Someone backed into my Sienna, their ins company is Allstate. Called this week, and they already have sent me to one of their approved body shops to get an estimate. The front bumper has been raised a bit on the driver side; I won’t know about damage to frame until it gets inspected next week. I did a quick look on Kelly for a BB value and the avg trade in for my car, given mileage & zip code, is $1978, and third party resale is $3926.
My question: Assuming that the car won’t be totalled, if the cost to repair is below the blue book value, they would pay the body shop the money to repair my damage. Let’s say it is $3000, which is below the third party value. Do I have the option of just asking them to give me a check for the money, and then not having the body shop do the work? Or is that a tell, that the claim is fraudulent, and would they fight me on this and lower their offer?
I realize that the wisdom of taking that approach depends on what damage has been done to the frame of the car. I am expecting to drive the Sienna for at least 10 more years, and probably longer than that, so I would be leery of owning a car long term with structural damage. I’m just wondering what my options are.
My question: Assuming that the car won’t be totalled, if the cost to repair is below the blue book value, they would pay the body shop the money to repair my damage. Let’s say it is $3000, which is below the third party value. Do I have the option of just asking them to give me a check for the money, and then not having the body shop do the work? Or is that a tell, that the claim is fraudulent, and would they fight me on this and lower their offer?
I realize that the wisdom of taking that approach depends on what damage has been done to the frame of the car. I am expecting to drive the Sienna for at least 10 more years, and probably longer than that, so I would be leery of owning a car long term with structural damage. I’m just wondering what my options are.
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