So, You Have Totaled Your Car

Many of you have had this experience and that includes me. It is a difficult experience to total your vehicle.  I’ve been in three total wrecks and had three different experiences.  Two were before I owned a body shop, and had no help, and last one after and I knew how to handle it.  I know, you’re thinking three – what the heck is that about.  My first was a pileup.  My second, I was hit by an uninsured driver.  The third, a telephone pole jumped out in front of me (refer to my distracted driving blog).  I have been injured in all three and in one other people was injured as well.

I wanted to give a few tips I have learned along the way about the process and how the Commonwealth of Massachusetts helps consumers.

1. We hope you will use Allston Collision Center, Inc., but whether you choose us or not do make sure you are comfortable with the shop you do choose.
2. Do your homework. This means knowing what your vehicle is worth before finalizing compensation from your insurance company.  This includes knowing your mileage, history of maintenance, history of non-related damage that was not fixed, the condition of exterior/interior, maintenance of tires.
3. Remember low mileage can add money; high mileage can deduct money from your final figure.
4. What doesn’t count is your opinion of what your car is worth. You can only use the information you can prove.
5. If you have paid for replacement in full or new car insurance – make sure you are being compensated
6. Know your insurance policy – many people get tripped up on this one because we don’t want to read the policy. I get it, but you can end up paying for something you shouldn’t – most common are storage charges.
7. Who was at fault- you may owe a deductible
8. After you come to a settlement figure ask for your sales tax. It is always owed to you in the State of Massachusetts.
9. Remember the first offer is not always the final offer. Do your homework, come to the negotiation prepared and you have the right not to accept the first offer.

A good site to an idea of the value of your vehicle is National Automobile Dealers Association.  Do an online search in a 50-mile radius and see what similar vehicles are being sold for.  Remember this would include make, model, year, upgrades, downgrades, and mileage.

If you choose Allston Collision Center, Inc. we will assist you in handling the entire process.