Question for those who have bought back a totalled TR from their insurance company.

[MeanBuicks]

I'm interested in situations where your insurance company totalled your turbo Buick due to accident/theft damage and then offered the car back to you as an option in your settlement.

What insurance company were you dealing with?

What was the nature/extent of the damage?

What did the insurance company ask you to pay for the vehicle to get it back?

Thanks!

 

[Nick Micale]

You are fortunate, some insurance will not sell you the car after it has been stolen or totaled.

Usually they will get one or 2 bids from wrecking yards to determine the salvage price.

 

[86brick]

You are fortunate, some insurance will not sell you the car after it has been stolen or totaled.

Usually they will get one or 2 bids from wrecking yards to determine the salvage price.

Really? I was always under the assumption that they had to offer you the car back by law... I know in my dad's case with his first GN that was totaled (whole front clip of the car was heavily damaged) he was offered to buy it back by the insurance company.. Don't remember the amount they wanted for it, but think it was a few thousand dollars.. Then his second GN which only had 27K miles on it was stolen and after he was payed out (he got $16,500) three years later they found the car which had been stripped of the interior and wheels but was basically otherwise complete (still had the motor, trans, ECM, etc.) that car was offered back to him for I believe $4500... In both cases this was All-State insurance that he was dealing with.

HTH

 

[jasjamz]

You can review my previous post and find accident damage to my 85 GN. They valued it at $8600...$7600 in damage wanted to total it out. Told me to buy it back for like $800-$1000. So I would have got like $7500 and the car back. I told them i felt that the car was worth more than that and after some Kind Words the upped the value of the car. Then the computer gave them the green llight to repair.

 

[NCTyphoon]

My 136,000 mi. 86 GN was totaled in 2001. Major front end damage, including front frame horn, the passenger front wheel was pushed back into the fenderwell area (see pics on my page) http://www.hometown.aol.com/onegn1ty/myhomepageindex.html
The lady that hit me had the same insurance company that I have , State Farm. After a lot of haggling back and forth over value, I showed what similar cars were selling for, and used all the collector price guides, they valued it at $9250, and let me buy it back(I had to request to buy it back, they didn't offer it back) for $2500. I bought it back, had it fixed, and drive it anywhere. Drives straight, looks as good or better than before with new paint job, and unless you know where to look, you'd never know it was wrecked so badly. I planned on keeping the car, so it makes no difference that it is a salvage rebuild as far as title goes. Great car and still on the road!

 

[MeanBuicks]

You are fortunate, some insurance will not sell you the car after it has been stolen or totaled.

Usually they will get one or 2 bids from wrecking yards to determine the salvage price.

Nick, I'm far from fortunate in this situation. I wish they'd go get quotes from 2-3 wrecking yards. Then I'd be buying the car back for around $200 as opposed to the $2500 they insist it's worth in it's current state.

 

[jasjamz]

how much damage is done to your car?

 

[ahollowtub]

how much damage is done to your car?

His GN is a shell w/ T Type wheels,7.5 rear,and broken dash.Worth maybe $500...

 

[MeanBuicks]

how much damage is done to your car?

Here's a few photos. As ahollowtub mentioned, there's not much left there. Interior was stripped from the headliner to the carpet, rear view mirror to rear package tray and everything in between. Then they trashed the dash. Everything in the engine compartment is gone including relays, wiring, Powermaster, wiper motor, cruise control, etc.

It's basically a bare body shell, frame and front suspension. And even there, they folded the inner front fenders down on both sides heavily damaging them. F@*ing animals and now the insurance company is no better then the thieves.

 

[Dennis F]

I wrecked my GN in 01. It was totalled out and I got 10,500 for it and bought it back for 500 bucks. This is with electric insurance.

At the time it only had 81k miles on it. It is fixed and drive it now like nothing ever happened.

 

[NCTyphoon]

Dang Greg, Your pics look horrendous! I don't think they should keep jerking you around, nothing much looks usable except for the wheels and opera windows! I agree $500 should be the max to get it back!

 

[MeanBuicks]

Hence my extreme frustration with these jerks. You'd think they'd have more sense but they're just out to shaft me any way they can with this. Low ball the settlement and rape me on buying back the remains.

Everyone my wife & I have spoken with at Nationwide are indifferent to my situation. Why, I don't know. It's just how they treat a five-year paying (now former) customer I guess.

Oh, did I mention?

Nationwide Insurance SUCKS!!!!!!!

 

[6APPEAL]

My 86 GN was totaled in 03 with heavy damage to the front cap, entire drivers side and A-pillar/roof. After much haggling with the trucking company's insurance about the value we finally settled for $14,500 (car value and performance parts). I bought the car back for $2,500. The frame is still straight, but the body damage was just too much to fix. I stripped the car of all usable parts and bought a couple of unfinished project cars to put the parts into.
John

 

[MeanBuicks]

What insurance company was that?

 

[TWISTER]

Im sure you have heard it all before and I about throw up at the thought of what happened to your car but there is nothing left. Let them have the car. The only thing left for you is the sentimental value which would feel like a kick in the gut to look at let alone fix. Im sure I dont know the whole story only what you have posted from the beginning. Im not trying to be an A$$. I relly dont know why anybody would want the car back after the hell those bastards did to it. It really sucks and then have to deal with the insurance. If you really want it, find out where it goes and buy it from the junkyard for the $200-$500 its really worth. Just my opinion and if it ever happened to me I may do the same as you.

 

[MeanBuicks]

Actually, at this point, it's more the principal of the matter. Fact is, Nationwide has to know that $2500 is a bogus number. It's just as bogus as the settlement being offered. I just do not appreciate being screwed so many times over a single incident; ie. the theft itself, the lowball insurance settlement offers, the outrageously high salvage value and now, a bogus billing issue that just cropped up with them last week.

 

[Nick Micale]

...... I just do not appreciate being screwed so many times over a single incident; ie. the theft itself, the lowball insurance settlement offers, the outrageously high salvage value and now, a bogus billing issue that just cropped up with them last week.

Each state has different laws that apply to insurance companies. You should check with the state office than controls them and see what your rights are there.

I have settled many claims here in AZ for clients that have been lowballed at first, but managed to get them a fair settlement at the end .

 

[99ssconv]

That's exactly why I have my car insured at a agreed value.

 

[MeanBuicks]

Right on! I now have a different insurance company, a Stated Value policy and an appraisal on my new GN. Nobody should have to go through this crap!

 

[Robert Kastle]

I was able to buy mine back for $350.00. The bumper supports had to be repaired. I purchased a junk regal for $200.00 to get the majority of the parts (front clip damage) and did some horse trading to get the turbo spacific parts. In the end the car was given a clear title.