That bit about mods is so true—
—I learned that the hard way after adding a backup cam and nicer stereo to our van. No receipts, so insurance just shrugged. I’ve always wondered, though, do they use some kind of standard value guide for the car itself, or is it more like whatever the adjuster decides? Feels pretty random sometimes.Mods make it trickier. If you don’t have proof, they just ignore them.
Yeah, it really does feel random sometimes. From what I’ve seen, they usually use guides like Kelley Blue Book or NADA for the base value, but the adjuster has a lot of leeway. Mods are a pain—without receipts, they just don’t care. I’ve kept a folder of receipts since I got burned on a stereo years ago. It’s a hassle, but it’s the only way I’ve found to get them to even consider it.
Honestly, I’ve wondered about this too. It’s wild how two people can have almost the same car and accident, but get totally different payouts. I get that they use those pricing guides, but it feels like half the time it depends on who you get as your adjuster and what kind of mood they’re in. My cousin had an old Civic with a bunch of aftermarket stuff—wheels, exhaust, stereo, all that—and when he got rear-ended, the insurance barely gave him anything extra for the mods. He had some receipts but not all, and they just shrugged it off.
I started keeping receipts after hearing his story, but honestly? It’s a pain. Sometimes I forget or lose them anyway. And even then, it’s not like they give you full value for what you put in. They’ll say stuff like “depreciation” or “not factory equipment,” which is kind of frustrating if you’ve spent years slowly upgrading your ride.
One thing I noticed is that some companies seem stricter than others. A friend of mine had her car totaled after a fender bender because her insurance said repairs were like 70% of the car’s value. Meanwhile, another guy I know had way more damage and his car wasn’t totaled at all—different company though. Makes me think there isn’t really a set rule.
I guess it makes sense to keep records if you care about your mods, but sometimes it feels like you’re just at their mercy no matter what you do. Maybe that’s just how insurance works... or maybe I’m just paranoid from hearing too many horror stories.
it feels like half the time it depends on who you get as your adjuster and what kind of mood they’re in
That’s honestly been my experience too. I had a minor scrape on my S-Class last year, and the repair quote was sky-high because of the sensors and paint. My insurer said repairs were 65% of the car’s value, but they didn’t total it—just fixed it. Meanwhile, a friend with a less expensive car had theirs totaled for way less damage. Is it just down to the adjuster or maybe how rare/expensive parts are? I always wonder if luxury cars get treated differently, or if it’s just luck of the draw.
I’ve noticed the same thing—sometimes it feels random, but I think you’re onto something with the parts.
With newer cars, especially luxury models, even a tiny dent can mean thousands in repairs because of all the tech packed in. But then, why does a cheaper car get totaled for less? Is it just because their market value tanks faster? Or do some insurers just want to avoid the hassle of sourcing rare parts?Is it just down to the adjuster or maybe how rare/expensive parts are?
