A month ago my wife was involved in an accident that was not her fault. The driver at fault accepted 100% responsability for the wreck. Our car was declared "totalled" by his insurance comp.

We were upside-down in our car loan (nearly $3000) and we did not have "gap" insurance. I am fully aware of the fact that my best option in this whole mess is to argue for a value that fairly represents the value of my car before the accident.

The insurance company has offered me an amount that is based on a CCC (?) report. This value is nearly $1000 less than Keley Blue Book, NADA, and TMV. My car was in mint condition. I purchased it from a respected dealership. It had low miles. The CCC report averaged the cost of six cars in my local market to derive their suggested value. Three of the cars in their report do not match the specs of my car (ES, LX, etc.). Two of the car have "unlisted" mileage. Only one of them is an actual "comprable vehicle". Three of the cars were being sold by used car dealerships that are not respected. THese are the kind of dealerships one goes to if one has bad credit or lacks legal status in our country. The other three (including the comprable one) were being sold by individuals.

I did my own research to refute the CCC report. I called respected dealerships. I found individuals with comprable vehicles (within 200 miles of my location). My research at the dealerships and newspapers verified that the cost of replacing my vehicle would be more in line with the NADA value than the CCC value.

The insurance company rejected my report and is continuing to insist on the CCC value. I have no intentions of abusing the system here. I just want to be treated fairly. Does anyone have a sujection? I live in Oklahoma, if that makes a difference.

CCC value is usually low because the value you're receiving for the damage is based on the actual value close to a private sale value and not retail value. But you don't have to accept the settlement. You can always sue if the settlement negotiation with the insurance company doesn't work out if you have enough evidence to persuade a judge that the actual value of the car is in fact much higher than the CCC value the insurance company claims.

You always have a right to sue.

It'd make it much easier to answer your question if you noted which state you're in.

Since so many people here are from California I'm going to assume you are too since it CCC is very popular in California.

Options:
1. Negotiate the total loss with the insurance company. Find comparable market vehicles selling the in range you're thinking of.
2. Hire an in independent appraiser to assess the value to your vehicle.
3. Sue the other driver! Take the mofo to court. Once you get a judgement the other the insurance company will just have to pay you whatever the judgement notes.

jadeT wrote:

It'd make it much easier to answer your question if you noted which state you're in.

Since so many people here are from California I'm going to assume you are too since it CCC is very popular in California.

Options:
1. Negotiate the total loss with the insurance company. Find comparable market vehicles selling the in range you're thinking of.
2. Hire an in independent appraiser to assess the value to your vehicle.
3. Sue the other driver! Take the mofo to court. Once you get a judgement the other the insurance company will just have to pay you whatever the judgement notes.

you don't have it at all.

you better ask a lawyer.

Its better to ask a lawyer for such type of condition . He/she will definetely suggest you right .