In May 2006, I had a similar bout with the (adjusters side) of State Farm Ins. Appraisals are great if they are worth the paper they are written on. A good appraisal is invaluable, not just a sheet of paper with numbers on it. But at length descriptions of the authenticity of the vehicle, pictures, awards won at recent car shows.
Documentation of work completed, note completed. A box of parts is not going to get the work done. The value of doing your home work before going to an appraiser will pay in the end. My 1972 Honda AN600 was insured at appraised value. In short this means that if there is a dispute the vehicle is appraised again. Original value was 6k, with added work and reconditioning along with documentation of shows and displays in museum's bumped the value to over 13K. Show your vehicle in award wining shows and get judges to give it a point grade. Even if you don't win you have documentation from an unbiased group that your Honda 600 has value. Join clubs, this can be the air cooled vehicle club or the AACA which opens it's doors to everything over 25 years old. Every thing helps when it comes time to show others that you are the expert.
The Honda 600 is a unique vehicle, but the insurance folks are in this to bring home a pay check just like any other business.
If your car is over 5 years old, then it's subject to depreciation no matter how clean it is. The insurance company only has to come within 60% of the value to total the vehicle. Then you can purchase it back, but it will have a salvage title and that alone devalues the vehicle, and they know it.
I can't say enough about the subject, you need to literally cover your car. As Paige said, don't accept the first offer, and fight to the end.
Bill
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> 2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com [mailto:2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com] > On > Behalf Of > paigewhunt > Sent:
> Tuesday, October 09, 2007 8:41
> AM
> To:
> 2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com
> Subject:
> [2cylinderhondas] GET YOUR CLASSIC PROFESSIONALLY
> APPRAISED!!!
> hi, all--
> just got a MAJOR wake-up call i was rear-ended by a guy who > was > answering his cell phone and not paying attention to traffic--he hit
> me at 40-plus as i was waiting at a cross-walk (2 ladies AND a
> stroller). fortunately, i wasn't driving my prized 1972 z600 at the
> time, but i WAS in my very nice 1994 subaru SVX. i sustained 5,000
> bucks in damage which was a total loss for the offending insurance
> company (travelers). after a 3 week wait, i received a "take it or
> leave" it offer of 1,428.00. i informed the "expert" that this car
> cost 37,000 dollars new in 1994 and that it can't possibly be > replaced > for less than 5 grand--i was able to back up my position by > e-mailing her > current ads from craigslist, auto-trader and e-bay > (more than 15 > examples). this resulted in a new "take it or leave it" > of 2800.00. this > due to the fact that my car had some paint fade > (1,800 deduction, > according to her) and 1 torn rear head rest. i > replied that maaco autobody > can do a decent repaint for 750--and if > she was going to deduct 1,800, > she'd have to start out at 13,000 (the > current value of a mint 1994 > 2-wheel drive SVX). i had to talk to > her "expert" appraiser who ignored > all my previous work and gave me 2 > examples of cars in connecticut (a > known "rust state" and 2,000 miles > away (a 1,200 shipping charge) for > 3,200. i thanked him for making my > point for me--3,200 PLUS 1,200 shipping > PLUS tax and liscense is > pretty close to 5 grand--he replied that the ads > stated taht these > cars were in "excellent condition" so better than mine.
> IDIOT. i
> argued that he didn't have ANY close-up pictures and that MY car
> looks perfect from 5 feet away. we finally agreed on 3,500 for my > car- > -i didn't want to have to duke this out in court for the additional
> 1,500--i'll make it up elsewhere. i've since located a good
> replacement for 5 grand--should have it in a couple weeks-- > MORAL OF > THE STORY IS-- > GET YOUR CAR APPRAISED IF IT'S A RARE > COLLECTIBLE! !!
> miles, i need your help to appraise my 1972--the red
> one you saw in
> s.f. earlier this year--
> sorry for being so
> long-winded- -
> paige