I was hit by another driver while waiting for a light to turn green. The police report states that the other driver is at fault, and I’m currently in contact with their insurance (USAA).
What options do I have? I’ve heard that some cars are being totaled due to parts costs. I’m concerned about repairing it and then having a negative impact on my CARFAX.
I don’t see a chance they’ll total the truck based on what I see. If there’s a police report, it will show up on Carfax, even if you don’t use their insurance to fix it. Use their insurance to get it repaired and just deal with it.
@Nori
I agree… keep pictures to show future buyers. The damage doesn’t seem too bad, so I wouldn’t hesitate to buy it based on those pictures. However, I’d expect it to be cheaper than a clean Carfax equivalent, so make sure you’re compensated fairly for the loss… if that’s possible.
@Nori
Yeah, I’d use their insurance to cover it. If it’s not financed, you can take a payout check based on the highest estimate. Don’t forget to file a depreciation claim for some extra cash.
This won’t be totaled unless there’s frame damage. Make sure to file a diminished value claim in addition to the repair payout. Check out Collision Safety Consultants on Facebook; they’ll help you get the most from your claim for a small fee.
Sorry, man. That sucks. The police report means the Carfax hit is a done deal. I seriously doubt they’ll total it over that damage. Here’s what I’d do: work with USAA for the repairs and diminished value compensation. Be insistent, and you should be okay. Ask the body shop to take detailed pictures during repairs to share with future buyers. This damage isn’t severe. If you were thinking about an aftermarket bumper, this is a great time to do it. You can probably arrange to only pay the difference between the OEM and the upgrades.