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Accident...repair or not

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by daisy555, Mar 19, 2021.

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  1. daisy555

    daisy555 Senior Member

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    Hi!
    2009, 174,000 miles with new tires. : } I'm dealing with a trustworthy auto body shop and he's saying the insurance estimate for repairs is based on low value parts from Valueline not the typical certified after market parts he would usually buy. The goal was to at least negotiate for OEM bumpers but at this point that would supposedly put the car into totaled category.

    If newer used Prius's were easier to find (insurance company only gives 1-2 wks, right?), if I had a partner or neighbor to drive me around to look for a newer car and if COVID wasn't causing elevated used car prices then this might be the ideal time to hope for an insurance check. It took me 3 months to find this 2009 back in 2015. If car gets repaired, then I would have some time to shop for a newer Prius and maybe sell this one privately. There is always the age of the hybrid battery to consider. : /

    The auto body shop said they would call insurance rep and discuss upgrading to certified after market bumpers but there is very little wiggle room for additional costs.

    I always thought the insurance company either offered to repair or it was definitely totaled. Obviously the insurance company (not mine) is trying to cut their losses. Any thoughts? Anything else I should be considering? Thanks!
     
    #1 daisy555, Mar 19, 2021
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i would ask for the minimum amount from the bodyshop to make it road worthy, and pocket the balance of the insurance payment for future repairs or another vehicle.
     
    #2 bisco, Mar 19, 2021
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  3. daisy555

    daisy555 Senior Member

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    That's what I initially had in mind but insurance company only pays supplement repair amount if repairs are done. I couldn't walk away with only $1400 knowing there was over $3000 plus worth of damage.
     
    #3 daisy555, Mar 19, 2021
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if they total it, can you buy it?
     
    #4 bisco, Mar 19, 2021
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  5. daisy555

    daisy555 Senior Member

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    I was wondering about that. I don't really understand how that would work. Technically they haven't totaled it. I guess they are trying to repair it with cheap parts so they don't have to total. Interesting part is that if I had been hit in the state where I live, car would definitely be totaled. I was hit across the boarder and that state has different laws for totaling a car.
     
    #5 daisy555, Mar 19, 2021
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that is interesting. i had no idea it depended on what state you are in
     
    #6 bisco, Mar 19, 2021
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  7. daisy555

    daisy555 Senior Member

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    My state uses 60% of value and other state uses 75%
     
    #7 daisy555, Mar 19, 2021
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i don't either. but i assume you take the car instead of the check, if you know the repairs are worth it.
     
    #8 bisco, Mar 19, 2021
  9. alftoy

    alftoy Senior Member

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    Curious if you have pics of the damage and the estimate. The bumper cover difference between certified and not is not even $50, what other parts need to be replaced?
     
    #9 alftoy, Mar 19, 2021
  10. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    What happened with my Gen 1 was I took the car and the check. They just reduced the check (which of course was based on the pre-collision value) by the considerably smaller amount the car was worth to them as salvage.

    Such a transaction may put a 'salvage' brand on the title. The title may not be eligible to register again until that is changed to 'rebuilt', which you can do in this state by passing an inspection and proving legal sources for the parts you've used in repair. Those details surely vary between states.
     
    #10 ChapmanF, Mar 19, 2021
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  11. daisy555

    daisy555 Senior Member

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    Yes, the repair shop mentioned the $50 difference. I guess OEM is $100 more. I do have the estimate. How would I show you? Upload file? I was initially nervous regarding talking about it here. Insurance rep is probably not lurking but you never know.
     
    #11 daisy555, Mar 19, 2021
  12. alftoy

    alftoy Senior Member

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    Upload if you can, then just delete it in an hour.
     
    #12 alftoy, Mar 19, 2021
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  13. daisy555

    daisy555 Senior Member

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    How do you delete a post? I tried deleting one earlier and couldn't figure it out. Thanks
     
    #13 daisy555, Mar 19, 2021
  14. alftoy

    alftoy Senior Member

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    Select edit to edit post and delete attachment.
     
    #14 alftoy, Mar 19, 2021
  15. rogerthat

    rogerthat Active Member

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    I rolled the dice after my accident (described here) and ended up buying back my 2009 salvaged car. It's been a few years since and the car has been completely trouble free (touch wood). If the salvage process is relatively easy in your state and your insurance totals the car, it might still be worthwhile for you to make them an offer.
     
    #15 rogerthat, Mar 19, 2021
  16. daisy555

    daisy555 Senior Member

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    One more try in a few minutes. Info was cut off!
     
    #16 daisy555, Mar 19, 2021
  17. daisy555

    daisy555 Senior Member

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    Hope you can read it.
     
    #17 daisy555, Mar 19, 2021
  18. rogerthat

    rogerthat Active Member

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    Hey Daisy, did the accident trigger any error codes? Covid disinfecting charges, c'mon!
     
    #18 rogerthat, Mar 19, 2021
  19. alftoy

    alftoy Senior Member

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    Minor fender bender front and back. Both bumper reinforcements are salvage, and looks like most parts specified are certified, so not sure what the body shop is getting at unless he is trying to cheap out on the parts and charge for certified. There are no Valueline parts specified so he is not being trustworthy. You can delete the pics.
     
    #19 alftoy, Mar 19, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2021
  20. daisy555

    daisy555 Senior Member

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    No error codes and I've been driving it for a year. I'm also looking at this estimate form today and it's looking like they just changed the estimate amount and didn't categorize it as supplemental damage. Maybe because the initial estimate was based on photos.
     
    #20 daisy555, Mar 19, 2021
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