It's common knowledge that an insurance company will
total an older vehicle if the repairs are over 75% of
the Blue Book value. The repair cost is the sole
criterion; whether the vehicle is driveable is a moot
issue.

As the issue at hand is the "agreed value" vs. the
actual book value, here is crux of the issue: You
agreed on the value with your agent; the claims rep is
the one who totalled the van. Before you try anything
else, 3-way your agent with your claims rep so the
claims rep is put straight on how your policy is set
up so the claim can be reopened and (hopefully)
resolved to your satisfaction before you have to go
through the ordeal of getting a lawyer, etc.

Best of luck. This is never a picnic.

Sam

--- Joe Hughes <Husey2@AOL.COM> wrote:
> Vanagon friends,
>
> Am looking for info. regarding dealing w/my
> insurance company who is
> declaring my '85 vanagon a "total loss" after
> damages from striking/killing a
> dear back on 2 June. The van was never immobilized
> and i've been driving it
> since, just completing a 1000 mile trek to a family
> reunion in my "total
> loss", utilizing ALL it's amenities, i.e., beds,
> seats, stove, sink, frig,
> etc.
>
> I'm hoping someone in Vanagon Land can inform me of
> similar situations
> they've had w/their ins. company......and won! For
> example, got/forced the
> ins. co. to change their decision re "total loss". I
> DO know now the ins.
> companies determine a total loss based on cost of
> repairs and value of
> vehicle. However, i insured my vehicle for more than
> the book/market value
> when i bought it but they are not using that ABOVE
> market value figure when
> estimating repairs. Consequently, their $4100
> estimate for repairs is over
> 75% of the market/book value of my van, even though
> i paid higher premiums to
> have it insured for an "agreed value" of $7500. They
> tell me now, "Oh, we
> don't use that 'agreed value' figure when
> determining a cost of repairs. We
> use the market/book value.." Which they've
> determined to be around $4700.
>
> THIEVES!!! Hoping someone here can give me some
> info. on a "success story" of
> arguing w/ins. companies.

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