I tried showing the adjuster all my oil change receipts and even a pic of the car after I detailed it, but yeah, didn’t really move the needle. It’s wild how little the “story” matters. Guess it’s just numbers to them.
It’s wild how little the “story” matters. Guess it’s just numbers to them.
Yeah, it’s all spreadsheets and formulas. I once tried explaining how my car was “babied” its whole life—didn’t even get a raised eyebrow. They just want to see the repair cost vs. value, not my love story with the car.
It does feel pretty impersonal, but there’s a reason for it. The decision really does come down to the numbers—specifically, whether the estimated repair costs plus things like rental and storage fees end up being close to or above the car’s actual cash value. Sentimental value just isn’t something the formulas can measure, even if you’ve taken perfect care of it. I get why that feels cold, but from a risk perspective, it’s about consistency and fairness across the board.
I get that it’s about the numbers, but sometimes I wonder if the formulas are a bit too rigid. Like, I’ve had cars that technically “should” have been totaled, but I was willing to drive them with a few dents or quirks. Not everyone cares about perfect repairs, you know? Feels like there should be more room for personal choice, even if it’s just an option to keep the car as-is and take a smaller payout or something.
Yeah, I get what you mean. The insurance formulas are super strict, but they don’t really account for someone who’s okay with a little cosmetic damage. Ever notice how sometimes the repair estimate is way higher than what you’d actually spend if you did it yourself or just left it? I’ve always wondered why there isn’t a “keep it ugly, get a check” option. Seems like it’d save everyone hassle.
