[Zombie Peã®L]

Wait, Farmers said they may "total the car" because the hard top was stolen?

So there was this much damage to the miata body that they determined that it's just easier to make it a salvage vehicle? The car can drive correct? How is it uneconomical to repair the car?  I don't understand why they just slice you a check to just go get a new one and on the way you go instead of creating an extra step for reg for classifying it as a total loss. Someone needs to brush up on VC 544 and VC 11515 IMO, but what do i know lol.

[o.g.sk8er]

 

"WE ARE FARMERS! BUM BA DA BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM!"
.

[Frank Templeton Jr.]

Wait, Farmers said they may "total the car" because the hard top was stolen?

So there was this much damage to the miata body that they determined that it's just easier to make it a salvage vehicle? The car can drive correct? How is it uneconomical to repair the car?  I don't understand why they just slice you a check to just go get a new one and on the way you go instead of creating an extra step for reg for classifying it as a total loss. Someone needs to brush up on VC 544 and VC 11515 IMO, but what do i know lol.

Its about cost. If say the hardtop is $2000 to replace but they can write off the car for $1500, the $1500 is cheaper. Just the way the rip off insurance companies work.

[Ninja_Driver]

Wait, Farmers said they may "total the car" because the hard top was stolen?

So there was this much damage to the miata body that they determined that it's just easier to make it a salvage vehicle? The car can drive correct? How is it uneconomical to repair the car?  I don't understand why they just slice you a check to just go get a new one and on the way you go instead of creating an extra step for reg for classifying it as a total loss. Someone needs to brush up on VC 544 and VC 11515 IMO, but what do i know lol.

Its about cost. If say the hardtop is $2000 to replace but they can write off the car for $1500, the $1500 is cheaper. Just the way the rip off insurance companies work.

From what I remember, depending on the insurance company, if the cost to repair is > 80% of the value of the car then they will total it out.

[oredith]

Wait, Farmers said they may "total the car" because the hard top was stolen?

So there was this much damage to the miata body that they determined that it's just easier to make it a salvage vehicle? The car can drive correct? How is it uneconomical to repair the car?   I don't understand why they just slice you a check to just go get a new one and on the way you go instead of creating an extra step for reg for classifying it as a total loss. Someone needs to brush up on VC 544 and VC 11515 IMO, but what do i know lol.

they don't factor in "emotional value".. -_-

like joe said, it's pure math.

depending on the year, the miata is probably worth less than 2k to the insurance. it's a lot cheaper for them to total it out, than to pay for the replacement of a body panel.

i'm pretty sure ANY body damage on a NA Miata at this point would result in a total due to having to repair, and REPAINT. This is probably why there's a ton of totalled miatas on craigslist.

the only way to get around this, is if you can document modifications that you paid for on parts to the car which add actual value to the car, and even then, they'd fight you on it, ie, if you bought coilovers or something, they'd just say you can take it off (but you'd have to put the originals on, which you probably don't have anymore).

[Evojohn]

I'm not sure about you guys, but I don't see many decent running Miatas for less than $2k. In most cases, not even for less than $3k.

If insurance tries to low-ball you on your vehicles value, you can fight it and ask them to re-assess. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FIRST OFFER THEY GIVE.

Find some compatibles before the adjuster shows up so you can prove the Miata is worth $2,500+.

Unless you have a 91 with 250k and it looks like you got caught in a hail storm of tiny hatchets, it could be worth contesting.

[oredith]

I'm not sure about you guys, but I don't see many decent running Miatas for less than $2k. In most cases, not even for less than $3k.

If insurance tries to low-ball you on your vehicles value, you can fight it and ask them to re-assess. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FIRST OFFER THEY GIVE.

Find some compatibles before the adjuster shows up so you can prove the Miata is worth $2,500+.

Unless you have a 91 with 250k and it looks like you got caught in a hail storm of tiny hatchets, it could be worth contesting.

they simply go by the books, KBB/edmunds/etc.

according to that, a '93 is not worth much, even as a private party. it's dirt cheap as tradein

http://www.kbb.com/mazda/miata-mx-5/1993-mazda-miata-mx-5/convertible-2d/?vehicleid=10753&intent=trade-in-sell&mileage=190000&category=convertible&options=386791%7ctrue&pricetype=private-party&anchor=true&anchor=true

[Evojohn]

yes, they will do their valuation but you don't have to automatically accept it.

Here are a few local 1992 Miatas:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/3057801699.html $2,400
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/ctd/3025369553.html $6,495
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/3080060252.html $5,890
http://monterey.craigslist.org/ctd/3045541623.html $3,595

[flipster23]

6k wtf.. aww thats why its at a dealer.

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2

[Ninja_Driver]

In some cases it might be better to total out.  For instance, when my Saturn got ripped off and found - they totaled it out.  I could have maybe gotten $2500 private, but they gave me full retail value of the car - deductible which gave me ~$4500. 

If they total it out, you can take the cash, probably buy back the car at 1/2 of the cash you got, buy a hard top and still profit pretty well.

[Redmenace87]

*UPDATE*

Farmers Insurance will not be totaling my car. In fact they are giving me $2900 bucks for a new top. So now i just need to start shopping. Any suggestions of where i should look besides the forsale sections of the forums and craigslist? Just curious...

[trdkamuri51o]

i just thought i would clarify how your insurance will consider total outs...

if its more than 80% of the value of the car they will consider it cheaper to write em off...

that said: they dont just base the value off of KBB, they use recent sales of vehicles that are similar, kbb carmax etc.

after that they do a average and give you money based off that.. IE if kbb has it at 500 and recent sold is about 1000 they will average it out to 750....

insurance companies are a business.. they are there to make money!!! but most will work fair if you have some basic knowledge...