Mine was actually pretty smooth once I had the police report. The adjuster just needed proof it was a hit-and-run, then things moved along. Still took a couple weeks, but nothing out of the ordinary. Definitely better than footing the bill myself.
Mine was actually pretty smooth once I had the police report. The adjuster just needed proof it was a hit-and-run, then things moved along.
That matches my experience—once the paperwork’s in order, things tend to move. I’ve always wondered, though, if the process is different for older vehicles. With my ’72 Chevelle, the adjuster seemed a bit unsure about valuing the repairs since parts aren’t exactly off-the-shelf. Did anyone else have to push back on how much their classic or specialty car was worth during a claim? I get a little nervous whenever insurance folks start tossing around “book value”…
That’s a really good point about older cars. “Book value” can be a bit of a minefield, especially with classics or anything that’s not just a few years old. I’ve seen folks get lowballed because the adjuster only looked at standard depreciation, not what it’d actually cost to replace or restore something like a ’72 Chevelle. Sometimes you have to bring in your own documentation—photos, receipts, even listings for similar cars—to make your case.
Out of curiosity, did you have an agreed value policy or just standard coverage? I’ve noticed agreed value makes things way smoother for classics, but not everyone knows to ask for it. Wondering if anyone’s had luck getting their insurer to recognize aftermarket upgrades or rare parts when it comes time to settle up...
Yeah, agreed value policies definitely take a lot of the headache out of it, especially for anything rare or heavily modified. Standard coverage just doesn’t cut it if you’ve put a bunch of work (and cash) into upgrades. I’ve seen some carriers get picky about aftermarket stuff—sometimes they’ll only recognize what’s documented before the loss, or they’ll depreciate parts way more than seems fair. Has anyone actually had success getting a claim bumped up because of rare parts or custom work? Or do most folks just end up eating the difference?
sometimes they’ll only recognize what’s documented before the loss, or they’ll depreciate parts way more than seems fair
Honestly, that’s pretty standard. Carriers have to go by what’s provable, and aftermarket parts are a gray area unless you’ve got receipts and photos. I’ve seen a few claims get bumped up, but only when the documentation was rock solid—otherwise, yeah, most folks end up eating some of the cost. Agreed value helps, but even then, it’s not always as smooth as people expect.
