if someone's car is totaled what can they retrieve...?

Jeffblue

If someone's car is totaled i've heard stories where the insurance company cuts them a check and keeps the car (most common). however i've also heard stories where they are allowed to keep the car and still recieve a check. What i'm confused about is, if your car is totaled, there are those who say that whatever is left of it belongs to the insurance company. This makes sense, but from a certain standpoint, it doesn't. If you got into an accident and had aftermarket wheels on (and they werent damaged), with your stock wheels in the garage, shouldn't you be able to remove the aftermarket wheels, since technically thats what they were insuring. even further, if you have sound system, sub woofer, shift knob, things like that, can you take those back or do they arbitrarily belong to the insurance company? i lets get real here, the insurance company isn't going to write you a bigger check because you have high end wheels and coilovers, much less a sound system or a shift knob. and obviously, if you left your ipod in the car, it doesn't belong to the insurance company if you forgot to take it out or were rushed to the hospital. understand that you shouldn't be able to go and strip your car down for parts if the insurance company gives you a check for the value of the car, but at the same time, if you have undamaged modifications, i believe you should be able to get those back. so my question is what can you actually get?

cptspeed

your personel belongings and mods would go back to you. You will have to reinstall said original parts, however.

__________________
FI CBE, 20" forged specialties rims, swift springs, boston subs, kicker amp, focal components

ChrisSlicks

You are always allowed to retrieve personal items from the vehicle, even before the claim is settled. Just visit the holding yard where the vehicle got towed to with your ID.

This does vary someone by locality but in general if the insurance company cuts you a check it is for the complete vehicle including all modifications. If you have modifications that have significant value then you should consider a different policy, e.g. stated value policy. You will not be able to swap parts on the vehicle while it is at a holding yard. However it is your vehicle still and you are free to tow it to your house and swap parts before the insurance adjuster arrives. Once the insurance adjuster has made his value assessment you are not supposed to change anything, however I doubt they would pay attention to things like exhaust, intake etc.

__________________
Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms

Jeffblue

interesting. i feel like insurance companies love to jack up your rates if you were to tell them you had modifications, however, if you have them, i wonder what kind of marginally insignificant amount of money they are really giving you for your mods.

i have heard a lot of people forget to cancel their extended warranties (if they have them) when their car is totaled. same thing goes for when you sell the car, you should cancel it and you recieve a check from nissan or whatever mfg. but thats a separate issue.

shadoquad

leave those hookers in the trunk. If they ain't found em yet, you need to move on. If they have found em, you'll make yourself an easy target by going back to the car.

Jeffblue

i will follow your guidance on this one, as i know it is based on experience.

ChrisSlicks

Some insurance companies here require at least a basic inspection (by an approved 3rd party) to verify that the equipment you are supposed to have is in the vehicle.

Obviously if you've installed a supercharger and then go to your insurance company to ask for higher coverage you're going to get screwed. That's why I suggested agreed value as it simply covers a dollar amount.

__________________
Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms

Jeffblue

so what would you do as far as wheels/suspension/intake/exhaust/etc, the common mods people do? just not mention them?

ChrisSlicks

I wouldn't mention it. If you have really expensive wheels on then you might want to declare them to make sure they are covered in case someone jacks the wheels.

__________________
Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms

Jeffblue

the replacement cost of the rays is enough to cover almost any aftermarket wheels you'd get, seems like it would be easier to just leave well enough alone and have them write you a check for the replacement cost of the rays then putting it on file that you have aftermarket wheels, having them raise your premiums, and then try and shaft you on the replacement of them if the need were to arise.

ChrisSlicks

Yes. I was only thinking special coverage would be required with some custom wheels costing $4-$5K.

__________________
Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms

Jeffblue

true. they give you a ton of money for the rays though. i believe they replace the wheels for 950 each, 100 per sensor, and then like 250 per tire. i forget who it was, but someone on here just took the check and replace the wheels themselves and they got like 4k+