Car is a total loss and need a new one before rental expires

[Anonymous]

I've been using a rental to get around since my car was declared a total loss after being rear-ended. I am still disputing with the other person's insurance company over the value of the car. They are severely lowballing me and only looking at comparisons 100 miles or more out of the area and not taking into account the maintenance or the new tires I had. It's been very frustrating. But anyway it's been a month and the adjuster still lowballing me. But I know the rental will end soon and I need a car but since they are lowballing me so much they didn't want to go higher than 4100 which is ridiculous for the car I had which was well maintained but they are an insurance company so they are taking a big deduction off and I was still disputed though. But I need recommendations on a car a reliable safe car because I am a relatively new driver that is less than 15k low mileage and hopefully not that old. I noticed that private sellers really overpriced their cars so I'm probably going to be looking at dealerships. Any suggestions on a good car? I wanted to buy a RAV4 but it's not something I can afford new right now or used because this market is crazy.

[Anonymous]

I’d get a used Honda civic or Toyota Corolla that fits your budget. Both great reliacars.

[Anonymous]

First of all, you should have contacted your own insurance company to handle this for you.
They would have already paid you and then they would go after the other drivers insurance to get your deductible back.

Your own insurance may have given you a bit of credit for new tires. But performing standard maintenance is just a sunk cost of owning a vehicle.


What make, model, year was your car that was totaled? That can help determine the value of the car that was a loss.

[Anonymous]

Value is determined by what someone would pay for something, not how much you put into it.

[Anonymous]

Can you get your insurance involved? It seems wrong that the other person's insurance gets to decide everything as they are paying. Of course it will be a race to the bottom.

[Anonymous]

+3 on getting your insurance to help.

Your situation happened to us. Not our fault and our insurance helped facilitate total loss.

[Anonymous]

Call collision safety consultants. He's in NC. He charges a flat fee, I think $500, but he will get you thousands more from these insurance people.

[Anonymous]

Yes, not sure why your own insurance isn’t involved in this.

Just go to CarMax and test drive some options.

[Anonymous]

It's my first accident and I wasn't sure what to do. I thought opening a claim with my insurance would just up rate when I renew.

[Anonymous]

But the insurance did end up upping the value to $6,900 but then taking off $850 and not counting the maintenance or the tires installed and maintained recently. Instead they dinged it as needing work even though they were maintenance to better the car.

[Anonymous]

And I'm also not sure why the liable parties insurance that I'm talking to is motivating me to call my insurance instead. Seems sketchy, I just don't trust him

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand why you would be talking to their insurance at all, shouldn’t it be your insurance? And then they can duke it out with the other company or whatever. I don’t think you’re supposed to be involved with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's my first accident and I wasn't sure what to do. I thought opening a claim with my insurance would just up rate when I renew.

No, that’s for like if you scratch someone’s bumper in a parking lot. If you’re in a proper wreck, you call your insurance company immediately.

[Anonymous]

What kind of car did you have? How old? How many miles

[Anonymous]

Call your company now. You should have done that or at least asked someone for advice.
It will not raise your rates if other car at fault.
I got mine to get me extra for new set of Michelin and a new battery when mine was totaled by a red light runner. They negotiate with each other for a living.