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How can I get insurance to pay more for a totaled car?
How can I get a bigger payout for a totaled car from my insurance company? I recently got into a pretty bad accident. My car was declared a total loss. The insurance company offered me a really low settlement. What do I do?
Hana Sabah · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
I’m so sorry to hear about your accident and your car. Usually, we don’t suggest
getting a lawyer
, but you should know that it is an option.Still, legal counsel isn’t the most affordable choice, so here are several other strategies you can try.
- Emphasize emotional toll: If the accident cost you your car, it probably also cost you a lot of emotional distress. In this case, it would be best to emphasize that. Mention all the ways the accident has impacted your life, personally and professionally.
- Provide proof: The best way to strengthen your argument is to provide as much proof as possible. Photos of the vehicle, medical bills, and documentation of missed work are just a few examples of evidence.
- Know your car’s value: To make sure you’re getting your car’s worth, research its value pre-incident. What was the car’s sticker price when you purchased it? If you know, you could use an online car depreciation calculator to figure out how much it would be worth now if the accident never happened. Otherwise, you can useKelley Blue Bookto estimate its current value. Remember that you want the retail value of your car, not the trade-in value!
- Make a counteroffer: It’s advisable to counteroffer a bit higher than the amount you’re actually seeking. Insurance companies will always offer you less than you requested, so this is a good way to mediate that.
After this incident, you may want to look into switching insurance companies. If you’re looking for a better insurer,
Jerry
can provide you with competitive quotes in under a minute. Swapping is just as effortless. Jerry takes care of all the paperwork and phone calls and can even assist you in canceling your old policy!View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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