Hail damage to all 4 POS cars

[Mrs. Dinero]

We recently had extensive hail damage to all of our vehicles. Best car is worth $10k. DH already filed claims on all of them and roof. Roof, gutters, gutter guards and side door will be replaced. That claim is worth it. The cars? Eh…because of their value they’ll be salvaged. Our plan was always to drive these cars into the ground. We don’t plan on ever selling them. Our plan is to buy back vehicles from insurance company and not repair. What are some concerns that we’re not thinking about. Insurance company is USAA. We’ll get rust spots taken care of but not restored to dent free condition.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Why wouldn't the car claims be worth it?  Do you have high deductibles?  Rates won't go up due to a hail claim so might as well get what you can.  I just take the payout for hail claims on cars and don't fix them.  State Farm gives two payouts.  You keep the vehicle or you don't.  I hit a deer with my 5K van a couple years ago so they totaled it, but I opted to keep the van and take less.

[Mrs. Dinero]

Thank you! That is helpful info

[daisylu]

Make sure that your insurance company will cover the salvaged vehicles. DD wrecked a car a couple of years ago that we were planning to repair and keep, but the insurance company totaled. They said we could keep the car, but that they would no longer insure it.

[andi9899]

Jun 21, 2022 9:34:26 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Why wouldn't the car claims be worth it?  Do you have high deductibles?  Rates won't go up due to a hail claim so might as well get what you can.  I just take the payout for hail claims on cars and don't fix them.  State Farm gives two payouts.  You keep the vehicle or you don't.  I hit a deer with my 5K van a couple years ago so they totaled it, but I opted to keep the van and take less.

This is what I was going to suggest. Take the money and run.

[andi9899]

Jun 21, 2022 10:20:28 GMT -5 daisylu said:

Make sure that your insurance company will cover the salvaged vehicles. DD wrecked a car a couple of years ago that we were planning to repair and keep, but the insurance company totaled. They said we could keep the car, but that they would no longer insure it.

That doesn't sound right. I can see them not wanting comp and collision on them, but they would still offer liability coverage. What company was that?

[daisylu]

Jun 21, 2022 10:46:54 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Jun 21, 2022 10:20:28 GMT -5 daisylu said:

Make sure that your insurance company will cover the salvaged vehicles. DD wrecked a car a couple of years ago that we were planning to repair and keep, but the insurance company totaled. They said we could keep the car, but that they would no longer insure it.

That doesn't sound right. I can see them not wanting comp and collision on them, but they would still offer liability coverage. What company was that?

Met Life. They may have offered liability, unsure as DH was handling it and all he said was they they would no longer insure it. But, we have so far kept comp and collision on the kids' vehicles even though each is only worth a little over $5,000 because it is not that pricey with them on our policy, and if something happens they will at least have a down payment for a replacement. (DD's payout was enough for a decent used car with a little left over.) That is as much as we are willing to help them out at this time.

ETA: DH will NEVER not insist on c&c coverage. It does not cost us that much more, and is not a hill to die on for me.

[bookkeeper]

I feel for you.  When we had teenage drivers we had what we lovingly referred to as the FOC, fleet of crap.

Always kept a spare car in the fleet for when one went down.  Last two hail storms, all the cars were in the garage or out of town.

DH had the worst of them, a 1996 Toyota Carolla with a billion miles and missing half the bumper.  Had freezing cold AC, which ultimately sold the car when we were done with it.

Someone else added to their fleet!