Insurance Write off, and valuation on my car.

[Aussie Jeepster]

I'm not sure where to post this, so I'll start here, and if the mods want to move it, I'm ok with that.
I've never had a vehicle written off, so the whole experience is something new to me.
Once my blood test comes back, I guess the ball will start rolling and I'll get a call from the RAA to either tell me what they are going to pay, or discuss what they are going to pay me.
I'm making a list of stuff that was fitted/installed in the car (Traxide, Redarc towpro and all the wiring for the caravan at the back, nudge bar, and roof bars) on the basis that they won't "see" those items, and I'd assume they won't be included in any figure.
Is this type of thing a negotiable, or am I wasting my time?
I've found a similar car on Carsales in terms of year and km's (even the same colour and engine!) but without any options listed so I have number in my head to work with, but I doubt the figure they will offer will be that high ($17500)
Can anyone give me any advise on what I might do when they call????
Everyone has been a mine of info helping me navigate the D4 replacement route, but that wont be for 3 or 4 weeks, whereas the write off discussion should be this week.
Thanks in advance
Alan in Adelaide

[DiscoJeffster]

Did you have an agreed value policy or market value?

Accessories are normally expected to be listed on a policy if you wish them to factor into the final payout figure, less of an issue if it’s agreed value.

Note that the excess is deducted from your final figure as well as the remaining registration(?!).

If you have a market value policy you can find an equivalent vehicle and argue the point they should pay that sum, again though, if you didn’t specify the accessories, that value won’t include those.

Just remember, the insurer is out to win, but definitely argue else they will bend you over if possible.

[Tins]

Agree with DJ. Once the car is written off it will belong to the insurer. This does not include 'personal effects'. If you simply had the car insured then all they own will be the car. If you had accessories fitted outside of that then they are yours, if they were included in the policy then they are theirs. However, check the fine print, because you can be sure they will. RAA are "fairly" reputable, and you should be able to work with them. I had an experience with another I won't name who got very bloody minded about me removing items from a wreck, items that I had paid for outside of the vehicle's cost and cover, so I recommend getting approval before attempting to retrieve things. As I said, these things should technically be regarded as your property ( mine were eventually ) but you don't want any delays if avoidable. Have a list of everything you believe to be yours and tell them at the earliest opportunity, and keep telling them.

Of course, there may not be an issue at all. Hope for the best, plan for the worst. Good luck.

[Aussie Jeepster]

Agree with DJ. Once the car is written off it will belong to the insurer. This does not include 'personal effects'. If you simply had the car insured then all they own will be the car. If you had accessories fitted outside of that then they are yours, if they were included in the policy then they are theirs. However, check the fine print, because you can be sure they will. RAA are "fairly" reputable, and you should be able to work with them. I had an experience with another I won't name who got very bloody minded about me removing items from a wreck, items that I had paid for outside of the vehicle's cost and cover, so I recommend getting approval before attempting to retrieve things. As I said, these things should technically be regarded as your property ( mine were eventually ) but you don't want any delays if avoidable. Have a list of everything you believe to be yours and tell them at the earliest opportunity, and keep telling them.

Of course, there may not be an issue at all. Hope for the best, plan for the worst. Good luck.

I've already removed 90% of my stuff from the wreck - its the stuff like the traxide kit, cut to suit timber rear floor, towing wiring and redarc towpro that are still there and which can't be removed. I know I notified them of most of these bits, but does anyone ever think to update their insurance when they fit something new??
Thanks for the comments, I'll just wait now for the call.

[PhilipA]

I had a Honda Jazz written off due to hail damage.
The insurance company (YOUI) offered a low amount AFAIR $4000.
I researched Carsales and Facebook Marketplace and emailed the results to them stating that I could not buy a similar vehicle at the offered price and suggested $5000 was a more appropriate price.
We had a phone discussion and they raised the offer by $500.
You have to have evidence of the "market value" Ie the price of cars advertised similar to yours. They will argue that this is only an asking price but will cave if their offer is a lot less.
Regards PhilipA

[loanrangie]

As far as i'm concerned the extras you fitted are yours until they provide a payout, i'd be fighting to get them back.

[DiscoJeffster]

As far as i'm concerned the extras you fitted are yours until they provide a payout, i'd be fighting to get them back.

Which is fine if the accessories/additions are removable and weren’t covered in the policy. If you fitted a roo bar and that’s now squashed after the fact, and you didn’t include that accessory in the policy, then you’re down a roo bar. Hence, it all depends.

[chuck]

Again as mentioned

Get as much evidence of replacement vehicles as you can

Ads on carsales etc.

These are funny time so market value is moving up and down.

Cheers

[loanrangie]

Which is fine if the accessories/additions are removable and weren’t covered in the policy. If you fitted a roo bar and that’s now squashed after the fact, and you didn’t include that accessory in the policy, then you’re down a roo bar. Hence, it all depends.

Well you arent going to remove damaged items are you, if you added them and they aren't covering them its your property.

[DiscoJeffster]

Well you arent going to remove damaged items are you, if you added them and they aren't covering them its your property.

You’re missing my point, which is to others, not you per se, which is to consider which items you list on the policy if you wish them to be replaced in the event of a write off. It’s great to say I won’t insure any of my accessories, well then understand they’re a complete loss if the vehicle burns down for example, etc.

[350RRC]

You’re missing my point, which is to others, not you per se, which is to consider which items you list on the policy if you wish them to be replaced in the event of a write off. It’s great to say I won’t insure any of my accessories, well then understand they’re a complete loss if the vehicle burns down for example, etc.

All I'll say again is get the salvage rights option on your policy if it is an option.

I have it for my 74 POS with S......s. The option cost something like $5 a month.

If it ever becomes an insurance write off IU get paid out the agreed value AND I get the 'carcass' back fr nix.

DL

[Aussie Jeepster]

settlement looking good - been offered $15K and trying to nudge it up to $16.5K.

[veebs]

settlement looking good - been offered $15K and trying to nudge it up to $16.5K.

If the same car, km, colour was on Carsales at $17.5, then your $16.5 sounds reasonable - if you could knock the seller down that much, you'll come out square, save for any uncovered accessories.

[Aussie Jeepster]

settlement looking good - been offered $15K and trying to nudge it up to $16.5K.
Settled today at $16,006.
I'm happy with that after they realised that they had based their estimate on a diesel D3 and not a petrol D3.
So, in about 3 weeks I'll be looking in earnest for a replacement (in any colour but black!), but 2 weeks by the pool in Bali next week will help the body get back to normal!!!!
I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has helped me on this, I know we are a "community" , but it makes a big difference when everyone is able to help others.

[veebs]

Settled today at $16,006.
I'm happy with that after they realised that they had based their estimate on a diesel D3 and not a petrol D3.

The Petrol was worth more?

[Tins]

I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has helped me on this, I know we are a "community" , but it makes a big difference when everyone is able to help others.

I reckon the best takeaway is that you are both still here, part of the community, and in a position to ask. Enjoy your time by the pool.

[101RRS]

With the next car make sure you insure for agreed value and not market value so you will not have this argument next time. Oh and with most policies everything attached to the car except for personal items is considered to be part of the car and ownership transfers to the insurance company if there is a claim - irrespective whether these items are listed on the policy or not. How insurance companies deal with this varies, some will let you take accessories off, some wont - I know of one case where accessories were taken off and the insurance company required them to be returned. It is a way they offset their payouts.

[loanrangie]

So did you get your accessories back or even bring them when negotiating ?

[Aussie Jeepster]

So did you get your accessories back or even bring them when negotiating ?

I got what I wanted to get!
I left a redarc towpro and a traxide system because I simply could not get them out, and I left my timber floor because it was impossible to get it out, but I'm going to redesign a new one.
Everything else that I left was damaged or just not worth recovering. I had an aerial mount on the roof bar for my HF aerial which was adjustable up and down, and when I got it off it was bent in a parallelogram shape, so I left it.
I think I forgot the genuine land rover rubber mats in the front, but I can live with that.
All in all, I'm happy with the number that I got and its going to sit in the bank for a few weeks while I look around for an 8 speed D4 in any color except black!!!!!
Alan

[NavyDiver]

I'm not sure where to post this, so I'll start here, and if the mods want to move it, I'm ok with that.
I've never had a vehicle written off, so the whole experience is something new to me.
Once my blood test comes back, I guess the ball will start rolling and I'll get a call from the RAA to either tell me what they are going to pay, or discuss what they are going to pay me.
I'm making a list of stuff that was fitted/installed in the car (Traxide, Redarc towpro and all the wiring for the caravan at the back, nudge bar, and roof bars) on the basis that they won't "see" those items, and I'd assume they won't be included in any figure.
Is this type of thing a negotiable, or am I wasting my time?
I've found a similar car on Carsales in terms of year and km's (even the same colour and engine!) but without any options listed so I have number in my head to work with, but I doubt the figure they will offer will be that high ($17500)
Can anyone give me any advise on what I might do when they call????
Everyone has been a mine of info helping me navigate the D4 replacement route, but that wont be for 3 or 4 weeks, whereas the write off discussion should be this week.
Thanks in advance
Alan in Adelaide

Hi Allan

My Gold D3 2005 was written off after hail damage. I wanted it fixed.

The policy was paid in full They allowed me to take lots off it which I had or had not added to the insurance policy! QBE at that time. It is now RACV as the replacement insurance quote was a silly price!

Apart from not being able to fix it for me the whole insurance thing was very good really. I hope yours is too. QBE price rises at the time where not just picking on me! Not poking a stick at them!

As pointed out the devil is in the detail and secondly who you have your policy with.

Regards James

PS- I was offered a price to buy it out- It was sold at an Auction for a bit more than that price!

[Aussie Jeepster]

Hi Allan

My Gold D3 2005 was written off after hail damage. I wanted it fixed.

The policy was paid in full They allowed me to take lots off it which I had or had not added to the insurance policy! QBE at that time. It is now RACV as the replacement insurance quote was a silly price!

Apart from not being able to fix it for me the whole insurance thing was very good really. I hope yours is too. QBE price rises at the time where not just picking on me! Not poking a stick at them!

As pointed out the devil is in the detail and secondly who you have your policy with.

Regards James

PS- I was offered a price to buy it out- It was sold at an Auction for a bit more than that price!
Yep, I'd have to say that my experience with the RAA was good. I got what I really wanted off it, and a bit more besides. I'm alive, and I'm happy!

[350RRC]

Hi Allan

My Gold D3 2005 was written off after hail damage. I wanted it fixed.

The policy was paid in full They allowed me to take lots off it which I had or had not added to the insurance policy! QBE at that time. It is now RACV as the replacement insurance quote was a silly price!

Apart from not being able to fix it for me the whole insurance thing was very good really. I hope yours is too. QBE price rises at the time where not just picking on me! Not poking a stick at them!

As pointed out the devil is in the detail and secondly who you have your policy with.

Regards James

PS- I was offered a price to buy it out- It was sold at an Auction for a bit more than that price!

Take out a salvage rights option if your insurer offers it.............. you get paid out and keep the car for nix.

[thumbsupbig] DL