Hail damage

[lucky1]

Looking for tips or hints?
I got caught in a big hail storm the other day and there is a fair bit of damage to the car, it is going in to get assessed tomorrow morning. I think there is dints on most panels of the car? Bonnet being the worst
The car is probably worth more to us than market value, so if it gets fixed I'm out of pocket my excess. Do I need to specify anything when it is getting fixed?
If the car is written off, is there room to bargain with the payout figure?
I guess any advice dealing with this would be appreciated?
Cheers
FYI 2006 Subaru XT Forester 60000k's on the clock.

[Bird]

The car is probably worth more to us than market value, so if it gets fixed I'm out of pocket my excess. Do I need to specify anything when it is getting fixed?

you can ask for it not to be written off. but I think its the insurance companies decision

If the car is written off, is there room to bargain with the payout figure?

you can try...


I also think you need to change your name

[lucky1]

I also think you need to change your name
[/quote]
 

Wife told me to get off the exit before too, but I knew better 

[MR MAC GU]

It all depends on your insurance company.

Depending on the damage, there is a chance that some of it may be able to be repaired paint less (PDR).

In a lot of cases, the bonnet, boot and turret may be replaced and the sides repaired by PDR.

If the damage is heavier than that the full conventional repairs will be required which starts getting expensive.

Usually after a big storm insurance companies set a value that they will write cars off. For example if a car is worth $10000 or less they won't even get it quoted they will just pay you out.

On average the cost of repairs would be approx...
Full PDR $4500+
Part PDR part conventional $6500+
Full conventional $8500+

They don't want to repair every car because it would cause a massive back log in the smash repair industry and sometimes after these storms you could be waiting from 6-12 months to get repairs done.

Although the smash repair industry in Brisbane has been very slow and patchy for the last year or two and we have been praying for a decent storm and hail season this year.

Keep in mind that your insurer will have a recommended repairer that they will want to send your car to, but everybody has the right to their choice of repairer , it is in all product disclosure statements and heavily watched by the insurance ombudsman. They will try and tell you that you won't get warranty unless it goes where they want but this is untrue.

If you are not happy with the pay out then you are entitled to ask for more, it takes time but if you arm yourself with vehicle details and replacement costs and threaten to go further they will pay more. It costs them at least $5000 to take you on, and it cost you nothing to follow it through. Only time.

Cheers


Sent from Behind you...BOO

[2003gxl]

When I had a car with hail damage over 4 years ago, they accessed it and said there was $10,000 damage and it was insured for $14,500 so they said I can buy it back for $4,500  and they will give me the difference in cheque or a payout. The car  could not be fully insured again until repaired and inspected and that I could only get 3rd party insurance if kept unrepaired. I opted for the  payout ( and they deducted the remaining rego from the payout ) and they kept the car and then handed in the plates and got a refund from RTA for remaining rego. I don't think you have any say in whether they repair or writeoff.

Best of luck

[Bird]

Any photos of the car as it stands... may give some better clue

[BigJules]

The PDR guys are amazing. I am astounded at what they can fix, and it can be cheap too, for general repairs.

[MR MAC GU]

I don't think you have any say in whether they repair or writeoff.

Best of luck
[/quote]

In Qld you do have the right to demand that your car is repaired as long as the repair quote is less than or equal to the market value or insured value.

Insurance companies will try to write your car off at a lower value and offer you market value in the hope that they can sell the wreck at auction for higher that the estimated salvage value which saves them money.

You can definitely insist that they spend up to the market value repairing it if you wish but most prefer the written off option so they can get a new car.

Cheers


Sent from Behind you...BOO

[cruisindub]

2003GXL, can you explain further please?

Don't understand fully?
Not exactly following what your saying, please clarify ......

[fuji]

After the Chrissy day storms last year most cars were repaired with the paintless system. Our two cars were smashed but mine has since been fixed. You wouldn't even know it had been battered.waiting for daughters to get fixed.

[lucky1]

Thanks for the advice.
Especially mr mac gu. I imagine your prayers will be answered this summer?

[lucky1]

A week in the shop, new bonnet, apparently I was one of the lucky1's I'm thankful for insurance as I would not like to pay that bill!

[Jacmark30]

Is that you Boof?

A hail damaged Subaru owned by a bloke who should have listened to his wife and pulled into DFO?

Heard that story on FB this week?

Cheers,

Mark

[fishfinder]

my brother in law had hail damage vehicle and the payout figure was alot less than he owed on it so it ended up costing him a fair bit