icbc writeoff question
 

i got into accident..
damage was estimated at $9000 initially.
my car's been in the shop for over a month and now total cost is at $16000.
Not only that, the dealership is having problem resetting airbag system they need to order parts to try to fix it which is another month delay..
the thing is that now that the car's got history of $16000, I really prefer not to keep the car if it's possible.. I enquired shop about it and they told me it would have to be $25000 for my car to be writeoff status.
Is there anything I can do?

So the repairs have already started? If that's the case, you're going to have a hard time convincing ICBC to write it off if they are already out $16,000.

Initially, what you COULD have done was had the shop high quote ICBC, then there would have been a greater chance of write off if the shop states it's an "obvious total loss" or what not. However, I've heard body shops business is bad these days, so unless you got the right shop or know someone, they may have not been willing to put in a word.

I believe the damage has to be worth at least 75% of your car for them to write it off. They probably benefit by fixing your car in this case.

Would his car have a rebuilt status from a 16k claim?

I think it really depends on the damage. If it's frame or something then probably, if it's just a bunch of body panels, probably not.

What car and what damage?

No rebuilt status on the record, just a hugeass claim.

Rebuilt Title = declared to be unfixable (economically) to ICBC --> bought at auction and "fixed" by some two-bit mechanic/bodyman --> Kingsway car dealership near you!

Huge ass claim that'll kill the resale value of the car.

as already stated. If the work has begun you will not be able to get the car written off... next time hit what it was you hit a little harder.

75%=$25k in order to be a total loss... what is this car?!? sounds expensive :o

isnt it 50% blue book value?

If your work is already a month in, you have 1% chance of getting it written off now. Why do people always think body shops will give ICBC a higher quote. ICBC will look over the estimate and find that the shop has over charged they will be given a warning and if it continues ICBC will pull their licence. You can always take total cost of repairs + salvage but its probley 2 late for that.

With the economy were in right now and how much car prices have dropped ICBC will go to 90% of the value depending on year, condition and coverage you have purchased :eek:

Every GOOD shop will quote higher than what ICBC initally estimates, not always because they are lying but because ICBC is flat out cheap. ICBC's estimate as stated in many other threads before, they quote you for the cheapest shop they can find. And those are the kinds of shop you do not want working on your vehicle to begin with.They don't just try to cheap out towards consumers, but especially try to gip out shops.

Every repair I've ever heard of done by a shop with good reputation has been over the estimated cost by ICBC. That doesn't mean they loose their license or they are scamming, that just means they are doing the job properly, instead of kicking the car out after it "looks" like it's been fixed enough. That's why there are Road Men who go to the shops and confirm that the vehicle needs more time/parts as stated by the shop. Shops don't just get to do the job at an outrageous price before the Road Man approves.

[QUOTE=PrincessPeiPei;6232969]

Initially, what you COULD have done was had the shop high quote ICBC,QUOTE]To me it sounds like you are asking the shop to quote higher then what it would take to fix the vehicle.

^
High quote doesn't mean they're lying necessarily. They can quote certain parts that cannot be seen right away, they can quote for new parts instead of used, so on. Their influence matters. ICBC has no right to defer you to another body shop when you've already chosen the shop. High quoting doesn't mean ICBC accepts that quote, it means ICBC will need to negotiate with the shop. If the shop persists the job is much more expensive, then ICBC will have to think twice.

ICBC usually writes off the vehicle if the damage is worth about 70-80% or higher.

well this accident really makes me wonder whether buying a Japanese car is worth it or not... Accident happened because it started to snow and knowing that my car isn't really good in the snow, I rushed home from Christmas dinner. There wasn't even much snow in the road and still I lost traction like there's no tomorrow..
BUT! seriously... accident was really low speed minor impact... since snow made me drive extremly cautious.. maybe 20km/h even slower... going downhill for 15m or so...
Japanese cars are so fragile it gives me shiver how much damage it can cause with such low speed impact.. If I ever had accident going 80.. airbag or not, it seems that it would be very difficult to see another day without being handicapped...

ICBC has set rates with all of their 'vendors'. If the bodyshops do not like the rates that they have, they should take it up with the ARA as they are the ones that negotiate the rates.

again, what car was this? i can understand if the repair costs are high if it were an expensive vehicle, but if it was some basic toyota or sth then yeah i'd be worried :(