My car caught on fire tonight....
11-04-08, 10:23 AM
#63
Jeff, don't get too worried about the situation. You have insurance coverage for a reason, you buy insurance for a reason. File the claim, they worse they can do is a say no. And if you feel like the money from the insurance company isn't worth it, DO NOT cash the check and call the insurance company that you no longer want an open claim. The insurance company doesn't care about anymore but payouts. Once you cancel the claim, nothing goes on record.
A simple fire accident will not increase your insurance premium, especially when you are not at fault. This isn't a moving violation, therefore nothing goes onto your driving record and nothing is surchargable. The only time a insurance premium can go up if you have a surchargable offense, such as speeding, running a redlight, at fault accident, etc.
Metlife does not rely on or accept repair shop's estimates. They have their own appraisal company. So the idea of having a shop do the estimate for lower than the value of the vehicle wouldn't work. However, if the shop have dealt with the adjuster in the past they will probably have a working relationship. If the car is appraised at $10k and damage is $11k, that car will be totalled. A way a shop might be able to help out here is, they can talk to the appraiser to see if there are items in the estimate that can be eliminate so that the car isn't totalled. This is an option if you don't want to buy the car back with a salvaged title. Working with a shop has another plus, they are the only one that can request for supplementary payouts (pay out for additional parts that can not be seens until the car is dissassembled).
One of the downfall is, if you are planning to fix the car yourself and save money but use a shop. They are either going to want to repair the car or get some money for their time.
As to the aftermarket part questions, they can blame it on anything they want to. They can't deny your claim. OEM parts can cause electrical fire also. The only thing is they don't have to pay for aftermarket parts. For instances, if you have a HKS turbo manifold and it is damaged, they will only pay for a OEM manifold. These appraisers don't know jack about cars, they rely on computer systems. If a manifold is needed to be paid for, they simply click on the diagram that shows a manifold.
A simple fire accident will not increase your insurance premium, especially when you are not at fault. This isn't a moving violation, therefore nothing goes onto your driving record and nothing is surchargable. The only time a insurance premium can go up if you have a surchargable offense, such as speeding, running a redlight, at fault accident, etc.
Metlife does not rely on or accept repair shop's estimates. They have their own appraisal company. So the idea of having a shop do the estimate for lower than the value of the vehicle wouldn't work. However, if the shop have dealt with the adjuster in the past they will probably have a working relationship. If the car is appraised at $10k and damage is $11k, that car will be totalled. A way a shop might be able to help out here is, they can talk to the appraiser to see if there are items in the estimate that can be eliminate so that the car isn't totalled. This is an option if you don't want to buy the car back with a salvaged title. Working with a shop has another plus, they are the only one that can request for supplementary payouts (pay out for additional parts that can not be seens until the car is dissassembled).
One of the downfall is, if you are planning to fix the car yourself and save money but use a shop. They are either going to want to repair the car or get some money for their time.
As to the aftermarket part questions, they can blame it on anything they want to. They can't deny your claim. OEM parts can cause electrical fire also. The only thing is they don't have to pay for aftermarket parts. For instances, if you have a HKS turbo manifold and it is damaged, they will only pay for a OEM manifold. These appraisers don't know jack about cars, they rely on computer systems. If a manifold is needed to be paid for, they simply click on the diagram that shows a manifold.
11-04-08, 10:54 AM
#65
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Geez...glad you're OK and you were able to save the car.
Calling the insurance company is always tricky....even if you dont plan to claim it....they will keep it in their record somewhere of this event...which affects how they insure you in the future.
Calling the insurance company is always tricky....even if you dont plan to claim it....they will keep it in their record somewhere of this event...which affects how they insure you in the future.
11-04-08, 11:44 AM
#71
I'm so depressed seeing this Jeff my IS looked up to the GS as its big bro lol. Really hope you can save it. Far as insurance goes when i got my boosted IS i shopped some insurance compaies some wouldnt even cover it but state farm said they would cover any after market parts so long as i had a reciept for it. How that works for you since most of it was online i am not sure but paypal should have some kinna "reciepts"..
11-04-08, 12:23 PM
#74
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Glad that you are alright and sorry to hear about your car. Like stated above, file the claim to see what the insurance will do. If are you not happy with the answer or feel they are going to screw you, then drop the claim and do what you can yourself.
If they total it out, you might be able to buy it back from them at a serious discount and fix it yourself. Just some food for thought.........peace
If they total it out, you might be able to buy it back from them at a serious discount and fix it yourself. Just some food for thought.........peace
