Rear-ended - Repairable?

[Squiden]

Still waiting for the adjuster to look at the car, so no real answers yet.

In terms of what insurance pays out, I assume that it's more complex than just the cost of the repair (and residual reliability) because they get back salvage cost of the vehicle, correct? So the real measurement of when insurance would total the car versus repair is only when the cost of the repair is greater than the replacement cost minus the salvage cost? Or is that oversimplifying the way they assess these things?

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[kort]

Still waiting for the adjuster to look at the car, so no real answers yet.

In terms of what insurance pays out, I assume that it's more complex than just the cost of the repair (and residual reliability) because they get back salvage cost of the vehicle, correct? So the real measurement of when insurance would total the car versus repair is only when the cost of the repair is greater than the replacement cost minus the salvage cost? Or is that oversimplifying the way they assess these things?

that can be part of the equation.
when my car was hit, the initial estimate for repairs was about $7k and the insurance company gave the go ahead for the repairs. once they had the car apart they found that there was far more damage to the car which caused the cost to repair to almost quadruple to $26k+. I think that if that was the original estimate that they would have totalled my car. because after paying out my DV claim and five months of rentals they were getting close to the value of the car.
the bottom line is that every case will have it's own results.

 

[Squiden]

So finally have the results back - after 3 different collision centers and a barrel of fun with the insurance company, the total in damage came to $48k, and the insurance company will NOT be totaling the car. No major structural damage - the piece rubbing against the tire is a separate mounting bracket for the rear suspension. Cosmetic damages racked up to $36k of the $48k, and I'm pretty sure the sum total of damage is ~4x what the kids Jeep Cherokee was worth that hit me.

All-in-all, sounds like I should have the car back by March, so definitely earlier than if I had to order again.

Fingers crossed that they don't run into any issues during the repairs.

 

[Deleted member 7514]

So finally have the results back - after 3 different collision centers and a barrel of fun with the insurance company, the total in damage came to $48k, and the insurance company will NOT be totaling the car. No major structural damage - the piece rubbing against the tire is a separate mounting bracket for the rear suspension. Cosmetic damages racked up to $36k of the $48k, and I'm pretty sure the sum total of damage is ~4x what the kids Jeep Cherokee was worth that hit me.

All-in-all, sounds like I should have the car back by March, so definitely earlier than if I had to order again.

Fingers crossed that they don't run into any issues during the repairs.

Wow March that’s some wait. Hope it goes well for you.

 

[whitex]

So finally have the results back - after 3 different collision centers and a barrel of fun with the insurance company, the total in damage came to $48k, and the insurance company will NOT be totaling the car. No major structural damage - the piece rubbing against the tire is a separate mounting bracket for the rear suspension. Cosmetic damages racked up to $36k of the $48k, and I'm pretty sure the sum total of damage is ~4x what the kids Jeep Cherokee was worth that hit me.

All-in-all, sounds like I should have the car back by March, so definitely earlier than if I had to order again.

Fingers crossed that they don't run into any issues during the repairs.

March, eh, what rental did the kid's insurance set you up with?

 

[RAHRCR]

Update

 

[TXSchnee]

Still waiting for the adjuster to look at the car, so no real answers yet.

In terms of what insurance pays out, I assume that it's more complex than just the cost of the repair (and residual reliability) because they get back salvage cost of the vehicle, correct? So the real measurement of when insurance would total the car versus repair is only when the cost of the repair is greater than the replacement cost minus the salvage cost? Or is that oversimplifying the way they assess these things?

I was a former auto claims adjuster, in terms of determining a total loss for insurance companies, generally if repair comes to 75% of vehicle value, it is totaled. Frame damage can sometimes be repaired, so isn't an automatic vehicle total, every make has repair tolerances for in spec frame repair, usually a millimeter or two difference from factory. Salvage value is never taken in to consideration on whether or not to total a vehicle, it is a separate process.

 

[Squiden]

March, eh, what rental did the kid's insurance set you up with?

I hated the rental (some FWD Hyundai), so ended up getting my son a car early (he just turned 15) and plan to drive that through the winter. Definitely not as nice as the Taycan, but reliable and will be better in the snow through the winter. Figured the only reason to keep driving the rental was just if I wanted to stick it to the kids insurance company, which didn't seem worth it.

 

[Squiden]

I was a former auto claims adjuster, in terms of determining a total loss for insurance companies, generally if repair comes to 75% of vehicle value, it is totaled. Frame damage can sometimes be repaired, so isn't an automatic vehicle total, every make has repair tolerances for in spec frame repair, usually a millimeter or two difference from factory. Salvage value is never taken in to consideration on whether or not to total a vehicle, it is a separate process.

Interesting - thanks for the info!

 

[PDACPA]

Was "diminished value" calculated in the estimate? The car will end up having a lower value due to the accident.

 

[Squiden]

Was "diminished value" calculated in the estimate? The car will end up having a lower value due to the accident.

Still fighting with the insurance company on that part (as expected), so the $48k does not include any payout to me for diminished value.

 

[Archimedes]

That quote is in the range I expected ($35-50k), though it almost always turns out to be more than the estimate.

 

[kort]

That quote is in the range I expected ($35-50k), though it almost always turns out to be more than the estimate.

this is true, more than likely the guess of the cost of repairs is just superficial, based on what is visible damages.
once they get under the skin they might find more damages that need repair.

 

[Chas1]

If this little damage totaled a Taycan, we’ll all soon be paying $10k a year for insurance. Unless there is significant hidden damage, this is nothing more than an expensive repair.

I believe generally in the UK claims experience on EVs is already pushing up insurance costs and it’s only early days. I presume US has a much larger data pool and whether forum members are seeing increased insurance costs? Also does Tesla construction process of using huge cast frames mean that cars are cheaper to build but much more expensive or even impossible to repair economically?

 

[BJCanadaMax]

So finally have the results back - after 3 different collision centers and a barrel of fun with the insurance company, the total in damage came to $48k, and the insurance company will NOT be totaling the car. No major structural damage - the piece rubbing against the tire is a separate mounting bracket for the rear suspension. Cosmetic damages racked up to $36k of the $48k, and I'm pretty sure the sum total of damage is ~4x what the kids Jeep Cherokee was worth that hit me.

All-in-all, sounds like I should have the car back by March, so definitely earlier than if I had to order again.

Fingers crossed that they don't run into any issues during the repairs.

Why did u have to go through 3 centers. Mine had the pleasure to take one in the ass too. I hope that the first one is enough. They are part of my insurance network and Porsche certified.

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