Scott Fisher provided some excellent advice to Marcus Toose in
regards to the insurance company only offering $144 to fix the fendor
on his MG. I won't repeat any of it here, but I'll add the following:
1. A good source of approximate value for any collector car is
the "Old Cars Price Guide" published by Krause publications in
Iola, Wisconsin. Another reference source is Cars of Particular
Interest (AKA, CPI Price Guide).
2. If you have a collector vehicle, have some type of documentable
appraisal done on the vehicle BEFORE something happens. In many
cases, you can do it yourself with a good set of photographs and
descriptive information backed up by references to the two
price guides mentioned above. Of course, have an independent
person provide a separate appraisal is more likely to be better
accepted by the insurance company than one you did yourself.
3. If you have an appraisal done, you want something that contains
more than a "one liner" such as: J&J Company representative
examened your vehicle and appraised it at $X.
Anyway, that's just a few additional things to consider. And as
Scott replied to Marcus, DON'T just accept the insurance company's
offer without putting up a battle if you feel the offer is
way out of line as in Marcus's case.
One other thing, if your vehicle is insured as a collector vehicle and/or
it has special classic or antique license plates, that alone provides
a significant distinction that the vehicle is generally being maintained
to a higher degree of quality, workmanship, etc. than just a daily
use car. As such, if the situation went to court, a think you'd be
in a better position to claim the need for a new fendor, instead
of the "pull out the dent and bondo repair" process. Clearly,
straight non-bondo sheetmetal is more desireable, hence the car's
of more value, in the collector market.
Good luck to Marcus and let us know how things go for you.
Standard Disclaimer- Any opinions, etc. are mine and NOT my employer's.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Sohl (K2UNK) BELLCORE (Bell Communications Research, Inc.)
Morristown, NJ email via UUCP bcr!cc!whs70
201-829-2879 Weekdays email via Internet whs70@cc.bellcore.com
|