Totaled Wrangler - Need Help

[TheNewGuy]

If you have a manual transmission and a soft top and they based their payoff on a hard top with an auto trans….it sounds like they are paying you more than you are do.

An automatic hardtop comp is going to be higher than a manual softtop one.

He has the Sun and Sound pkg so, SoT.
If anything, using the auto tranny as a comp makes it a wash.

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[Shark01]

OK, we are like a magnet on people hitting us for some reason so have lots of experience, including a current claim against USAA. First disclaimer, this does NOT constitute legal advice.

Insurance companies play the LONG game, they know they have more resources than you do, and are waiting for you to crumble and get desperate.

For example, you need to go find your new Jeep....you don't have to wait on getting a check from them. They know they have you if you are crying about needing the money to replace your rig. Yes you might have 2 car payments for awhile but hopefully you practiced good fiscal constraint and have a small current payment.....just my opinion

First, make sure they take care of your pain and suffering....now there are 2 schools of thought when you negotiate that out with them. When you settle that up front I think you lose leverage because that is the type of claim they seem to get most bothered by.....just my opinion

Don't be afraid to say NO to offers. That shows you have resources.....just my opinion

A few months down the road, if you feel they are not negotiating fairly, your state insurance commission can help.

Good luck....just my opinion

 

[ForgottenTaco]

Definitely complain your neck hurts. Just don’t call some crappy lawyer that advertises on the side of a city bus or park bench.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Good luck. Most people do, indeed, end up on the short end of these events. More power to you, if you can beat that norm.

 

[Maverick909]

Definitely don’t and I didn’t. But I do have to try and build the case why. If you see my other recent post asking about the sales split, that’s to explain that manuals are significantly more limited and thus the supply on the used market is also.

Find the window sticker. Or ask the dealer to price the replacement for it

 

[LARSONEM]

Sorry for your loss but I’d like to make an observation to one of your opening statements about the cost of replacing your Jeep with a new one. I own a 2022 Rubicon; ordered in January 2022 and built/delivered in April 2022. Four days after I ordered it there was a $2355 price increase. And out of curiosity I’ve rebuilt it several times since. The last build for an identically equipped 2023 has the price up nearly $6000. Not to rub salt into your wound, but that’s how car insurance works; it covers your loss not on the cost of replacing your vehicle, but on the cost of settling a claim based on what you paid for what you had. I know it would suck, but unfortunately that’s how the game is played.

 

[JeepinJason33]

I would continue to push them to find something with the sound and sun package on it. Or at least with the sky top and upgraded stereo.

 

[Oilslick]

Don’t forget sales tax too

 

[ag4ever]

it covers your loss not on the cost of replacing your vehicle,

Depends on the policy. Some companies offer “new vehicle replacement”. Covers the cost to provide a new like vehicle, not just the value of the existing vehicle.

 

[jludave]

Can someone use current dealership markups to increase value in this situation? I'm honestly curious where that plays in to this

No. Dealer markups are a per dealer thing and have nothing to do with how insurance companies value a vehicle.

 

[Turaven]

The insurance company offered $43k. I’m not happy with that because I can’t find anything similar in that price point to replace it with, it’s all mostly Rubicon level and they’re in $50k used. They used automatic, hard top, Willy’s as comps and that’s not right.

I'm not totally sure how the insurance gets their valuation, but my Sport has a blue book value of $43k. Using a 2022 surrogate as they have no numbers for 2023 (that would only increase the value) and ~7500 miles, which is effectively identical for valuation compared to your 14,000 miles.

I plugged your build in and it spit out $42.5k value, which seems stupid low for the amount of equipment. I wouldn't be happy with that number but it'll probably be tough to get them to budge.

 

[SaintNick]

Check to see if your state has a diminished value law.


https://www.chron.com/news/article/CarPro-Advice-How-Do-I-Collect-My-Diminished-17601535.php

 

[Wabujitsu]

Check to see if your state has a diminished value law.


https://www.chron.com/news/article/CarPro-Advice-How-Do-I-Collect-My-Diminished-17601535.php

Diminished value only comes into play if the vehicle was not totaled, insurance is having it fixed and you are keeping the vehicle. The OP‘s vehicle was totaled, so DV doesn’t apply.

 

[Old Jeeper]

Do you need to get the build sheet on your jeep? That’s gonna give better detail than the window sticker, but bring along the window sticker also. I have a link to getting the build sheet from Chrysler. However, I’m on a business trip and won’t return home until the middle of May.

as of today, I’ve been with USAA for 57 years I found them to definitely work with you on two totals that I’ve had. Your other option is to have him replace it is to have them pay you cash money and then you take that cash money and just put that down on a new jeep that you order. That’s what I’ve done in both cases I just took with the money and ran.

if there is something special that you yourself added to your jeep, if you’ve got documentation to include pictures and receipts that needs to go to USAA so they can see that. My second total I just installed new tires the day before it got totaled and USAA called me the full price on all four tires.

Bear in mind almost all cars are unique you bought that car for special reason because it had chrome muffler, nuts, or whatever so uniqueness by itself does not justify a whole bunch of extra money or anything else unless it cost a lot of extra money that’s where the build sheet and your MSRP window sticker comes into play.

 

[Pig-Pen]

He has the Sun and Sound pkg so, SoT.
If anything, using the auto tranny as a comp makes it a wash.

ahhh... for some reason i thought he had a soft top. with SOT that definitely increases the value. tough position to be in.

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