Don't let them write off your car due to weather damage. There may be an avenue too get your vehicle fixed instead.

I had a rollover covered by my insurance as collision. USAA have been consistently giving lowball offers. Which aren’t even close to the cost of the new vehicle.

1st offer: 25, 500, 3 of the 4 comps were lemon buybacks. - I point this out they say they will make a comp “without lemons even though they are valid”
2nd offer 25,450: closest vehicle is 75 miles away. 1 vehicle is from a 2 month old listing and 1 a lemon buyback.

I send them comps from the same area they used (100 miles), and I adjust the 3 vehicles for mileage difference with their formula. The 3 average to $28,900 - I point out they still have a lemon on there.

They do a third, 2 month old and lemon still on. Now offering $25,600.

There is not a single vehicle within 200 miles that costs less than $27,000 has a clean title and adjusts to a value of less than $26,300. I have done another set of comps and the absolute cheapest 3 in 100 miles average to a mileage adjusted 27,500.

At this point it seems like they are not going to budge from $25,500 even if they only take the lemon off the average goes up to $26,100.

I’m thinking I should just invoke the appraisal clause, it will cost me $500 in fees to the independent adjuster and the umpire, but I can’t see the fair value being less than $1500 more than they are offering and probably higher.

I’m also thinking of telling them that I will complain to the California insurance commissioner for violating code 10 2698.8

Anyone have experience with this as I see it if they can go back 3 months 100 mile radius, they can find comps in my local area 25 miles according to the code. Then there is them using branded title vehicles even though I keep identifying them and disputing.

Interested in people’s thoughts.

I'm looking for advice from anyone who's been through a similar situation with Progressive (or any insurance company).

I have a 2023 Kia Forte in Illinois with about 70,000 miles. The car was parked during a severe rainstorm, and about 2 inches of clean rainwater got into the interior. The water was confined to the floorboards. It did not go over the dashboard, and I did not drive through floodwater.

As soon as I found it, I removed the seats, pulled up the carpet, extracted all the water with a shop vac, and spent several days drying the carpet and foam with fans and a dehumidifier. The interior is now completely dry, odor-free, and the car is running normally.

Progressive initially couldn't estimate the damage from photos, so they sent someone to come out for further review. They ultimately declared it a total loss, citing Illinois flood vehicle laws. They offered me about $17,500 after my $2,000 deductible.

Here's my problem:

I still owe about $20,500 to Kia Finance, and I do not have GAP insurance. I am willing to pay off the loan and have the means to pay the remaining $2K.

I'm a full-time student, currently completing an unpaid internship, and I don't have the income to go buy another reliable car. I would honestly rather keep this car and continue making my monthly loan payments than surrender it and be left without reliable transportation.

Mind you, there is now no damage to the car. It has run perfectly normally since the "accident." My brother is a mechanic and has said no water got into the engine. The car has no cosmetic damage to it now especially since I was able to save the carpet.

**I realize that I probably should have just never filed a claim because I just basically screwed myself over.

I called Kia Finance, and I got some interesting information:

• One representative told me that if Progressive sends the insurance payment without a letter of guarantee, they can apply it as a large payment toward the loan instead of paying it off. This would allow me to keep the car and to keep the rest of what I owe open on the loan.
• Another representative told me they can't really tell me what they'll do until Progressive officially contacts them regarding the total-loss claim.
• They also said that Progressive decides who keeps the car, while Kia Finance decides how the loan is handled.

I also found that Progressive's website says owner retention is available in some total-loss claims.

I want to keep my car because, as a student with no job or means to get a new one, I will be SOL. If I could take it all back knowing I could have resolved it on my own I would have. I commute to school and practicums 4 out of 7 days of the week, so I need a reliable car.

My questions are:

1. Has anyone with a financed vehicle successfully retained their totaled car through Progressive?
2. If so, how did the process work with your lender?
3. Did Progressive reduce your settlement by the salvage value?
4. Did the insurance money still go to the lienholder, or did you receive any of it directly?
5. Has anyone ever chosen to withdraw or decline a total-loss settlement and simply continue making payments on their loan instead?

I'm not looking for legal advice, just hoping to hear from people who have actually been through this process. Any experiences or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Two months ago, I bought a 2010 Toyota Prius IV with 125,000 miles. I immediately spent nearly $4,500 on major upgrades: a new hybrid battery pack, an OEM Toyota catalytic converter assembly, new sway bar links, and brand-new front tires.

I was recently in an accident and deemed not at fault. State Farm declared the vehicle a total loss. Their current valuation offer is just over $10k (including CA taxes and registration). Looking at their report screenshots, they are only allocating a flat $516 adjustment (labeled as an "engine rebuild") for the $4k+ in brand-new components (I sent them the reciepts for the $4k I spent on the car already).

The dealer comparables they used are technically within the geographic limit, but they reflect standard, un-upgraded vehicles—none have a fresh hybrid battery or new exhaust assemblies, and finding a 16 year old car with freshly upgraded items like mine are near impossible.

I am considering two routes and want to see what my best options are:

1. Invoke the Right of Appraisal: Is it worth hiring an independent appraiser under California law (CCP § 1280) to fight the actual cash value (ACV) based on the vehicle's exceptional powertrain conditioning?
2. Component Swapping: Can I remove my new hybrid battery and OEM catalytic converter, replace them with functional, street-legal stock components that meet CA safety/smog standards, and just let State Farm reduce my payout by that $516 line-item adjustment? Or will they completely re-evaluate and slash the total payout if they catch the swap?

Has anyone successfully navigated a powertrain refresh dispute with State Farm in California? What are my best options here? Thanks!

Images for the report they sent me: (Partially redacted to protect my privacy)

https://ibb.co/GQJ7DhCh

https://ibb.co/PZrZ9S8D

https://ibb.co/Nnn4CKZH

<a href="https://ibb.co/GQJ7DhCh"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/m5BJKxhx/pdfprint-6-asnd-7-do-page-0002.jpg" alt="pdfprint-6-asnd-7-do-page-0002" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/PZrZ9S8D"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/JRcRyhP3/pdfprint-6-asnd-7-do-page-0001.jpg" alt="pdfprint-6-asnd-7-do-page-0001" border="0"></a>

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so I was recently in a rear end in edmonton . the opposing driver was at fault . I was quoted 12,900 to fix the vehicle called insurance to confirm it so my car could he fixed and they called me within a couple days stating the car was not repairable and they were assigning a total loss adjuster . the total loss adjuster only wants to pay 19k when I owe 32 on the vehicle . has anyone fought their insurance and if so which lawyer did you use that was succesful ?

Hey guys so I’m doing a claim on the roof of my commercial property. We had a storm last year where 2inches of hail fell. My rooftop units are absolutely destroyed and it’s caused the roof to leak. But I’ve had PAs say that since it’s a gravel roof there’s not much I can do and even though my gutters and metals are smashed I have an exclusion for cosmetics. Is there anyway around it? Anything I can do? My agent assured me I was getting full coverage that I asked for… am I screwed or is there another way?

Hello

We made a roof claim and it was denied. We had a State Farm agent tell us to open a new claim and we did. We have had multiple roofers inspect our roof but the ones from State Farm say it only needs shingle repair. First it was nine shingles then the second inspector said 6. While working on the second claim we received a letter from State Farm saying that there was an underwriter review prompted by our first claim that says we must replace our roof as evidenced by the "granule loss, storm damage and brittle material" or our policy will be canceled. They identified the reason we made the claim as the reason the roof must be replaced so why are we told we have to replace it and pay for it ourselves? I really don't understand. The second claim was denied because the shingles can be replaced. We called another roofer to get an estimate on replacing the shingles and he said we need a new roof. He is sending pictures of "holes" he found. What can I do now? I never formally (in writing) wrote that I was appealing the second denial I just verbally told the claims agent I was so she asked for pictures. The roofer we had said if she tried to replace the missing shingles the ones around/above would crack and break. She took pictures and sent them in but State Farm still said no replacement. The manager said they don't replace a roof unless all parts have damage and there is a small overhang that didn't have wind damage. What should I do next? We have been with State Farm for 47 years with one ceiling repair when our water heater broke. I think they are crooks but I don't have the money to hire an attorney. Advice HELP please!

Question, we filed a claim on our house in 2023 due to damage from a wind storm. There was damage to the siding on one side. It was repaired but the siding didn't match and my state has a matching clause. Progressive paid a supplement amount to have the whole house sided based on an estimate from our contractor and then told us basically that's it, we are done you don't have to show proof of repair like we are done. The contractor we had then said that wasn't enough to cover what he needed to complete the job, so we paid him for the repairs he completed and made sure everything was good, we then utilized the balance of the left over insurance to make some updates/ repairs to our property since the amount wasn't enough to finish the full siding of our house. Fast forward to a month ago we had a major hailstorm and it obliterated our siding, roof, gutters, etc and progressive is saying they will not replace the siding again since they paid out a claim previously to do a full siding.

Are they able to do that? I can't find anything in my insurance contract that says we had to utilize that money for repairs ok that specific item and the repairs to the siding were done they just didn't match our siding completely.

Had to share this one because its one of the worst lowballs I've seen an insurance company try to get away with.

AAA came in with a $29,579 valuation for a 1957 Chevy Bel Air. The car was clean and all original, not a project, not a restomod, just a solid classic.

The owner invoked the appraisal clause and hired me. The appraiser that AAA brought in was using comps with swapped motors that were no longer original. Definitely not apples to apples.

After a lot of back and forth with their appraiser, we finally settled at $62,000.

If we hadn’t pushed back, my client would have lost out on over thirty grand. This just goes to show how far off the mark these offers can be, especially with collector and rare vehicles. But I’ve helped plenty of daily driver vehicle owners who were geting lowballed too. No vehicle is immune to it.

If anyone’s dealing with something similar and not sure what to do, I’m happy to help point you in the right direction.

What is an Appraisal Clause?

The appraisal clause is a provision in most insurance policies that allows policyholders and insurers to resolve disagreements regarding the value of a claim. It provides an alternative to litigation and can help expedite the claims process. The appraisal clause can usually be found in the “Loss Settlement” section of your contract.

How Does the Appraisal Clause Work?

When a policyholder and insurer cannot agree on the value of a claim, either party can invoke the appraisal clause. Here’s how the process typically unfolds:

1. Notification: The policyholder or insurer must notify the other party in writing of their intent to invoke the appraisal clause. This notification should include a clear explanation of the disagreement and a request for appraisal.
2. Selection of Appraisers: Each party selects a competent and impartial appraiser. The important things to look out for when selecting an appraiser are:

• USPAP compliant appraisal
• Minimum of 3 comparables
• Adjustments for make, model, year, mileage, options, condition, market and location
• Supporting evidence & documentation included in report

1. Negotiation: The two appraisers review the claim and independently assess the value of the loss. A good appraiser should scruitinize the opposing appraiser’s appraisal and dispute poor comparables and improper valuation adjustments (one favorite trick of opposing appraisers is to use comparables that have spent most of their lives in “rust belt” states. These vehicles can be worth up to 40% less than non rust belt vehicles on the open market)
2. Agreement: If the appraisers agree on the value of the loss, their decision is binding, and the insurance company must pay the agreed-upon amount. This resolves the dispute.
3. Umpire: If the appraisers cannot agree on the value, they can appoint an impartial umpire to help resolve the disagreement. The umpire’s decision, when agreed upon by any two of the three parties (the two appraisers and the umpire), is binding.
4. Payment: Once the value of the loss is determined, the insurance company is obligated to pay the policyholder the appropriate amount within a reasonable timeframe.

Benefits of the Appraisal Clause

The appraisal clause offers several benefits to policyholders:

• Speed: The appraisal process is typically faster than pursuing legal action, allowing policyholders to receive a resolution more quickly.
• Cost-effective: Engaging in the appraisal process is generally less expensive than going to court, as it avoids the costs associated with litigation.
• Impartiality: The involvement of impartial appraisers helps ensure a fair and unbiased assessment of the claim’s value.

When Should You Consider Invoking the Appraisal Clause?

You may want to consider invoking the appraisal clause if:

• You believe your insurance company undervalued your claim.
• You have evidence to support a higher valuation.
• You want a faster and more cost-effective resolution to your claim.

However, it’s important to note that the appraisal clause is not appropriate for all types of disputes. It is typically limited to disagreements over the value of a claim and does not cover coverage disputes or issues related to policy interpretation.

Conclusion

The appraisal clause is a valuable tool for policyholders who find themselves in disagreement with their insurance company’s offer. By understanding the process and benefits of invoking the appraisal clause, you can navigate the claims process more effectively and work towards a fair resolution. If you believe your claim has been undervalued, consider discussing the appraisal clause with your insurance company to explore this alternative dispute resolution option.

Is there a reason why my insurance would change what the original claim was? It was for hail and water. Got the estimate and it was marked Hail and in small print it said Water damage.

I asked about it and they said I needed to do a separate one for Water. It’s strange because they didn’t say anything about separate claims when I did the intake. It’s the same weather event.

They are acting sketchy and I need to know if there is a loophole?

When it comes to determining the value of your vehicle, most insurance companies rely on a third-party valuation service called a CCC One Market Valuation Report (The CCC stands for Certified Collateral Corporation) In my experience, the valuation provided by the CCC One report is often much lower than the true value of your vehicle, especially if your vehicle was a rare model, had special features, or if it was a classic or collectible. In such cases, it is important to know how to effectively dispute the CCC One report. Here are some steps you can take to fight a CCC One report to ensure that you receive a fair payout for your total loss insurance claim.

1. Review the CCC One Valuation Report

The first step in disputing a CCC One valuation report is to carefully review the report provided by the insurance company. Pay close attention to the details such as the make, model, year, mileage, condition, and any additional features of your vehicle. Make sure all the information is accurate and up-to-date. If you find any discrepancies or errors, document them for your dispute.

2. Scrutinize the Comparables

It is crucial to thoroughly examine the comparables used in the valuation process. Begin by scrutinizing the selection criteria for comparables, ensuring they are truly similar in terms of make, model, year, condition, and mileage to your vehicle. Pay close attention to any adjustments made to the comparables to account for differences, such as mileage or condition discrepancies. Also, assess the geographic relevance of the comparables – are they from the same market area as your vehicle? If the comparables are near to where you live, consider visiting them in person and take notes and photos if the vehicle is in worse condition than yours or if it needs any repairs, etc. Evaluate whether any outliers or inaccuracies exist among the comparables that could skew the valuation. By meticulously analyzing the comparables, you can identify discrepancies and inaccuracies that may warrant further discussion or dispute with the valuation provider.

3. Get a Second Opinion

If you have a CCC One report that you feel is unfair from an independent auto appraiser.

4. Gather Evidence

Collect as much evidence as possible to support your dispute. This can include recent maintenance records, receipts for any recent repairs or upgrades, photographs of your vehicle showing its condition before the accident, and any other relevant documentation. The strongest piece of evidence to support a fair valuation is a well documented appraisal from an un-biased, independent appraiser. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case will be.

5. Communicate with Your Insurance Company

Reach out to your insurance company and express your concerns regarding the CCC One valuation report. Find out if your policy has an "appraisal clause" or "appraisal provision". You can find this out by directly asking the insurance adjuster. If you do not receive a direct or satisfactory answer, you can ask either the adjuster, your agent, or a representative for the insurance company for a copy of your contract. You can usually find the procedure for when there is a disagreement about the value of your total loss in the “damages”, “damage to your vehicle”, “loss settlement” or “payment for loss” module of the contract.

Most insurance policies have an appraisal clause, but even if your policy does not have one, you can still dispute the insurance company’s offer. Read & understand the relevant section of your contract and then provide them with the evidence you have gathered and explain why you believe the report is inaccurate or undervalued. Be polite but firm in your communication, and keep a record of all correspondence.

6. Request a Revaluation

Ask your insurance company to conduct a revaluation of your vehicle. Provide them with the evidence you have gathered and request that they consider it in their reassessment. Be sure to follow up with your insurance company to ensure that your request is being processed.

7. Consider Hiring an Attorney

If you are unable to reach a satisfactory resolution with your insurance company, you may want to consider seeking legal assistance. An attorney experienced in insurance claims can provide guidance and help you navigate the dispute process.

8. File a Complaint

If all else fails, you can file a complaint with your state’s insurance regulatory agency. They can investigate your case and help mediate a resolution between you and your insurance company.

Remember, disputing a CCC One valuation report requires patience and persistence. Stay organized, gather as much evidence as possible, and maintain clear and effective communication with your insurance company. By following these steps, you can increase your chances of successfully fighting a CCC One valuation report and obtaining a fair settlement for your total loss insurance claim.

This subreddit was created for people who are in a dispute with their insurance company over the amount of their insurance claim. Insurance companies are notorious for "lowballing" people when it comes to payouts their loss

Whether it is a lowball CCC report for their total loss vehicle or a lowball estimate for a roof replacement or flooded basement repair, etc. Any question can be asked here. We all pay thousands and thousands of dollars for insurance so we deserve a FAIR payout when we actually need to use it