped and said "I'd lose money on this deal sorry" after he told me that he as an employee couldn't by the car for MSRP because MSRP was really a loss for them <roll eyes>.....

    I've learned since (almost bought a PiP this fall) that Toyota does waaay different offers regionally. While the PiP was once price in some places and no decent financing, in others it was 4k customer cash + 0% - it was crazy... I'm assuming this was the same thing for the C, probably not selling so hot in the middle of Kansas at the time so I got a decent deal. A one way plane ticket and hotel for the way back from Kansas was still way cheaper than any local dealer.

    Chris
     
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  8. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    ^ Many people trade when they buy.
    That shackles you to a local dealer, and people aren't as willing to travel 3-4 states to get a car.
    There's nothing wrong with that if you're able to press a good deal locally - or just be willing to walk away from several thousand dollars.
     
  9. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    Second (and third) opinions are always a good idea, but I can't imagine how any of us can do a better job than someone who has actually seen the car.
     
  10. formula

    formula Member

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    good luck man. I hope they can make it like new. the outside will looks new, but not sure about the inside.

    it looks like most damage is rear bumper ,rear lamp and the trunk door. those are easy to fix, just put a new parts.
    looks like the suspension may not get damaged.

    when you pick up the car, check spare tire area.
     
  11. KYBlue

    KYBlue Active Member

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    There was a company, back when my week old infiniti was rear ended, that came up with a diminished value for me now that I think of it. They came and inspected the quality of repairs, they used some magnet based meter to check paint thickness etc.

    In my case we actually found insurance fraud, many parts the shop claimed were replaced were not, and they claimed they had to repaint the entire top of the car to blend it, well looking at it I couldn't find a single flaw in the paint, and sure enough the meter showed the exact paint depth on the front fenders as everywhere else. They had just replaced the rear bumper, pulled the metal out the best they could and called it a day.... It had cracked the paint down the seam below the taillight - another indicator I would have missed that showed there was no repaint.

    I fought and fought with the insurance company and honestly it was so long ago (14 years) I don't remember how it played out.

    Best of luck!
    C
     
  12. formula

    formula Member

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    that is how they make more money. I will just take the check and find a good body shop to do the repair.
     
  13. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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  14. Quinlan00

    Quinlan00 Junior Member

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    I traded in my 2010 3rd gen hatch that had been in 2 rear end collisions. There was no frame damage, but I only ended up losing about $800 in value from what KBB and Edmunds were giving. So, it might not be as bad as you think.
     
  15. Mark Braxton

    Mark Braxton New Member

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    I have been disappointed with USAA, even though they paid the Toyota body shop for the repairs (ended up being almost $11 grand) but they did not do a good job investigating the at-fault driver's insurance company -- took them a month to find out who to talk to at the commercial insurance co., and that was after we did some calls for them. I just got the car back from the body shop last week and it looks like new and drives the same (although took it back today because they didn't put the back seat cushions in right). You are right -- I have to be the one to follow up with the other insurance company to submit my diminished value claim.
     
  16. formula

    formula Member

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    glad to hear your PC got the right repair. I will just keep the PC a long as possible since the resell value is down.
     
  17. Mark Braxton

    Mark Braxton New Member

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    The Body Shop did a good job in repairing --in fact, the car now looks like new with a fresh bumper, tail lights, etc. and the paint is an exact match. I did have to take the car back for them to reinstall the rear seat cushion, which they didn't put on right, but the car drives the same to me (there was no suspension/axel or frame damage, and they said it aligned in spec). The at-fault insurance company refuses to consider a diminished value claim unless I sell or trade in the car, but I got a preliminary estimate online from Collision Claim Associates saying I can file a claim for $3-4,000 in diminished value. I have to pay them $400 to do an official estimate and write up an appraisal report to send to them. I think it's a good idea for me to hire them anyway to inspect the quality of the repairs.
     
  18. Boberic

    Boberic Junior Member

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    Any business like that should be thoroughly checked out before giving them money. I'd expect most attorneys would take it on contingency.
    Check this firm out via the Better Business Bureau and do a google search for reviews of their work. You can also check court records online to see if they've been sued a lot too. Once they have your money there's really no incentive for them to do anything significant for you that involves an actual lawyer as that would quickly eat up that $400 charge.
     
  19. Mark Braxton

    Mark Braxton New Member

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    They did get a good BBB rating and online reviews look good (I looked at others that did not have good reviews)--a lawyer would cost me a lot more.
     
  20. KYBlue

    KYBlue Active Member

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    You could try something like getting a carmax estimate on your car before disclosing the damage then after to prove the lost value?