I probably am looking at 3 totaled vehicles because of Buffalo Bayou flooding (6 mo. old 2016 King Ranch 4X4, 2011 Platinum 4x4, and 2015 German SUV). All have been in the water since early yesterday and will likely stay that way for a while yet, so guessing beyond fixing.

Any advice, tips, or warnings when 'discussing' with insurance and in getting a fair claim? Any general experiences on best proxy for value they will likely use so I can prepare and also start planning for moving forward with things in finding replacement vehicles? Odds they play fair v. try to jam me?

Gracias.

JW

I don't have any answers to the questions you are asking, but just wanted to say:

Ouch, that really sucks. Good luck with the insurance and finding new rides.

www.nada.com retail value plus tax and if you did any add on accessories then locate receipts and add them in, if you just bought tires gather those receipts also.

Thanks. If NADA retail, plus tax, and accessories, then that would likely not be that horrible. Fun, fun.

JW

do you need to wait until flood waters recede to initiate the claims process?

i don't have visual confirmation my car is under water, although i am 99% certain it is. the problem is the barker reservoir is going to drain pretty slowly, so i'm not sure when i will be able to get back and see how bad things are.

sts7049 said:

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do you need to wait until flood waters recede to initiate the claims process?

i don't have visual confirmation my car is under water, although i am 99% certain it is. the problem is the barker reservoir is going to drain pretty slowly, so i'm not sure when i will be able to get back and see how bad things are.

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See, if you had just let me or Ryan take care of your car, you wouldn't have any of these issues. I even offered to let you park your crappy GM product next to my peasant E55.....

1agswitchin4lanes said:

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sts7049 said:

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do you need to wait until flood waters recede to initiate the claims process?

i don't have visual confirmation my car is under water, although i am 99% certain it is. the problem is the barker reservoir is going to drain pretty slowly, so i'm not sure when i will be able to get back and see how bad things are.

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See, if you had just let me or Ryan take care of your car, you wouldn't have any of these issues. I even offered to let you park your crappy GM product next to my peasant E55.....

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if i had let one of you two store it, i would have come back to bald tires and a burnt up transmission. probably would be totalled anyway.

sts7049 said:

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1agswitchin4lanes said:

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sts7049 said:

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do you need to wait until flood waters recede to initiate the claims process?

i don't have visual confirmation my car is under water, although i am 99% certain it is. the problem is the barker reservoir is going to drain pretty slowly, so i'm not sure when i will be able to get back and see how bad things are.

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See, if you had just let me or Ryan take care of your car, you wouldn't have any of these issues. I even offered to let you park your crappy GM product next to my peasant E55.....

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if i had let one of you two store it, i would have come back to bald tires and a burnt up transmission. probably would be totalled anyway.

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Either way, same results. That way you would know the end result!

sts7049 said:

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do you need to wait until flood waters recede to initiate the claims process?

i don't have visual confirmation my car is under water, although i am 99% certain it is. the problem is the barker reservoir is going to drain pretty slowly, so i'm not sure when i will be able to get back and see how bad things are.

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No, you do not have to wait.

aggiepaintrain said:

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www.nada.com retail value plus tax and if you did any add on accessories then locate receipts and add them in, if you just bought tires gather those receipts also.

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is this accurate for any old collision? my FIL was hit recently and the adjuster is really trying to screw him. how does this process go?

TIA

Towns03 said:

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aggiepaintrain said:

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www.nada.com retail value plus tax and if you did any add on accessories then locate receipts and add them in, if you just bought tires gather those receipts also.

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is this accurate for any old collision? my FIL was hit recently and the adjuster is really trying to screw him. how does this process go?

TIA

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Most policies are "cash value" policies and not replacement value policies. You can argue all those thing, but don't expect them to provide your tax value.

I plan on arguing all those things for the truck I lost, but I don't expect to get those amounts.

liberty mutual has told me it's better to wait until i get eyes on it

sts7049 said:

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liberty mutual has told me it's better to wait until i get eyes on it

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Why? Doesn't really matter as an adjuster will need to see it anyway unless they're willing to take pictures as evidence before making a determination.

who comes up with 'cash values'?

dunno. i guess because i don't actually know it is flooded for certain.

Towns03 said:

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who comes up with 'cash values'?

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Negotiations between the insured and the insurance company. Look to NADA, EBay, Craiglist, etc. for comps to your vehicle to help prove your position of the value of your vehicle.

Had two cars totaled about 10 years ago by the kids--one at fault one not. We got premium prices on both.

2011 M37S was totalled with just water in the floorboards. MetLife came with $15k and clean retail NADA is $15,500 so it lines with up the $500 deductible. I'm gonna check some dealer listings though before taking it but they already have the car.

Update: I asked for their comps and the only one still at the dealer (listed on report) was $1,000 more than they said it was. I argued just a tiny bit and got almost $4K more out of them.

My brother wants the car for salvage cost so now I have to deal with getting it back from them.

Looks like the Volvo is repairable. Shampoo the carpets and replace a module of some sort. I really don't want the car back since it will have a flooded stigma. What are my options and how do I not get screwed on trade in of a flooded car?

tmas said:

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Looks like the Volvo is repairable. Shampoo the carpets and replace a module of some sort. I really don't want the car back since it will have a flooded stigma. What are my options and how do I not get screwed on trade in of a flooded car?

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Don't claim it, clean it up as best you can and trade into Texas direct auto in a month?