Our minivan was stolen over the weekend

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Update.

The van is being repaired by my dealership. So far all the work was authorized by the insurance adjuster. I'm quite relieved as the damages are over $6k. I could not believe the amount when they told me. The damage is mostly cosmetic with only the front wheel being sent to a specialist for fixing the small damage and checking the balance. The rest is done in the body shop. No radiator or other internal damage was done. I guess we'll see once I pick it up and start driving if that's true.
It should be ready sometime next week.



So-apparently there wasn't any front end damage. So-hopefully it drives normal. Insist on a test drove BEFORE YOU SIGN THE RELEASE.

 

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted By: CKN
So-apparently there wasn't any front end damage. So-hopefully it drives normal. Insist on a test drove BEFORE YOU SIGN THE RELEASE.


+1, good idea. Sounds like they're being very thorough with it. Should be fine when it's done or that would be my expectation.

My dad's car was hit twice, each one being a 4k repair. When the first one happened he thought it wouldn't be the same. Even his sister said the same thing. But it looked great afterwards and he was very impressed with their work. This was from the dealership's body shop which is a 50/50 joint venture between them and a body shop company. Lifetime guarantee on repairs as long as he owns it. Place is state of the art, super clean and organized. I stopped in on a Saturday, half way during the one week time line which was a perfect time. You can tack progress online. The dealer owns the land, building, name and the other company runs it. They have seven locations.

http://www.metroaccidentrepair.com/

 

[Andrew1972]

Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Luckily they didn't get into a serious wreck and the families sue you're since your the owner.


You really think you are liable for a stolen vehicle?

 

[xxch4osxx]

Originally Posted By: HM12460
One reason of several why I flat out refuse to loan out a car to anyone, especially family.
Exactly.

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: madRiver
Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Luckily they didn't get into a serious wreck and the families sue you're since your the owner.


You really think you are liable for a stolen vehicle?



They will sue anybody listed on the vehicle's registration. That's how it works. That is what my lawyer and insurance agent told me. That's why I have a 1 million umbrella policy.

 

[KrisZ]

We got the van back last week.

They replaced the front fender, bumper and passenger side headlight, repaired the wheel and the bottom of the sliding door. The rear bumper turned out to be not damaged at all but smeared with some black stuff, which cleaned up no problem. They also did the alignment and fully detailed the vehicle inside and out.

The paint matches perfectly, the van drives nice and straight on the highway. No abnormal noises inside or out.

I'm relieved because as othes pointed out, I may have had to trade it in, but so far I don't think I will. There was no other damage, other than what I mentioned already. Oil level, color and smell look normal.

There was no issue with insurance coverage, I just paid the deductible and they covered everything else no problem.
Not a good experience by any stretch to have your possession stolen, but overall it could've been much worse.
We're glad to put this ordeal behind us and go on with our lives.

 

[Delta]

Glad everything came out ok! I know first hand it isn't fun to have your vehicle at the body shop!

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: Delta
Glad everything came out ok! I know first hand it isn't fun to have your vehicle at the body shop!


Yeah, I just saw your thread. I hope your car is fixed right.
And as I mentioned in that thread, check if the tub was welded in. Welds start rusting very quickly.

I also will treat the new fender with oil rustproofing from the inside.

 

[4WD]

Good you got it back … not to rain on the parade … but we got hosed on trade for a parking lot “rub” … I mean 1 mph and son turned too early backing out of space
Paid the other driver $800 cash for paint (did not paint) but since she called the police they did a report … Carfax used against me …dealer used it big time … then posted unit $7k over trade …

Question for members… does Carfax only use PD reporting or can they get repair info some other way?

 

[wag123]

Originally Posted By: 4WD
Question for members… does Carfax only use PD reporting or can they get repair info some other way?

Some/Many body shops sell information to CarFax and AutoCheck. The big body shop chains ALL do this (beware, even a long time "local" body shop may be owned by one of the big chains), but even many independent body shops are doing this. I have warned body shops in the past that I expressly forbid them to provide any information on my privately owned personal vehicle to CarFax or AutoCheck or I will sue them for loss-of-resale-value damages! It would not be difficult to prove this in a court of law.

 

[4WD]

Thanks for that …
my concern is the OP’s vehicle might still be in good mechanical shape … but could get hosed in trade like I did …
In fact … I have a dent in my pickup door caused by a Hi Lift jack …
these guys could even report something that silly if I get it fixed ?

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: 4WD
Thanks for that …
my concern is the OP’s vehicle might still be in good mechanical shape … but could get hosed in trade like I did …
In fact … I have a dent in my pickup door caused by a Hi Lift jack …
these guys could even report something that silly if I get it fixed ?


I'm not exactly sure how Carfax gets their reports, but it's one of the reasons I'm glad the damage was light and didn't affect how the vehicle drives and operates and it was fixed properly, because from the looks of it I won't have to get rid of it and take a bath.
Plan is to keep it at least 10 years at which point Carfax or no Carfax, being a Chrysler product, it will be worth very little.

 

[wag123]

Originally Posted By: 4WD
I have a dent in my pickup door caused by a Hi Lift jack …
these guys could even report something that silly if I get it fixed ?

Yep.

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: 4WD
Good you got it back … not to rain on the parade … but we got hosed on trade for a parking lot “rub” … I mean 1 mph and son turned too early backing out of space
Paid the other driver $800 cash for paint (did not paint) but since she called the police they did a report … Carfax used against me …dealer used it big time … then posted unit $7k over trade …

Question for members… does Carfax only use PD reporting or can they get repair info some other way?


Fender benders have very little negative value when on a dealers lot-even when listed on the Carfax. (Assuming it was professionally repaired.) This dealer just used the "accident" out of their "bag of tricks" to deceive you.

It's still buyer beware.

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Originally Posted By: 4WD
Thanks for that …
my concern is the OP’s vehicle might still be in good mechanical shape … but could get hosed in trade like I did …
In fact … I have a dent in my pickup door caused by a Hi Lift jack …
these guys could even report something that silly if I get it fixed ?


I'm not exactly sure how Carfax gets their reports, but it's one of the reasons I'm glad the damage was light and didn't affect how the vehicle drives and operates and it was fixed properly, because from the looks of it I won't have to get rid of it and take a bath.
Plan is to keep it at least 10 years at which point Carfax or no Carfax, being a Chrysler product, it will be worth very little.



I traded in a 4Runner that had a fender replaced due to a shopping cart incident in a parking lot. The used car manager noticed the serial number didn't match even though the new paint was not noticeable-at all but to a very trained eye.

It had zero negative effect on trade in-but they tried to make it have one by low balling me. After I refused (the offer) I got a fair trade in.

 

[wag123]

Originally Posted By: CKN
Fender benders have very little negative value when on a dealers lot-even when listed on the Carfax. (Assuming it was professionally repaired.) This dealer just used the "accident" out of their "bag of tricks" to deceive you.
It's still buyer beware.

Let me ask you this... if you were out looking at used vehicles to purchase and you found several fairly equivalent vehicles to consider, would you pay as much for a used vehicle that had an accident listed on the CarFax as you would for one that didn't? I wouldn't, and neither would most other people. On a used vehicle that had an accident listed on it's CarFax, would you believe the used car salesman if he/she told you that the accident was just a minor fender bender or parking incident? Again, I wouldn't, and neither would most other people.
The bottom line is this... it is a FACT that having an accident listed on a vehicle's Carfax and/or AutoCheck history report DEFINITELY DOES affect it's resale value. Now days many used vehicle wholesale buyers will not purchase a vehicle at auction (regardless of price or extent of repaired damage) if it has an accident listed on it's CarFax and/or AutoCheck history report and this has had a quantifiable negative impact on the wholesale value of these vehicles. Also, the retail buyers of certain brands (Honda) are VERY @nal about purchasing a used vehicle with an accident report.
Also, most people don't know this, but you can negotiate a settlement with many insurance companies for loss-of-value reimbursement after an accident because of this, which tells you that even THEY recognize this fact. This is happening often enough these days that some insurance companies are now expressly excluding loss-of-value reimbursement in their policy's comprehensive/collision coverage (look at the fine print) and some are offering it as an extra cost coverage rider.

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: wag123
Originally Posted By: CKN
Fender benders have very little negative value when on a dealers lot-even when listed on the Carfax. (Assuming it was professionally repaired.) This dealer just used the "accident" out of their "bag of tricks" to deceive you.
It's still buyer beware.

Let me ask you this... if you were out looking at used vehicles to purchase and you found several fairly equivalent vehicles to consider, would you pay as much for a used vehicle that had an accident listed on the CarFax as you would for one that didn't? I wouldn't, and neither would most other people. On a used vehicle that had an accident listed on it's CarFax, would you believe the used car salesman if he/she told you that the accident was just a minor fender bender or parking incident? Again, I wouldn't, and neither would most other people.
The bottom line is this... it is a FACT that having an accident listed on a vehicle's Carfax and/or AutoCheck history report DEFINITELY DOES affect it's resale value. Now days many used vehicle wholesale buyers will not purchase a vehicle at auction (regardless of price or extent of repaired damage) if it has an accident listed on it's CarFax and/or AutoCheck history report and this has had a quantifiable negative impact on the wholesale value of these vehicles. Also, the retail buyers of certain brands (Honda) are VERY @nal about purchasing a used vehicle with an accident report.
Also, most people don't know this, but you can negotiate a settlement with many insurance companies for loss-of-value reimbursement after an accident because of this, which tells you that even THEY recognize this fact. This is happening often enough these days that some insurance companies are now expressly excluding loss-of-value reimbursement in their policy's comprehensive/collision coverage (look at the fine print) and some are offering it as an extra cost coverage rider.


I have seen CERTIFIED VEHICLES (at name brand dealerships) with an accident on the Carfax. Of course these are all "fender bender" types that doesn't affect frames or airbags. YOu could be right that some manufacturers could be more particular than others. As far as "loss of value" this has been talked to death on this website. Insurance companies also know that there are high demand for use vehicles-and many on here have been unsuccessful making this argument or have received any where from a "few hundred to as little as a $60.00 "loss of value offer".

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: CKN
Originally Posted By: wag123
Originally Posted By: CKN
Fender benders have very little negative value when on a dealers lot-even when listed on the Carfax. (Assuming it was professionally repaired.) This dealer just used the "accident" out of their "bag of tricks" to deceive you.
It's still buyer beware.

Let me ask you this... if you were out looking at used vehicles to purchase and you found several fairly equivalent vehicles to consider, would you pay as much for a used vehicle that had an accident listed on the CarFax as you would for one that didn't? I wouldn't, and neither would most other people. On a used vehicle that had an accident listed on it's CarFax, would you believe the used car salesman if he/she told you that the accident was just a minor fender bender or parking incident? Again, I wouldn't, and neither would most other people.
The bottom line is this... it is a FACT that having an accident listed on a vehicle's Carfax and/or AutoCheck history report DEFINITELY DOES affect it's resale value. Now days many used vehicle wholesale buyers will not purchase a vehicle at auction (regardless of price or extent of repaired damage) if it has an accident listed on it's CarFax and/or AutoCheck history report and this has had a quantifiable negative impact on the wholesale value of these vehicles. Also, the retail buyers of certain brands (Honda) are VERY @nal about purchasing a used vehicle with an accident report.
Also, most people don't know this, but you can negotiate a settlement with many insurance companies for loss-of-value reimbursement after an accident because of this, which tells you that even THEY recognize this fact. This is happening often enough these days that some insurance companies are now expressly excluding loss-of-value reimbursement in their policy's comprehensive/collision coverage (look at the fine print) and some are offering it as an extra cost coverage rider.



Wag123-you negotiated a poor deal. As evidence by what the dealer is asking for your vehicle on their lot.

I have seen CERTIFIED VEHICLES (at name brand dealerships) with an accident on the Carfax. Of course these are all "fender bender" types that doesn't affect frames or airbags. YOu could be right that some manufacturers could be more particular than others. As far as "loss of value" this has been talked to death on this website. Insurance companies also know that there are high demand for use vehicles-and many on here have been unsuccessful making this argument or have received any where from a "few hundred to as little as a $60.00 "loss of value offer".


Don't take my word for it-do a search on CarMax (the biggest seller of used cars in the country) and see how many vehicles you can find with an accident on the Carfax-and see what they are asking for them.

Remember-they do not discount-from their asking price.

 

[Subdued]

So you ever get your money back from the clown who got your van stolen?

 

[wag123]

Originally Posted By: CKN
Don't take my word for it-do a search on CarMax (the biggest seller of used cars in the country) and see how many vehicles you can find with an accident on the Carfax-and see what they are asking for them.
Remember-they do not discount-from their asking price.

Nobody said that there weren't any vehicles on dealer lots with CarFax accident reports, there definitely are. People trade them in all the time (often times immediately after they get them out of the body shop, BEFORE they show an accident report on Carfax, which can take several months to show-up), and dealers retail them because they know that they will have a problem wholesaling them at the auction. If some people want to pay the full A++ retail price for one of them at a rip-off dealer like CarMax, THEY are the fools. Most people who buy vehicles from them do so because of their no-pressure no-haggle sales policy, NOT because they are getting a "good deal" from them. FYI, CarMax is one of the dealer groups that absolutely will not purchase any vehicles at the auctions if they have an accident report on CarFax or AutoCheck, but, they get do them traded-in all the time and they also purchase them off of the street (at a discount).
I repeat my question... if YOU were out looking at used vehicles to purchase and you found several fairly equivalent vehicles to consider, would YOU pay as much for a used vehicle that had an accident listed on the CarFax as you would for one that didn't? I wouldn't (and haven't, and won't), and neither would most other reasonably intelligent people.
I reiterate... it is a FACT that having an accident listed on a vehicle's Carfax and/or AutoCheck history report DEFINITELY DOES affect it's resale value.