Hey Honda Tech, so I was recently involved in an accident where the guy backed up into my car. I've finally finished getting ahold of the other party's insurance company and they will be coming out next week to assess the damage etc. Since I have a Jdm front, I'm a little worried about how the insurance company will determine the pay out since its not usdm. I did an estimate using usdm parts and after including parts, labor, and paint it came out to $2.3k which I would be glad if I received that much. Has anyone ever been in my position? I informed them that I will have the body work done by my dad and me since he works in a body shop. I'm just hoping the pay out will be enough to cover all costs.

 

I would demand them put it back exactly how it was with a Jdm front!!! It is not your fault some idiot, their client backed into you. If they give you bullshit, you tell them that they will spend a lot more if you have to sue them. It is their job and the purpose of insurance to return it to how it was before the accident. If they bent your 3k volks, then they will have to replace the wheels damaged and any other modification. It is their job as a employee to pay you as little as possible if you let them and they will try if you let them. I usually make a adjuster come to my buddies body shop because he know how to deal with them. He turned a $1200 quote the adjuster made into a 2500 when I had a g35 with a greddy front.

GL

 

Well the problem is that I have important bio class and lab to attend. I've been through estimates with my dad, new usdm parts add up to about the same as used jdm parts from a local distributor but of course anyone would want as much money as they can. I'm sure my dad and his boss (also his childhood friend) will milk every penny possible from the agency. But if I receive more positive replies from other's experiences with this dilemma, it would help me sleep more easily at night.

 

It's been my experience that the insurance company doesn't much care what exactly is installed on the car. They will pay out depending on their internal formulas, and on the assessor's opinion, and on the bargaining skills of you or the agent you designate to advocate for you (your dad's boss, it sounds like).

It's up to the body shop to source the parts, and they need to fit the parts into the money they get. That means there's nothing stopping you from installing a JDM front, but you may need to top-up the insurance company's cash with your own to make up any difference in cost.

Before worrying abut this, I'd wait to see what the numbers end up being. If there's $100 or so separating the insurance company's money from your JDM front, you may want to try diplomatically crying "poor student" with the claims assessor. If he's a nice guy or is in a good mood that day, he may end up agreeing to cover the extra little bit.

 

My dad dealt with insurance and the pay out came to be around $3.4k so I'm pleased. Turns out both bottom brackets for my headlights snapped which they'll cover but doesn't bother me one bit. Also turns out my front didn't have a bumper support? Or the foam cushioning therefore the damage turned out to be more severe than it should have, made a custom bracket and shaved some foam from a Toyota that I'll be throwing on when I replace my bumper. Sort of depressing driving around with a messed up front for now tho :/

 

And they might total the car for such a high payout make sure they dont total the car or give it a slavage title i see that a lot. Plus the agent wont say anything to u.

 

Hey man whats up what insurance company/ coverage do you have and how much do you pay? I live in SoCal and pay around 160 for full coverage/theft

 

That wouldn't be a problem considering my car already carries a salvage title but honestly to me a title means nothing as long as I know the reason. Reason for my title was some rear end damage previously but it didn't cause any frame damage or air bags deploying.

Wow, $160 per month for full coverage right? Haha. I'm currently paying almost $2000 for full coverage (not sure if for 6mo or 1yr). I made the claim through the person at fault's so I didn't have to pay a deductible. He had Mercury insurance company I believe.

Still unbelievable how much insurance for teggys cost considering the amount I'm paying is almost half the amount I paid for the car. Then again I'm still 19 lol

 

Just tell them to pay the market price for the jdm front plus labor to install and paint. Or if the usdm is more have them pay you for that instead.

Mike

 

Yeah the USDM parts brand new are more, which is what I believe they're paying for. All I really need to replace is the bumper cover, hammer the hood bend a little and paint. The total for parts replacement came up to $860 which is enough to cover jdm parts needed. Over $2000 is for labor, which will turn out to be free maybe. So yipee for me!