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How do I negotiate a total loss car insurance claim?
I was in a car accident and the car was a total loss. It's really unfortunate, but I'm hoping that the settlement will help me get a fresh start. I've never been in an accident before, though, and I don't know how to get my settlement. How do I negotiate the settlement with my car insurance company?
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“I’m so sorry to hear about your loss! Fortunately, you can make the problem a bit easier to swallow by getting the
highest payout
for your totaled vehicle. Here’s what you should do:- Get all the information about the car, including options and features; you can often find this on the sticker or invoice from the dealer
- Use comparisons of recently sold cars to use as a basis for your counter offer
- Make sure that the insurance company is paying sales tax
- Ask for a statement that shows where the money is going (lender, taxes, and to you)
Once you get an offer from your
car insurance
company, you can use all of this information to negotiate a better settlement.After an accident, your car insurance rate will unfortunately go up. However, you can minimize the amount you pay for insurance by shopping around for different providers. The easiest way to do this is with the
Jerry
app—we’ll get you personalized quotes from top-of-the-line insurers instantly so that all you need to do is pick the plan that works best for you. We’ll even help you switch providers so that you can keep all your focus on recovering from the accident!Best of luck, and hope your recovery goes smoothly!”
View full answer
- Gregory R.
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