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Originally Posted by Craftsman729
...was hit by a deer...
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Was the deer talking on his cell phone at the time? You should get uninsured deer insurance next time. They never seem to stay in their own lane.
Okay, seriously. Most insurance companies will make you sweat it out if you want more money. They can wait ages, but most people want to get the payout quickly so they can get a new car and go on with their lives. Insurance companies know this, which is why they low ball you and make you wait. I suppose if you wait long enough they'll offer more just so they can close the books, but that could take years.
Generally speaking, they should offer (and you should accept) an honest Blue Book assessment. If you print up a Blue Book assessment and find several ads in your area that are consistent with the book value, you stand a much better chance of getting a payout consistent with book value. During this process, most people discover their car has depreciated more than they thought. It's also very true that everybody asks more for their car than they really expect to get. Ads don't mean much. Blue Book does.
Another thing to consider is that the insurance company doesn't really know what sort of condition your car is in. It could be brand new, yet be worth nothing because it's beat to hell. When you buy a car at a dealer, you're also paying for the detailing, a tune-up and inspection, and frequently a newer warranty. Your old car didn't have all that, and the insurance company really shouldn't be expected to pay for it. The "value" of dealer vehicle prep is probably about $1000 and the cost of a warranty is probably another $1000. If your car comes in $2000 below the sticker you see in car windows at the dealers, that's why.