Hello everyone, last weekend someone ran a red light and hit my 2021 Model 3 Standard Range Plus. He was found 100% at fault (obviously, it was red for him for a solid 10 seconds before he entered the intersection).
This is the damage. I instantly considered it totaled and placed an order for a new model 3 before delivery times get pushed back more.
But… the adjuster from Root Insurance (his insurance) calls me, and it was a mess… first of all, she did not know that a Tesla was an electric car. I do not feel comfortable with her valuing my car if she has never even seen a Tesla before. So any advice here would be appreciated… I refuse to get ripped off, as I have only had the car for 8 months and refuse to take a penny less than what it’s worth.
Well.. she thinks it is repairable? The frame is bent, multiple panels are crumpled, I am pretty certain his car dug in towards my battery, and the airbags all went off? She quoted the repair at 5,000 dollars… and the shop called me to tell me that it will be much more than that, and they will work with the insurance.
I just don’t see how this is not a total loss? I don’t see it costing less than 20,000… 35,000 if the battery was damaged… plus quite a bit in diminished value. Between the salvage value, high DV, high cost… I don’t see why they aren’t totaling it and sending me a 50k check?
I guess what I am asking here is:
1. What do I do when my adjuster is clearly incompetent about Teslas?
2. IF they do repair it, how much could I get in a diminished value claim? It was a perfect condition car with very low miles and only 8 months old.
3. How is it not totaled? Do any of you have experience with this? I do not want to get ripped off by getting a nearly brand new car completely reconstructed.
Thank you in advance. I have attached pictures.
This is the damage. I instantly considered it totaled and placed an order for a new model 3 before delivery times get pushed back more.
But… the adjuster from Root Insurance (his insurance) calls me, and it was a mess… first of all, she did not know that a Tesla was an electric car. I do not feel comfortable with her valuing my car if she has never even seen a Tesla before. So any advice here would be appreciated… I refuse to get ripped off, as I have only had the car for 8 months and refuse to take a penny less than what it’s worth.
Well.. she thinks it is repairable? The frame is bent, multiple panels are crumpled, I am pretty certain his car dug in towards my battery, and the airbags all went off? She quoted the repair at 5,000 dollars… and the shop called me to tell me that it will be much more than that, and they will work with the insurance.
I just don’t see how this is not a total loss? I don’t see it costing less than 20,000… 35,000 if the battery was damaged… plus quite a bit in diminished value. Between the salvage value, high DV, high cost… I don’t see why they aren’t totaling it and sending me a 50k check?
I guess what I am asking here is:
1. What do I do when my adjuster is clearly incompetent about Teslas?
2. IF they do repair it, how much could I get in a diminished value claim? It was a perfect condition car with very low miles and only 8 months old.
3. How is it not totaled? Do any of you have experience with this? I do not want to get ripped off by getting a nearly brand new car completely reconstructed.
Thank you in advance. I have attached pictures.