From:
vegatex_REMOVE_674404_THIS_@yahoo.com
YES!!! I was hit in my recently-restored '76 Vega
wagon. I showed the adjuster every receipt I had from
everything I had purchased in the past year -- paint shop,
weatherstripping, parts and labor, etc. I showed him before and
after pictures. I showed him all the old parts I has
removed and still had-- all to substantiate the
restoration. Next, I got multiple sources for value--
NADA.com, and an Oct, 2000 Old Cars Pricing Guide (any
decent book store will have one in the periodical
section.) I faxed these to the claim agent at the insurance
company. The NADA site has three levels of vehicle quality
and the Old Cars Guide uses a typical 5-1 scale. Five
is a dog, One is a near-perfect show car that isn't
driven. There are definitions in the front to describe
specific things to look for to rate your car. In my case,
I knew my car was better than a 3, but not quite a
2, so I took the average value between the two- it
worked out to $2800.00 on the Old Cars scale, and that
was also the average of the middle and top value on
the NADA.com site. They only wanted to total the car
at 1900.00 until I sent them this stuff, then they
agreed to value the car at $2800.00. I settled with them
for $2226.00 cash and I keep the car and original
title-- $2800 plus TTL, minus 200.00 deductible, minus
$560.00 salvage value (I thought that was too high, but
decided to quit while I was ahead!). I found good
junkyard parts to fix the car for $242.00 and the frame
shop is straightening it and fixing dings in the body
panels for $1200.00. Bottom line-- NEGOTIATE!! Don't let
them tell you what your vehicle is worth if you can
substantiate its quality and find numbers to back you up!
P.S.--Once mine is fixed, new engine is in, and it is back
on the road, I will have it appraised and insured
for that value!
Dave
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