I’ve always wondered about that too—like, if you’ve got a bunch of photos showing your car with certain upgrades, or even screenshots of convos about buying parts, would that actually hold up with an insurer? I’ve heard mixed things. Some folks say insurers want receipts, period, but others claim photos and dated messages can help if you’re in a pinch. Has anyone here actually had to use that kind of evidence for a claim? I’m curious if it really makes a difference or if it just complicates things.
I’ve actually been through this mess after my old Mustang got rear-ended. Had a pile of photos and texts about the mods, but the adjuster barely glanced at them. They wanted receipts, period. I argued, but in the end, only the stuff I had paperwork for got covered. Maybe some companies are more flexible, but in my experience, photos and messages just made the process drag out longer. If you can, keep those receipts—even if it feels old school.
That’s honestly spot on—receipts are king when it comes to claims, especially with older or modified cars. I’ve seen folks try to use photos or even social media posts as proof, but unless there’s a paper trail, most adjusters just won’t budge. One guy I worked with had a binder full of receipts for every little upgrade, and his claim went through way smoother than most. It feels tedious, but that old-school folder can save you a ton of headaches down the line.
It feels tedious, but that old-school folder can save you a ton of headaches down the line.
Can’t argue with that—my old Benz has a glovebox stuffed with receipts, and it’s saved my hide more than once. I used to think photos would be enough, but when I had to file a claim last year, the adjuster barely glanced at them. He wanted to see dates, part numbers, all that nitty-gritty. It’s a pain, but I just keep tossing receipts in a cheap folder. Not glamorous, but it works.
That’s the thing—paper trails still seem to carry more weight, even now. I’ve seen clients get pushback when all they had were digital scans or phone pics, especially if the work was done at smaller shops. Out of curiosity, have you ever tried organizing by repair type or just toss everything in together? I wonder if being more methodical actually helps, or if it’s overkill for most adjusters.
