It’s what it is..

Kim DuToit discovers insurance companies are dens of thieves.

Was chatting to my insurance guy the other day, and the result of said discussion was that as far as my VW Tiguan is concerned, I’m screwed if I ever get into a wreck because the book value of the 2013 model with 130,000+ miles is in the single-figure thousands.

This would be barely enough for a deposit on a “new” (i.e. second-hand) replacement, assuming I could even find one in acceptable condition…

Man oh man, have I been down that path. There is an old woman who I help from time to time with lawn work. Her husband is on death’s door. She got in an accident with a Lyft driver. A literal fender bender where all that’s messed up is the front fender, signal, and headlight. His insurance (USAA) denied coverage, because he was driving for Lyft. Lyft is slow-walking her claim. Her insurance (AAA) wants to total the car, and said if she took the lesser value (and kept the car to fix herself) they wouldn’t insure her. That seems like bullshit to me, but she insisted it was the case.

The car in question is a 2008 Corolla, in old-lady-bought-it-new shape. She drives to doctors appointments, the store, and sometimes Church. I think she said it had only 20K or so on the clock. I’ve seen it. Garage kept, it was pristine.

For now, she’s simply paying a friend of a friend to repair it.

I’ve been in that same position many, many times in my life. I remember telling one adjuster that this story ends with you paying to fix my car. You can do that the easy way, or the hard, painful way with lawyers.

That said, I’ve had two trucks totaled in the last 10 years. The first, my beloved 2003 Forerunner, had hail damage. It was 12 years old and had nearly 200K on the clock. All I wanted was my busted window fixed. The second was my 2005 Sequoia. That one had the airbag go off. An instant totaling in a ‘vintage’ car.

I can imagine the conversation I’ll have if I have an accident in my Excursion.

Call me naïve, but I think when someone hits you, and it’s their fault, you need to be made whole. And if that means they pay for an equivalent vehicle, so be it. As much as I’ve argued in 45 years of driving, that’s never happened. I know an insurance executive that told me at one point it’s their job not to pay you. I get it. They have to make money too.

I guess, check the company out and read the fine print.

Until then, the only suggestion I have for Kim is to waddle east on Parker to Premier and see Cousin Larry at C3Auto. He’s done me right hooking me up when those unfortunate insurance payouts weren’t what I’d hoped.