Car Valuer Required

[33racer]

Hi Guys

I am after a professional car valuer that is located in the south east Queensland region or Tweed region of NSW. I am after this for insurance reason as my 1991 Alfa 33 QV 16v has just recently gotten rear ended and was quoted $2800 to fix the car, however the other guys insurance company is only valuing the car at $2500 so that they only need to pay $2300. I am not after making money just want to get the damaged he caused fixed as i know this car is worth more that what they valued (even just from insurance quotes where they same market value of this car is $4400, but they say this wont suffice) as it has a has really low kilometers, a brand new motor, new cvs, good interior no rips or anything as well as full leather interior, (never seen leather on another 33 yet) and the only real damage to the car is what he caused to the car. So need a profession car valuer to  prove that it is worth more than their quote. Any help will be much appreciated.

Regards Steve

[OzMidnight]

Call the insurance ombudsman and go from there.  At least then you know exactly where you stand with firm legal advice, rather than just getting this insurance company's opinion on what they think they should pay.

[Darryl]

Oh bugger - I know the problem - and Oz is right (not what I did, and the insurance co wore me down eventually by doing everything they could to draw the process out, including getting their own "independent" valuer to value the car while dismissing a valuation I had from a guy who at least one insurance co relied on, at the time, as the specialist valuer for Alfas in Brisbane).

[Cool Jesus]

Steve, are you comprehensively insured? You mention that insurance valued the car at $4400. If you are why stuff around with the other parties insurance. Have the car fixed under you insurance, that's why you're paying premiums for?
If not, what's the $2500 figure quoted? If that's what they'll pay to fix, take the money and have the repairer fix it for that value or find a repairer that will come closer to that figure. I bet the original repairer will take the lose of a couple of 100 rather than 1000's walk out of his shop. Dont let them talk you down on what repairs they will do, whole proper job or nothing, no cutting corners. Otherwise a valuation won't really help now as the car is damaged. Same deal with a damage assessor, he won't do it for free and to chase up the extra dollars that are compounding you would be better to take the initial settlement. Just make sure they aren't writing the car off!!!
If you PM me I could give you some debt collection agency numbers, but again there's added costs and no guarantee you'll get them back. As it is the $300 difference sounds good if your car is in such top shape. Write that off as maintenance if a repairer won't play. Actually, if you do go to a new repairer change your story. Say the car was parked and you found it damaged, they may be more sympathetic if you offer to pay cash (with your $2500) cause your 'not insured comprehensively'