Maintenance and upgrades just don’t seem to move the needle for them, unless you’ve got some rare collector car.
That’s been my experience too. I kept every oil change and tire receipt for my old Camry, thinking it’d help if anything happened. When it got rear-ended, the adjuster barely glanced at my stack of paperwork. It’s like they only care about the “book value,” not how well you actually took care of it. The state-to-state thing is wild—my brother’s car was totaled for a dented door, but mine with a smashed quarter panel was “repairable.” Makes no sense sometimes.
Honestly, I kinda get why the receipts don’t do much, but I’ve actually had an adjuster give me a little bump for new tires once. Maybe I just got lucky? Still feels like a mystery lottery sometimes... like, is there a secret handshake I’m missing?
I’ve wondered the same thing—sometimes it feels like there’s a whole secret society of adjusters with their own rules. I’ve had them totally ignore receipts for detailing or aftermarket stuff, but then, like you, I once got a little extra for a set of Michelin Pilot Sports that were barely a month old. No rhyme or reason, at least from my end.
Ever notice how they’ll scrutinize every little ding on the bodywork, but then act like a $2,000 set of wheels is just “normal wear and tear”? I had a claim a couple years back on my S-Class, and the adjuster basically shrugged at the receipts for ceramic coating and upgraded brakes. But he did ask if I had the original floor mats, which just made me laugh. Is there some kind of hidden points system for OEM accessories?
I’ve heard it’s all about the “actual cash value” and how close the repair estimate gets to that magic percentage—like 70% or whatever the insurer uses. But it still feels like there’s a lot of wiggle room, depending on who you get and maybe what kind of mood they’re in that day.
Ever tried bringing in comps from dealer listings or enthusiast forums? I’ve had mixed results—sometimes they’ll look at them, sometimes they just stick to their own database. Maybe the real secret handshake is just persistence... or maybe it’s just luck, like you said.
It’s wild how much of a gamble it can be, especially when you’ve put a lot into keeping your car in top shape. Makes you wonder if they even notice the difference between a pampered ride and one that’s just been run into the ground.
Ever notice how they’ll scrutinize every little ding on the bodywork, but then act like a $2,000 set of wheels is just “normal wear and tear”?
Man, that hits home. I once had a claim on my old Outback, and the adjuster spent ten minutes running their finger over a barely-there scratch, then didn’t even blink at the aftermarket suspension I’d just put in. It does feel like there’s some invisible checklist they’re working from, and half of it makes zero sense if you’re actually into cars.
You’re totally right about the “actual cash value” thing, but even that seems like a moving target. I’ve had better luck when I show up organized—like, printouts of similar cars for sale, service records, all that. Sometimes it helps, sometimes they just kind of nod and go back to whatever number they already had in mind. It’s frustrating, especially when you know your car’s been babied and you get treated like it’s just another commuter.
At the end of the day, persistence does seem to pay off more than anything. And yeah, sometimes it really does feel like luck of the draw with which adjuster you get.
Honestly, I think you’re giving adjusters too much credit for caring about the details. Most of them don’t know a coilover from a coffee mug. They’re just following a formula—if the repair estimate hits their magic percentage of “value,” it’s totaled, end of story. Doesn’t matter if you’ve got rare parts or kept it mint. I’ve had them ignore a full respray and obsess over a cracked taillight. If you want your mods or care to count, you’ve gotta have them listed on your policy upfront. Otherwise, they just see another used car.
