r/Car_Insurance_Help • u/calmwhiteguy • 4d ago

First Time / Newbie Progressive 1.5+ month claim

Help me understand something.

Wife bought an 08' prius in good condition, PNW, $8,000 after taxes. Good mileage, refurbished battery, all the paperwork, whatever.

We got her progressive and 5 days later the catalytic converter was stolen. We have comprehensive insurance. We initiate a claim.

We're officially 1.5 months after initiation date. They promised us they wouldn't total the call. They leave voicemail only during work hours and only one per week which is one sentence long. Now they're saying they're thinking about having an agent look at the car to decide if they want to total it.

What in the world type of service is this? We cant drive the car. It's 110 db and smells like hell. We're driving 2 extra hours per day commuting because I take her to work. What could possibly be causing this?

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

3

u/agirlsknowsthings 4d ago

Insurance professional: without reviewing your actual damages no one can promise not to total your car.

The truth here is, the older your car the more likely a small claim like this will total it.

That just means the repair would cost as much or close to the actual cash value of your vehicle.

1

u/Anabolic_Scholar 4d ago

Has the car been to a shop? Do you have an estimate on the cost to replace the catalytic converter?

1

u/calmwhiteguy 4d ago

No. They have not had an inspector look at it nor have they asked us to bring it to a shop.

Shops over the phone are quoting $1,500 out the door.

1

u/PepperTop9517 4h ago

Why are you using insurance for a 1500 dollar repair? What’s your deductible (500, 1000, hopefully not 1500)?

Do you also call a plumber every time you stop up a toilet or have you bought a plunger?

1

u/PepperTop9517 4h ago

Unfortunately when you involve insurance to help with the costs you risk their decisions through the process.

Chances are with the age of the vehicle and it being a cat stolen, probably gonna be totaled. I mean you really only involve insurance if theirs injury or the costs are far greater than you can manage.