My car got hit... Kinda

[shwak23]

So my neighbor dented my hatch on my 1990 MKII Golf 1.6TishD... I don't think the dent is erm... Repairable would the insurance company just replace the hatch? And if so where would they source it? I believe it's no longer available. Maybe they'll just total the car.  I'll post a picture in a minute when I let my dog out.

[mystery3]

If they scratched the paint so that the hatch would need to be repainted your car is a total loss.

[shwak23]

Lol huh. So how much does one get for a totaled 1990 MKII Golf with 176k on the OD.

[Dakotakid]

Roughly two Snickers bars and half a glass of milk!

[burn_your_money]

I got 1500 out of my 85 2 door jetta gasser when it got totalled.

[shwak23]

Did you try and buy the car back after? How many miles were on it?

[ORCoaster]

From Kelly Blue Book
For 1991 Golf 2dr
No Air and no other addons
Condition    Value Excellent
   $1,635
Suggested Retail Value Assumes Excellent Condition More

[shwak23]

Mines a four door... In less than excellent shape. Retail it's $1800 on KBB. What do adjusters take into account when they value your car? Do they take off points or dollars for having a ***ty custom alternator bracket? I hope not... Cuz mines super ***ty.

[ORCoaster]

I have had the displeasure of dealing with abusters several times as my cars, my kids cars and others have been hit by less than respectable people who just drive away.  Seems that most of the time it is done on the phone, and the car was not looked at very hard. 

They do most of it out of the book, or laptop these days.  So most often it is the average of KBB or Edmunds or some private insurance pricer.

My son had a custom Miata that he rolled being young and stupid while under excessive boost.  They didn't care that he had all the bling on it at all this is the price.  He asks, what if I take all that custom stuff off?

Answer: as long as there are stock parts in their place we don't care.  But if they are not then we cut the price some more.  Boy did we work to get that stuff off in short order.  He had all the stock stuff in the basement.  I was glad to see it go but really bummed he totaled it.  I painted it yellow and black for his graduation present.

[burn_your_money]

I think I had around 100k miles on it.
They offered me $1000, I said no, put up a fuss for $2000 and we eventually settled at $1500.

I bought the car back afterwards for the price of scrap, which I think was $100 or 150. I was told that you ALWAYS have this option in Ontario. Obviously it may be different for you.

Call your insurance company and ask for details on making a claim

[maxfax]

If you have any receipts for repairs, or even parts for the car from within the last year break them out and pass them to the adjuster..   That can really help out, especially maintenance items as that shows you took care of it an whatnot..  You should have the option to buy it back with a salvage title..  It's cheaper and easier for the insurance company that way..  Be prepared to bark if you're not happy with their offer..  In PA at least part of the valuation is based on what it would cost to buy a similar car within a certain mileage radius.. When I've gone though this in the past I took a little time and got dealer listings of similar cars showing what it would cost to replace it, since technically that's what they are paying you for, a replacement.....

[shwak23]

Would they really total it if the hatch needs to be repaired/replaced. I dunno the damage isn't horrible. But I don't think it's a real easy fix.

[maxfax]

Typically if the cost to repair is over 2/3 of what they value the car at, yes it will probably be totaled....  Have you gotten any estimates for the repair yet??

[shwak23]

Nah it happend at like 5:30 pmish so I should get an estimate tomorrow I guess... Or just do whatever the adjuster says. I think I have MY choice of where I go for the repairs. I'll push for them totaling it so I can just buy it back and fix it. I don't need a title for this car so having a "salvage title" doesn't matter and I don't really plan on selling it.

[8v-of-fury]

Why are you reporting this to the insurance? has your neighbour confessed? Get him to give you $50 and be on your way.