Date:         Tue, 3 Mar 2015 15:46:30 -0500
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Roadside service
In-Reply-To:  <20150303151739.FGX15.8020.imail@eastrmwml214>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> Stuart, thanks.  Just did the same.  Range 5625-21,800, avg retail 14,700.  I agree,
> not bad.  Now, other than the photos and receipts, how does one support that a
> particular van is worth the higher figure when dealing with an insurance company?

I had to deal with this when a tree crushed my '89 Westy a few years ago. (See <http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QNXy6VZcEPg/T5gdF2yvjkI/AAAAAAAAA6s/kBayWIWVcYM/s400/Westy&Tree.JPG> for the carnage.)  My insurance company (Nationwide) started by offering me somewhere around $5k. I told the adjuster that if he could find me a comparable Westy for $5k I'd gladly accept his offer. He actually did try, emailing me a couple of links, but none of them were full campers and most were a few years older. I sent him receipts for all parts and repairs, pictures of the interior and exterior, and comp values from Craigslist, Ebay, etc. He negotiated hard and kept bumping his offer by $1000 or so at a time, which was still way too low. I guess I can't blame him for hoping I'd settle for $7k or $8k; it's his job. Finally I threatened to file a grievance with the state insurance commissioner's office, and within a few days they made me a reasonable offer - around $12 or $13k as I recall.  The Westy was in excellent shape before the tree landed on it, but it was a former Florida flood vehicle with an R (Reconstructed Vehicle) title so I thought that amount was fair. 

Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot, Inc.
www.busdepot.com

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