Stolen car insurance offer - advice please?
Discussion
Had a letter from the insurance company read reads as follows:
"I tried to contact you today about the value of your vehicle but have been unsuccessful. To avoid delays and to help you get another vehicle as soon as possible, I have placed a valuation on your vehicle of £1900.00 subject to policy excess. If you'd like to discuss this valuation with me, please give me a call in the next 5 working days."
It's actually not a bad offer, the vehicle was a 1995 Hilux Surf but I'd maintained it religiously and sent the history to them to prove it.
Another £2-300.00 would sweeten the deal a lot and would allow me to replace it like for like.
Is it company policy to make a low offer first or am I unlikely to get any more?
A scan of autotrader shows similar cars advertised for £1495.00 - £2800.00 although mine had a relatively high mileage of ~ 160,000
I don't want to be greedy, but just want what I'm entitled to as this is the first claim I've ever made in my driving life. And, obviously, my premiums will take a battering for the next few Years.
Any advice appreciated,
"I tried to contact you today about the value of your vehicle but have been unsuccessful. To avoid delays and to help you get another vehicle as soon as possible, I have placed a valuation on your vehicle of £1900.00 subject to policy excess. If you'd like to discuss this valuation with me, please give me a call in the next 5 working days."
It's actually not a bad offer, the vehicle was a 1995 Hilux Surf but I'd maintained it religiously and sent the history to them to prove it.
Another £2-300.00 would sweeten the deal a lot and would allow me to replace it like for like.
Is it company policy to make a low offer first or am I unlikely to get any more?
A scan of autotrader shows similar cars advertised for £1495.00 - £2800.00 although mine had a relatively high mileage of ~ 160,000
I don't want to be greedy, but just want what I'm entitled to as this is the first claim I've ever made in my driving life. And, obviously, my premiums will take a battering for the next few Years.
Any advice appreciated,
What you need to do is to get the chap on the phone. Be friendly and chatty. Chat him up effectively.
Then, ask him what they asses the damage to your vehicle to cost to repair.
Chat some more.
Engineer the conversation to come round to asking about how the process works as its your first claim blah blah blah - and ask at what %age they write the vehicle off etc. Then, do more chatting and eventually ask something like, so, what percentage was the damage to my car? They'll tell you.
Do some maths and you'll work out the max that they'll offer you.
I did this. Got me over a grand extra on my written off car...which took the figure to exactly what I was asking for in the first place!
Took them to pull the call and look through it, but it was sorted none the less.
Good luck!
Then, ask him what they asses the damage to your vehicle to cost to repair.
Chat some more.
Engineer the conversation to come round to asking about how the process works as its your first claim blah blah blah - and ask at what %age they write the vehicle off etc. Then, do more chatting and eventually ask something like, so, what percentage was the damage to my car? They'll tell you.
Do some maths and you'll work out the max that they'll offer you.
I did this. Got me over a grand extra on my written off car...which took the figure to exactly what I was asking for in the first place!
Took them to pull the call and look through it, but it was sorted none the less.
Good luck!
I had something similar when my E30 325i (with 210k miles on!) was stolen.
First offer, £200... basically enough to clear the excess!
I sent them all the history (15 years worth totalling £000's) showing that it wasn't just a 22 year old 200+k mile car. Showed examples of similar ones from owners clubs etc.
We went back and forwards a few times and in the end I got a value of £1300.
The handlers have some pressure to close cases off. In the end they will be prepared to go a bit further just to close the case off.
First offer, £200... basically enough to clear the excess!
I sent them all the history (15 years worth totalling £000's) showing that it wasn't just a 22 year old 200+k mile car. Showed examples of similar ones from owners clubs etc.
We went back and forwards a few times and in the end I got a value of £1300.
The handlers have some pressure to close cases off. In the end they will be prepared to go a bit further just to close the case off.
Many thanks all, sorry, I should've added some more detail.
The car was stolen and then discovered the next day. I don't know what condition was in but apparently the fire brigade allowed it to burn out for an Hour because they couldn't get close to it before going in to cool down the wreckage.
I had to submit a copy of the advert when I bought it (for £2500.00 nearly 5 Years ago) as well as all the service history etc so I imagine the valuation is based on the above.
The car was stolen and then discovered the next day. I don't know what condition was in but apparently the fire brigade allowed it to burn out for an Hour because they couldn't get close to it before going in to cool down the wreckage.
I had to submit a copy of the advert when I bought it (for £2500.00 nearly 5 Years ago) as well as all the service history etc so I imagine the valuation is based on the above.
Murv said:
Many thanks all, sorry, I should've added some more detail.
The car was stolen and then discovered the next day. I don't know what condition was in but apparently the fire brigade allowed it to burn out for an Hour because they couldn't get close to it before going in to cool down the wreckage.
I had to submit a copy of the advert when I bought it (for £2500.00 nearly 5 Years ago) as well as all the service history etc so I imagine the valuation is based on the above.
Just show them genuine examples of what it would cost you to buy the same level of car now. If you can't find anything exactly, then find the closest match and adjust your demands to cover the gaps.The car was stolen and then discovered the next day. I don't know what condition was in but apparently the fire brigade allowed it to burn out for an Hour because they couldn't get close to it before going in to cool down the wreckage.
I had to submit a copy of the advert when I bought it (for £2500.00 nearly 5 Years ago) as well as all the service history etc so I imagine the valuation is based on the above.
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