(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

How much would you charge?

R

rrlund

Well-known Member
We took the wife's truck to the local State Farm authorized body shop yesterday. I just had a message on the machine. They have the estimate for this broken piece of plastic bumper guard. It knocked that traction piece of plastic off the top too.


Ready for this? $8054.74

If they want to write me a check for that,I'll clean out the glove box and console they can have it TODAY. The danged thing has 276,000 miles on it for crying out loud.
a144280.jpg

a144282.jpg
 
You still have full coverage on a vehicle with that many miles on it?

SF will obviously want to total it, if you let them do so, consider buying it back from them and then find the parts at a junkyard. Then drop your full coverage, it doesn't owe you anything, you got your moneys worth out of it and anymore service it gives you is really a bonus.
 
Are they pout of there flippen minds a new bumper a little tweak here and a tweak there and spot in the paint or if that is to hard for them put a used tail gate on it and repaint . total cost under a grand that that is being generous.
 
Are they pout of there flippen minds a new bumper a little tweak here and a tweak there and spot in the paint or if that is to hard for them put a used tail gate on it and repaint . total cost under a grand that that is being generous.


And ya wonder WHY our insurance rates are so high ????????
 
That's a $450 repair over here in Northern Ireland....Heck you could nearly ship it over have it fixed and ship it back for their quote....OR how about you pay for me and my Portuguese panelbeater friend to fly over and fix it for you? It will work out cheaper again!.......Sam
 
There has to be more that we can't see. Is the frame tweaked? It doesn't look like something I would bother fixing with that many miles on it

If the rearend is still square I would buy one at the junkyard and be done. There's no reason to put that into it.
 
Here too! Or so I thought. There's a place here called Bumper Pool where you can buy new aftermarket body parts. I know full well there isn't more than $200 worth of plastic there.
I called and asked State Farm if they'd gotten the estimate yet. It wasn't in the system. I told them I'd gladly get another estimate if they wanted me to. That to me it wasn't a thousand dollar job.
 
No! The guy came out in his T-shirt and took a few pictures and went back inside. He never even laid a hand on it or looked under it. She barely got tapped from behind and broke that plastic in the severe cold. I told him if it would keep the estimate down,forget about the little bit of fiberglass fiber showing,that there's a spot on the front bumper that looks just as bad. He said "Naw,we can fix that without replacing it" as if it was just some minor cheap patch job.
Nothing's wrong with any steel,not the tailgate,fender,steel part of the bumper,nothing. What you see is all that's wrong.
 
You bet I've got full coverage on it. I've got it on my 85 too. I had a 77 Chevy that was ragged out,dropped the full coverage and the premium went down by less than $50 every six months. If I'm gonna pay insurance at all,it's gonna be full coverage so they can pay me off in a situation like this.
 
You'd think,but he left the message on the answering machine,so if he was wrong,he was reading wrong. I think somebody's fingers are in the till.
 
With that many miles Jack,I'll take the $8000 and let them have the truck. If it was fixed it isn't worth $2000. There's no way in the world we would ever be able to get $8000 out of that thing from anybody else. No way,no how.
 
Since Ford parts is my Hobby... ??
I am guessing this is 05/06 Sport trac?

1L5Z17906AA rear bumper support 366.67
4L2Z17K835BAA rear bumper cover 309.75
3L2Z17b807AAC step pad L/H 56.45
1L5Z9927841AA Quart panel 570.80
Guessing paint & materials ?? 350.00
I don"t have clue what labor would be?
maybe $1500.00 ?? That only amounts to
3100.00 & change??

I would if possible repair the 1/4 panel
Might not need the rear Bumper support But
from the height of the cover I think it does.

There must be some unseen damage to the box
your not showing, or someone is wanting a
vacation on your dime..
 
It's an 02 SportTrac.
Like I said,no damage that's unseen. Even if there was,the guy didn't look close enough to see it. Tail gate opens and closes normal. I showed him that. Didn't even bend the metal part of the bumper. It was just a tap in the cold.
 
My premium is due a week from tomorrow,so if they want to get in to a pizzing match over what it's worth,now's the time.
 
Yup there's a problem with the estimate. I'd get another estimate from a good body shop then use that to suggest/insist they need to take another look.
You obvoiusly have been with SF for a while; suggest you shop around for insurance, it does pay.
I carried insurance with Farm Bureau for about 10 years then shopped this year dropped the cost of the same coverage by 1/2.
 
Ya,been with SF for going on 43 years. I called them and told them I'd get another estimate,that their "authorized shop" was ripping them off BAD. They said they'd call me when they got it in their computer.
 
OK,so tell me how this would work. I just looked up the Kelly Blue Book,answered all their questions. Came up with $5163. The estimate was over $8000. What is the most I could get in my pocket and keep the truck?
I'd take it to a used lot that I know that has their own body shop and see what they'd give me as is,and let them fix it and resell it.
 
randy, i ran a quick estimate here at the shop. figured worse case scenario, replacing rear cover, impact bar, both left brkts, repaired gate for an hour and refinish, and straighten the left bedside for 6 hours, plus refinish. total on my estimate is 2197.04 out the dorr, parts labor and tax, with a lifetime guarantee on workmanship.
 
Well what I can see of that busted quarter panel, It looks like a huge piece of fiberglass that goes all the way around the wheel and maybe clear to the ft. of the bed. Still too much money.
 
if you want a copy, shoot me an email and i can send it to you. the shop appears to be waaaayyyy off.
 
My daughter got in an accident about a month ago as she was crossing the rr tracks in town a guy ran the stop sign(she had the right of way) he hit her 02 zx Escort which has 212k on it. He hit her square in the rear wheel bending it in at the bottom.The other driver had Young America ins which I never heard of. The tow guy gave her an estimate of $486 to repair the wheel damage just to get it on the road. There was not much body damage as you had to look twice to see it. Here's the rub,she only has liability so she dealt with the other guys ins which was in another state. I heard some of his recorded messages and it is a joke the way he treated her. Finally she got a settlement for $1250 but when she got the check it was for $880. She called the guy and he said it was 20% her fault. It's still not settled and she hasn't cashed the check yet. The repair shop fixed it and he said he would send them the bill and also towing and storage(2 weeks).
The other guy got a ticket for the stop sign violation and she has a witness. How can this be partly her fault? Sorry for hijacking thread.
 
(quoted from post at 15:43:16 02/05/14) My daughter got in an accident about a month ago as she was crossing the rr tracks in town a guy ran the stop sign(she had the right of way) he hit her 02 zx Escort which has 212k on it. He hit her square in the rear wheel bending it in at the bottom.The other driver had Young America ins which I never heard of. The tow guy gave her an estimate of $486 to repair the wheel damage just to get it on the road. There was not much body damage as you had to look twice to see it. Here's the rub,she only has liability so she dealt with the other guys ins which was in another state. I heard some of his recorded messages and it is a joke the way he treated her. Finally she got a settlement for $1250 but when she got the check it was for $880. She called the guy and he said it was 20% her fault. It's still not settled and she hasn't cashed the check yet. The repair shop fixed it and he said he would send them the bill and also towing and storage(2 weeks).
The other guy got a ticket for the stop sign violation and she has a witness. How can this be partly her fault? Sorry for hijacking thread.
Click to expand...

Check the laws in your state. Some states allow "comparative fault". In my state that only legally applies to insurance companies dealing with each other. But the insurance companies still try to convince people that it applies to them. What that boil down to is you and I are in a wreck. Your fault. We both have full coverage. Here my company fixes my car you yours fixes yours. Now my company goes to your company demanding that they reimburse them for fixing my car. They generally settle with a 90% payment because the accident would not have occurred if I hadn't been there.

Get on line with your state insurance commission and see what's up.

Rick
 

Thanks oldtanker. I think she filed a complaint with the state insurance board.
The reason I jumped on this thread was to advise people how you are treated if you just have liability although I have a couple of vehicles with just that.
 
You just hit the nail on the head "Fixed it is not worth 2000.00" That is what they will pay you as you put a price on it. As long as the estimate is over 2000 it does not matter what it is.
The vehicle is totaled. There is a percentage of the totaled price for salvage. In Illinois an individual can not own a totaled vehicle. You have to be a licensed rebuilder to repair it. If your state is like that you need to buy and not have the title show that it was totaled.
 
What are anybody's rates gonna be after this if we keep letting places like this take money from the insurance companies without anybody questioning it?
 
You can have a salvage title here,you just can't get a loan on it.

My son went through this about a year and a half ago. They flat out refused to fix his car,told him they were going to total it,end of discussion. He took almost as much as the estimate was for and sold it to the used car jockey that I'm thinking of for $2500.
 
Since it was their "approved body shop", take the money, cash the check and dont get it fixed, or buy used parts and fix it youself. They will do a "suspencion of coverage" so you cant get paid for the bumper again if you have another fender bender.

Then cancel the coverage, get state minimum liability coverage only through another carrier, and go on your way.

Gene
 
Will it work that way? Can I just tell the agent I want a check for that amount and they'll give it to me?
 
(quoted from post at 22:25:35 02/05/14) OK,so tell me how this would work. I just looked up the Kelly Blue Book,answered all their questions. Came up with $5163. The estimate was over $8000. What is the most I could get in my pocket and keep the truck?
I'd take it to a used lot that I know that has their own body shop and see what they'd give me as is,and let them fix it and resell it.
Click to expand...
First off, yes the estimate is high. I'd guess in my area that would be close to a $3000 job.
Just because they estimated $8K doesn't mean that's what the insurance company will pay. I know a few body shop owners. They HATE State Farm. Chances are the estimate was so high because that shop doesn't want to do any work for State Farm.


As far as how it works if they total the vehicle....
They'll take the market value (book) value (pre accident), subtract the amount of your deductible. That's what they owe you. If you want to buy it back they will subtract the amount a wrecking yard would pay for it, and cut you a check for the remainder.
Let's say the book value is $4000, your deductible is $1000. They would owe you $3000. They'll get prices from wrecking yards to establish a buy back value. Let's say a yard would pay $750. The insurance company would owe you $2250 if you kept the car.
There will likely be some other expenses. They are supposed to re-title totaled cars with a salvage title.
With 276 rounds on the clock I'd be taking the money and let them take the car.
 
(quoted from post at 00:14:47 02/06/14) Will it work that way? Can I just tell the agent I want a check for that amount and they'll give it to me?
Click to expand...
Nope. That's NOT how it works.
No insurance company is going to pay $8K. Especially State Farm!
If you're looking for a cash settlement they will do a low ball estimate and cut you a check for that, then drop your full coverage.
Let's say the car is worth 4K and the damage is 3K. They'll come in with a 1500-2000 estimate and cut you a check for that. Otherwise the check will be made to the body shop or you and the body shop.
 
Wow that's high, are they paying you for the damage to get it fixed? My wife and prolly yours wouldent drive it like that, but if it were my car Id pocket the money and drive it like it is! Lol, I had a 1999 Chrysler New Yorker that I let a friend use, she had an accident with it, I paid $2000 for the car, insurance gave me $1900 for the damage, about 2 minutes with a sledge hammer and the front fender wasent rubbing the tire anymore. Lmao. I drove it smashed up. Than my buddy who did my inspections said are you gonna fix this thing? It's a real cop caller! Couple years later I sold it to some kid for $300 bucks
 
What about this case though? The estimate is 8 and the truck is worth 5 at best. If I tell them everything that's wrong with it,it's probably worth 2-3. Will they give me the difference between the 8 and the 3 and let me keep the truck?
If they want to come up with a real estimate for the damage,which is probably nearer to 2,I'll let them fix it and I'll even pay the deductible.
 
Dad took a settlement on one once and kept driving it,but I don't remember how it worked. Seems like at that time they gave him the full amount of the estimate. He took a big hammer to that one and sprayed the bad spot with a rattle can.
 
Randy, I just went through all this last Dec with my 03 Chrysler T & C. Hit a deer and they totalled it. Totally smashed in the left front of the car, front fender, hood, bumper, grille and the car quit running when we collided, so there was damage to possibly the main control module. Estimate was $4200 not including getting it running, then the dance with the nationwide (run and hide) started. They wanted to dock me $500 for a wrinkle on the rear bumper cover and did dock me $30 when they pulled the dipstick on the trans and claimed "slightly discolored fluid". I battled with them , keeping the loaner until I could get a satisfactory payoff from them which amounted to around $3000. I am totally disgusted by the way they tried to game me, I told them to fix it to the little cheap sob from Columbus, OH HQ, but I'm sure he was operating under instructions from higher up. I told him I have kept track of everything I have ever done to that car, and to go ahead and fix it, but he refused quoting some obscure law that allows them to basically screw their policyholders. Remember, Nationwide, run and hide. I also had a bad experience with State Farm, but that was many years ago. My cousin's uncle Zane Patrick used to be the State Farm guy in Sheridan.
 
in MI if the official body shop gives a repair bid that is higher than the insurance adjusters value of the same vehicle then they can offer you their value minus the deductable of your policy. You can take their check minus the deductable and keep the vehicle or take the check and give them the keys or have it repaired.
 
I've got some running to do in the morning. I'll stop at the office and see what they say. If I can get a decent check then sell it to Blake Hollenbeck for something reasonable,we're going shopping.
 
The kitty and the Jammies above the boots match! The insurance and repair trade are pretty far out of whack with my way of thinking. Whew. Jim
 
The truck will be totaled. Cost of fixing is higher than appraised value of truck. You will receive value of truck minus deduct or keep truck with appraised value minus deduct and minus salvage value. Estimate appears high by photo. Maybe estimator needs parts from your truck!!!!
 
As far as issuing you a salvage title if you buy it back , that is only for vehicles 6 yrs old or newer last I knew and even then they don't always do it. Being it is an '02 , I would take the check if that's the way it goes. You won't increase the sale value of the vehicle by repairing it. With those miles you won't lose anything if you sold it with that small amt of damage. If you buy it back, just put pl &pd and comprehensive on it. Deer are unpredictable in MI and comprehensive is the best kept secret in insurance coverage and the best deal.
 

If there's a high school near you with an auto shop I'd check with them - the one here does all kinds of repairs - the deal is no charge for labor but you must get the parts thru the school (that's where they make a profit). I'd be looking at salvage yards, too and replace the bumper myself OR buy/fabricate a 'custom' bumper (maybe a hunk of railroad iron? :D )
 
(quoted from post at 00:45:59 02/06/14) What about this case though? The estimate is 8 and the truck is worth 5 at best. If I tell them everything that's wrong with it,it's probably worth 2-3. Will they give me the difference between the 8 and the 3 and let me keep the truck?
If they want to come up with a real estimate for the damage,which is probably nearer to 2,I'll let them fix it and I'll even pay the deductible.
Click to expand...
Human nature is a funny thing. Seems that estimate has you seeing dollar signs. Get that $8000 figure out of your head. It's meaningless!
You say the vehicle is worth 5K tops. Knock off your deductible. Knock off the salvage value if you keep it. That's what they'll pay you.
NO WAY, NO HOW is the insurance company going to give you anywhere near $8000. Their obligation ends at market value which you say is 5000 tops. They'll probably appraise the market value much lower than 5K based on age and high miles.
 
(quoted from post at 17:14:47 02/05/14) Will it work that way? Can I just tell the agent I want a check for that amount and they'll give it to me?
Click to expand...

No, probably not. Someone will come to their senses and figure out that it is an economic total. Then they will pay you what the trucks value is. You will be able to "buy" it back for salvage, so that may be the way to go.

They will not give you a check for more than the truck is worth, unless someone has their head up their butt.

Gene
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

kcm.MN
Emergency (and "other" use) Lighting
Replies
2
Views
960
jacksun65
J
R
Truck damage update
2
Replies
28
Views
3K
Pops1532
P
G
How many of you would tell your kids....
2
Replies
34
Views
3K
ShepFL
S
J
Problem guy/bidder/former neighbor. ( long post)
2
Replies
33
Views
7K
Leroy
L
A
How would you handle this?
2 3
Replies
56
Views
12K
Anonymous-0
A
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top