They pretty much ignore upgrades unless you have receipts and even then, good luck. I argued about a new transmission once—still got lowballed. They use their own pricing guides, not what’s actually out there. It’s all about minimizing payout, honestly. If you want any shot, gather every bit of proof and push hard, but don’t expect miracles.
Honestly, I’ve had the same struggle—had a car with a bunch of aftermarket stuff and receipts for everything, but they still just shrugged it off. I get that they’re trying to save money, but it feels like they’re ignoring real value. Has anyone actually managed to get them to factor in upgrades, or is it always just a lost cause? Wondering if there’s a trick I’m missing...
“but it feels like they’re ignoring real value.”
Yeah, I’ve run into that too. Had a minivan with a new stereo and backup cam, but the adjuster barely glanced at the receipts. Honestly, unless it’s factory or you’ve got some rare collector’s thing, they just don’t care. It’s frustrating when you’ve put money into practical upgrades, but from their side, it’s all about “market value” not what you’ve spent. I ended up just pulling out what I could before letting them take it... felt like the only way to get anything back.
- Had a similar thing happen with my last car—put in custom wheels and a high-end sound system, but when it got rear-ended, the adjuster just shrugged at the upgrades.
- From what I’ve seen, unless it’s a factory option or something super rare, they just stick to “book value.”
- Honestly, it’s weird. You’d think upgrades would count for something, right? But nope, they just see it as another used car.
- I ended up removing the aftermarket stuff before handing it over too... felt like the only way not to lose out completely.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had a different experience with insurance and upgrades. I had a set of forged wheels and a custom exhaust on my last S-class, and when it got sideswiped, the adjuster did ask for receipts for the upgrades. They didn’t give me full value, but I did get something extra on top of the “book value.” Maybe it depends on the insurer or how you document things?
Honestly, it’s weird. You’d think upgrades would count for something, right? But nope, they just see it as another used car.
I wonder if it’s also about how the upgrades are listed on your policy. Some companies let you declare aftermarket parts when you sign up, but it’s a pain to keep everything updated. Has anyone tried adding all their mods to their policy? I’m curious if that actually helps or if it’s just more paperwork for nothing.
Also, removing the aftermarket stuff before handing over the car—totally get that. But isn’t there a risk they’ll ding you for “missing equipment” if you take too much off? Always feels like a bit of a gamble...
