Car totaled - Value & Rental Car Questions

[DeboraHoskinson]

New York - My sister was already disabled before she and 2 other vehicles were hit from behind by a dump truck. The insurance company wants to total her car and only offered $4039. The value on Kelly Blue Book site is much higher - just over $6000. We think their offer is too low. She can't work and can't afford a car payment. She can't replace what she had for $4039. How can we ensure she gets the right value?

The insurance company wants her to return the rental car within 6 days from when they offered $4039. She won't be able to get a new car that quickly. She won't be able to get to dr appointments if she doesn't have a car. How long should she be able to keep the rental car?

[Stevef]

Originally Posted by DeboraHoskinson

New York - My sister was already disabled before she and 2 other vehicles were hit from behind by a dump truck. The insurance company wants to total her car and only offered $4039. The value on Kelly Blue Book site is much higher - just over $6000. We think their offer is too low. She can't work and can't afford a car payment. She can't replace what she had for $4039. How can we ensure she gets the right value?

The insurance company wants her to return the rental car within 6 days from when they offered $4039. She won't be able to get a new car that quickly. She won't be able to get to dr appointments if she doesn't have a car. How long should she be able to keep the rental car?

The insurance company makes money by minimizing claims while maximizing premiums.

Your choices are usually to accept their offer, or go to court.

[ecmst12]

KBB is not an accurate estimate of value, it is almost always significantly inflated. The report the insurance company gets the value from is much more accurate. She can get a copy of this report and review it for more information. If her car is accurately described in the report (including all the right options, etc), then that report will stand up in court and that is what they will go by.

She gets to keep the rental car for 6 days after the offer was made. The insurance company made the offer, it is now out of their hands and they don't have to keep paying for a rental just because she is dragging her feet in accepting their offer.