Stolen 80! > Insurance trying to scam!

[nigelsiam]

I want to make this thread to hopefully help with what I am going through right now and so that no one has to go through the same things.
Many might be aware of my situation already (I posted this on What did you do ....weekend) . My Collector's Edition (3x locked) was stolen about three weeks ago. The local detective didn't even try to help, so my insurance (Progressive) considered it a total loss. I have full coverage. I was incredibly distraught. I put so much love, effort and subsequent memories in this rig. Well the pain didn't end there. Progressive, in all their infinite wisdom, is saying it's only worth $6300 and that's all they will give me. After that offer, I supplied an exhaustive list of other CE like mine (And 40th Anniversary editions as well) and how much they sold and were selling for. They didn't budge.
Here are the things I am imploring help about.

• Has anyone had to go through this and how was it handled?
• What kind of attorney would be best suited for an action like this?
• Has anyone worked with a Toyota dealer (or any other appraisers) to help create value to give to the insurance?
• Anything else?

Many other mud members have already looked over their insurance policies and all the small print because of this and it's crazy to see how much they found their insurance is a scam and changed it to reflect a true value if things go wrong.

I suggest everyone does so their life's hard work isn't devalued in such a tragic way.

Thank you everyone! The support here has really helped.

IG: nigelsiam

 

[effjay80]

I very sorry for your loss and understand what you must be going through both financially and emotionally.

 

[nigelsiam]

I very sorry for your loss and understand what you must be going through both financially and emotionally.

Thank you...I will keep fighting. Not sure how it will end up but I have to at least try.

 

[COS80]

Many other mud members have already looked over their insurance policies and all the small print because of this and it's crazy to see how much they found their insurance is a scam and changed it to reflect a true value if things go wrong. I suggest everyone does so their life's hard work isn't devalued in such a tragic way.

This is the key, right here - you have to insure it for actual value beforehand.

I've been saying it for decades - insurance is nothing but a legalized racket. Sorry you found out the hard way, and I hope you find an attorney to sue them blind.

 

[PNWGERMAN]

Wishing you the best man. I've been through this as a younger man with the first car I ever bought with my own hard earned money. A 1991 BMW e30 318i in perfect condition. Loved that car so much. Got in a fender bender, and the insurance gave me absolutely nothing for it. At the time I didnt know I had to argue with them, and just took the price they offered with curses at them.
Keep your chin up and fight the good fight. In Germany the saying for hold your chin up roughly translates to "hold your ears stiff."

 

[Gerry McGerry]

Thank you...I will keep fighting. Not sure how it will end up but I have to at least try.

A few years ago I had a fancy mountain bike fall off a shuttle trailer at a race, wasn't stressed because it insured for retail value through a bicycle specific insurer. They refused to pay out a cent because while I was covered for damages at a race, because it was on a trailer to the top of the hill the bike was 'being freighted' and it wasn't covered for damage while being freighted!

I had to fight them for 18 months, I ended up calling every single day, asking the same questions, giving them the same story and then asking for everything we discussed in writing. I refused to be paid out any less than full value the whole time and their offers kept going up slightly to shut me up. Stood my ground and eventually got paid out what I wanted.

Don't quit, ever. Seek legal advice & keep hassling them. Ask for in depth reasons for their valuation, be a pest about it and ask for EVERY detail in writing after any phone call. Also check marketplace/ebay etc daily, you never know.

 

[mudgudgeon]

I had an accident earlier this year.

To justify their payout figure, my insurer gave me a list if 12 comparable vehicles recently sold, or for sale within a 2-3 state radius.

Comparison was very detailed.

They actually offered me a lot more than I'd paid for the vehicle 1 month prior.

I challenged the figures in their emailed offer as the offer didn't match the comparison/report they gave me. They bumped the figure up to match the report, and I accepted the offer.

OP, I'd be happy to send you the comparison I was given so you can see how they compared different vehicles (personal details blacked out of course). PM me

 

[devo]

I had my 80 stollen a few years back. There are threads here on stolen vehicles.
Anyways, for sale adds for similar vehicles from Bat, or any legitimate seller that shows the retail value of these 80’s may be helpful ?

 

[BTLSHP]

Naïve question here: Have these cars become targets for theft?

 

[nigelsiam]

I had my 80 stollen a few years back. There are threads here on stolen vehicles.
Anyways, for sale adds for similar vehicles from Bat, or any legitimate seller that shows the retail value of these 80’s may be helpful ?

They don't do auctions, they didn't take the list of similar cars for sale or that were sold here and they didn't even accept ads on FB Marketplace!! WTF?
I even provided this:
They just ignored it

 

[ikarus]

Have you talked to an independent appraiser?

I can't vouch for either of these companies - I was just googling around because I need to switch my insurance to "Agreed Value" - but it may be a good starting point.

Muscle Car Appraisal

Expert appraisals for your vintage or modern muscle cars

musclecarappraisal.net

Expert Car Appraisal Services | ClassicAutoAppraisal.com | Classic Auto Appraiser

Get an expert opinion on your car's value with ClassicAutoAppraisal.com. We offer in-person and online car appraisal, insurance valuation, vehicle inspection, and automotive brokering services. Co...

classicautoappraisal.com

These guys have a picture of a RHD 80 Series on their site.

Hopefully someone involved in independent and classic/rare insurance appraisals could help you or steer you in the right direction

 

[greentruck]

Yes an independent appraiser can help. Other than that it’s all about the comps. if they haven’t presented you with a dozen or so, ask where they are at. Sounds like went to the Carmax website and called it good.

 

[nigelsiam]

Have you talked to an independent appraiser?

I can't vouch for either of these companies - I was just googling around because I need to switch my insurance to "Agreed Value" - but it may be a good starting point.

Muscle Car Appraisal

Expert appraisals for your vintage or modern muscle cars

musclecarappraisal.net

Expert Car Appraisal Services | ClassicAutoAppraisal.com | Classic Auto Appraiser

Get an expert opinion on your car's value with ClassicAutoAppraisal.com. We offer in-person and online car appraisal, insurance valuation, vehicle inspection, and automotive brokering services. Co...

classicautoappraisal.com

These guys have a picture of a RHD 80 Series on their site.

Hopefully someone involved in independent and classic/rare insurance appraisals could help you or steer you in the right direction

Thanks! I will check them out. It's amazing they wouldn't even want to give me the KBB value. At first they said they don't use it and then a couple conversations (arguments) later they said it could be a viable source.

 

[ikarus]

Thanks! I will check them out. It's amazing they wouldn't even want to give me the KBB value. At first they said they don't use it and then a couple conversations (arguments) later they said it could be a viable source.

Yeah good luck man. I can’t find it anywhere but I remember seeing a post on IG about a guy who has an appraisal business that specializes in fighting for enthusiasts to get their car’s worth in negotiations with insurance. Sounds like a regular occurrence

 

[nigelsiam]

Yeah good luck man. I can’t find it anywhere but I remember seeing a post on IG about a guy who has an appraisal business that specializes in fighting for enthusiasts to get their car’s worth in negotiations with insurance. Sounds like a regular occurrence

Thank you. I will have do my homework for someone like that and/or an attorney. It will be worth it to spend some $$ to get even somewhere close to the value of my car and also, not to let that sh*t insurance get away with this.

 

[CrabCake]

Thank you. I will have do my homework for someone like that and/or an attorney. It will be worth it to spend some $$ to get even somewhere close to the value of my car and also, not to let that sh*t insurance get away with this.

Sadly, it looks like they are basing on "Fair" condition...I have Hagerty agreed value on mine for $45k plus the "Cherished Salvage" coverage that gives me the truck back in a total loss accident situation without an extra buyout while still paying out agreed value. They actually suggested bumping my coverage that I had for the first year of ownership (3 years ago) from $38k by $7k to my current $45k policy. My rig is a 94 weekend toy in what I would consider the better end of their "Good" scale, hence the suggested valuation range. All of this said, I'm taking a sharp look at my policy as theft was never really in my mindset ever, but obviously can happen to anyone at any time. I really wish you well with your battle, but I think it's an uphill fight for sure.

Here are some screenshots from Hagerty's site: