 LazManPremium
join:2003-03-26
canada | [Help] Insurance, Write Offs, and keeping/fixing the car anyways Alright - little back story here; my Father hit a deer earlier this week on his way to work... No one was hurt, but he didn't call me in time to come get the deer, either... 
Now, onto the part I need some guidance with:
There's moderate damage to his car, an '02 VW Jetta TDI. Right headlight, grill, hood, right front fender, mirror, door skin... Certainly repairable, but the deer went right down the side of the car, and f'd up everything it touched to some extent or another.
He called his insurance, took it to their body shop, got an estimate of around $4.5k...
Book on the car ( '02 Jetta TDI, standard, high miles - it's a commuter car) is between 3 and 5, depending who you ask; so it's almost certainly going to be a write-off... Expect to get the official word from the insurance company today or Monday.
He wants to keep and fix the car anyways; he's only got a couple years until retirement - but currently he pounds on the miles... He'd rather not do that to a new(er) car, or take on a car payment, if he can avoid it.
I've never been in this position, so I'm looking to you all for some help - it's always been clear cut for me in the past - either the car's beyond repair, and is written off; or is repaired by insurance... I've never been in this 'in between' position before.
What's the insurance company likely to say, when he tells them he wants it fixed, rather then written off? Are we going to have to get into the whole salvage title thing, or are they going to offer a settlement for the car, or ???
Oh, and it's in Ontario, Canada; because I know it matters...  |
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BobAccount deleted
join:2012-07-22
New Jersey Reviews:
 ·Optimum Online
| Re: [Help] Insurance, Write Offs, and keeping/fixing the car any I would suggest taking the insurance money and buying another 10 year-old car. Makes more sense than putting additional money out of pocket to fix the old car.
For that matter, take the insurance company money, add the extra money he would have spent to fix the old car, and buy a better used car. |
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 cdruGo ColtsPremium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
kudos:7 | reply to LazMan
said by LazMan:There's moderate damage to his car, an '02 VW Jetta TDI. Right headlight, grill, hood, right front fender, mirror, door skin... Certainly repairable, but the deer went right down the side of the car, and f'd up everything it touched to some extent or another.
Did it mess with the frame or unibody (whichever it has) or is it all superficial body panel damage? Same question for steering and suspension. A cursory look at things may not be enough to reveal the real damage that can't be repaired or makes it economically a bad thing to do. |
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LazManPremium
join:2003-03-26
canada | reply to LazMan
Fair question - totally cosmetic. Drives fine, no pulls or anything to indicate 'deeper' problems; and the sheet metal damage isn't that deep, just a lot of panels involved... |
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 EGeezerGo CatsPremium
join:2002-08-04
Midwest
kudos:8 | reply to LazMan
I have an old Aerostar that has the driver's side bashed in on it. The cost to repair was more than the van was worth so I just took the money. I use it for hauling trash, local errands and as an emergency vehicle or "loaner" when my 'good' car is in for maintenance. So, I know the situation.
My guess is that the insurance company will write it off and give you a check for the amount it feels the car is worth, possibly subtracting salvage value if your dad wants to keep the car.
If you're sure the care is in otherwise good mechanical shape, no expensive scheduled maintenance (timing belts, CV joints etc), there's no structural damage and he doesn't mind driving around in what looks like a beater, see if you can get a body shop to fix the most obvious damage for the money. Maybe a body shop can pull out the dents, sand and repaint cracks and scrapes(or you do the paint) and not bother with details. It won't look pretty, but might be acceptable to you.
Otherwise, my vote is to find another used vehicle. Whoever buys the VW could use it for a fishin', huntin' and beer run car. It would still look awesome with a ten point buck strapped to the roof - poetic justice! 
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Buckle Up. It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car.
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LazManPremium
join:2003-03-26
canada | Part of the reason he want to keep it is that he just put a good amount of money in... New timing belt, clutch, brakes and tires, all within the last 12 months or so. Always the way, isn't it!
And you're onto something with the buck-on-hood deal... Falls into the 'Karma's a bitch" category... |
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 mattmagPremium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-04-09
NW Illinois
kudos:3 | reply to LazMan
Unfortunately he won't recoup any recent investment value in the form of repairs, so as noted, if it is structurally sound it wouldn't be that bad of a deal to keep it.
I would suggest getting the front end alignment checked at minimum, as that is easily thrown out of whack in car/deer confrontations. Another thing is to make sure the insurance company will continue to cover it for liability. I am thinking they will, but better find out on that first rather than after the fact that you have an un-insurable car.
As for fixing it, if it is just to be used for the commute then save the money for something else. It will add no value to the car. |
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 SteveI know your IP addressConsultant
join:2001-03-10
Yorba Linda, CA
kudos:5 | reply to LazMan
said by LazMan: No one was hurt Does the deer share your characterization of the incident?  |
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BobAccount deleted
join:2012-07-22
New Jersey Reviews:
·Optimum Online
| reply to mattmag
said by mattmag:Unfortunately he won't recoup any recent investment value in the form of repairs, My wife's car had brand new tires (<2000 miles) on it when she totalled it. The insurance company gave me an extra $100 or $125 to help compensate. |
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 TA63ST215WPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-23
there
kudos:2 | reply to LazMan
Fix it with parts from the wreckers.
Parts should be relatively plentiful for that.
What is the mileage?
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The talented hawk speaks French. |
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LazManPremium
join:2003-03-26
canada | About 300,000 km - so like 190,000 miles...
Panel swapping from the wreckers won't be an issue; a buddy of mine has a body shop, so blowing a coat of paint afte isn't an issue... It's more dealing with the insurance that's uncharted waters for me. |
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Reviews:
·Suddenlink
| reply to LazMan
I've kept a few vehicles that the insurance company said were a total loss. They deduct salvage value and cut you a check for the remainder. You keep the vehicle. If you can produce receipts for the extra work that was done within the last year that typically will increase the value of the vehicle. Without receipts to show what you paid for the work it's less likely that they'll increase the payout. |
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| reply to LazMan
The insurance carrier will give you a buy back value if you want to keep it and they will just reduce the payoff by that amount from the amount they would have paid you. Based on that you can decide if the cost of your repairing it makes sense.
Two years ago when my 1988 5 Litre Mustang was hit from behind while parked and totaled I could have bought it back for $200.00 and still collected $4,500 from Insurance. I was thinking about parting it out since the engine and transmission were not damaged and I had changed out the original 1988 wheels with 1992 version. In the end I decided I didn't have time to be bothered finding buyers and arranging removal so I just took the extra $200. |
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Beezel
join:2008-12-15
Las Vegas, NV | said by bmilone2:The insurance carrier will give you a buy back value if you want to keep it and they will just reduce the payoff by that amount from the amount they would have paid you. Based on that you can decide if the cost of your repairing it makes sense.
Agree, most insurance companies will let you buy the car back as stated above. But you usually end up with a salvage or rebuilt title afterwards. |
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 psafuxPremium,VIP
join:2005-11-10
kudos:2 | reply to LazMan
Insurance company will offer a price to total it and take the vehicle. They will likely have a buy-back price too which will be less. He could keep the car and get some cash from the insurance company as a result. It will have a salvage title and insuring it again may be difficult. If he had full coverage the insurance company may decline to offer full coverage on a salvage. Each company is different.
edit:
As a sidenote, I had paid $1200 to put brand new higher-end tires on our 2006 Kia literally days before it was totaled. I feel your pain on that. I asked if I could pull the tires to at least try to recoup something from them. "Nope". They had less than 100 miles on them. |
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TA63ST215WPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-23
there
kudos:2 Reviews:
 ·TekSavvy DSL
·Cogeco Cable
| said by psafux:II had paid $1200 to put brand new higher-end tires on our 2006 Kia literally days before it was totaled.
Ouch.
I didn't know it was possible to spend 1200 on tires for a Kia.
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The talented hawk speaks French. |
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Reviews:
·Suddenlink
| reply to Beezel
said by Beezel:Agree, most insurance companies will let you buy the car back as stated above. But you usually end up with a salvage or rebuilt title afterwards.
The title never changes hands, so there is no opportunity for it to get modified. I've owned 3 vehicles that were "totalled" by insurance, but since I already had possession of the title then nothing on the title changed. |
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tcopePremium
join:2003-05-07
Sandy, UT
kudos:2 | said by HarryH3:The title never changes hands, so there is no opportunity for it to get modified. I've owned 3 vehicles that were "totalled" by insurance, but since I already had possession of the title then nothing on the title changed. I've worked for carriers where we were required to obtain the title and mail it to the DMV to be changed (not often... and a real pain) but more times I've been required to obtain an salvage document from the owner that is sent into the DMV to have the title changed.
States _require_ insurance companies to do this if the damages are 100% or more (sometimes if it's 80% or more) but I've also worked for many carriers that did not do this.
While the title does not need to change hands, the paperwork could be filled out by the carrier and turned into the DMV without it. |
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Beezel
join:2008-12-15
Las Vegas, NV | reply to LazMan
That's why I said usually. |
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 TLS2000Crazy CanuckPremium
join:2004-02-24
Mississauga, ON
·TekSavvy Cable
·Rogers Hi-Speed
| reply to LazMan
I was dating someone who went through this with an old car in Toronto.
If he does the buy back and repairs the vehicle, it will have to go through a safety before the government will allow it to be insured / plated again. If he's got other mechanical problems with it that weren't from the accident, they could make it so that it wouldn't pass the safety. In the end he might be better off taking the money.
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Tom |
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