My vehicle was struck and totaled. The other insurance company took liability. They called me today and told me I needed to call the collision center where my vehicle is and tell them to release it. I asked if they would provide me with the value first. The claims agent told me they don’t do that before the vehicle is released and if I don’t release a vehicle, they would stop paying the storage fee.
I called the collision center to give them permission to release it, and they told me that I absolutely am allowed to refuse to release it until I get a value of the vehicle from them. They told me once they have the vehicle, it’s harder for me to negotiate the value.
I have an attorney for the personal injury side of it and asked him, but he didn’t have a ton of advice to offer because he doesn’t usually deal outside of injuries.
I don’t want to cause issues, but I don’t want to set myself up for failure. Does anyone have guidance they could offer?
Posted by younger223
7 Comments
>They told me once they have the vehicle, it’s harder for me to negotiate the value.
Doesn’t make a difference. The insurance is just trying to move it to a storage free location instead of allowing the shop to continue to rack up fees, that’s why the shop wants it there. The location of the vehicle has nothing to do with the value of the vehicle or ‘negotiating’ a settlement.
Insurance companies cannot do a proper inspection at a tow yard or shop without purring it on a lift and the shop may charge hundreds to move it in and out of the shop and have an appraiser there all day. Let them do a proper inspection and get the money for a new one.
This was the polar opposite of my experience this month. Car got totaled but still drivable, so ive been storing in my driveway. The other dudes insurance (progressive) gave me a value, deposited all but like $1k of the $7.5k into my bank account last week, all while the title is still in my name. I get the rest once i send them the title, which i filled out yesterday and am waiting for the agent to look it over. Allegedly tow company is coming to take the car today.
Your experience sounds like a hassle but also a different situation than mine, as an adjuster just came to my house to value it
100% the collision center is trying to squeeze money out of you or insurance
Release the vehicle so it can be picked up. It’ll accrue fees until it’s released. It’s in your best interest to allow insurance to pick up ASAP or you may have fees that you’re responsible for.
Please don’t listen to the collision shop. Release the vehicle before storage fees started accumulating that you’re liable for.
First, this is a completely reasonable question. I’m sincerely glad you’re here to ask.
You’re not setting yourself up for failure by releasing the car, I promise. Some context that I hope helps:
* The collision center gets paid by the day to store it if they don’t do repairs.
* You will be on the hook for those storage costs if you don’t release the car.
* The insurance company will tow it back to you (free) in the event that you want to keep it or you refuse to sign the title or whatever.
* This is a completely routine, normal business practice.
* Releasing the car will not in any way negatively affect your settlement. (Not releasing the car absolutely will result in you having to pay storage fees though.)
Hope the rest of your claim process goes uneventfully.