Recently got caught in hailstorm. There is only a small amount of visable damage (in fact you have to look really hard to see it.) Mostly on the roof that is three meters high (motorhome)
The assessor was intent on saying how expensive it would be to fix it. Have to remove a lot of the interior linings and cupboards to get to the damage. My worry is they will write it off. Do I have to accept this should they decide this is the way to go? I would be quite happy leaving it as it is rather than have it written off.
Can anyone tell me what I can and can't do?
Peter_n_Margaret said
07:02 PM Mar 4, 2020
Depends on the insurer. You may be able to do a deal whereby you accept a reduced payment in cash and then you do what ever you wish. They may not want to continue to insure it though. Talk to them. There may be other options too. Take the right-off cash and retain the vehicle? Cover the damage with solar panels? What is the roof made from? Cheers, Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Wednesday 4th of March 2020 07:04:03 PM
villatranquilla said
07:11 PM Mar 4, 2020
if you get to keep the vehicle future insurance might be difficult to obtain if its not repaired - had this with a car
Radar said
09:28 PM Mar 4, 2020
msg wrote:
Recently got caught in hailstorm. There is only a small amount of visable damage (in fact you have to look really hard to see it.) Mostly on the roof that is three meters high (motorhome)
The assessor was intent on saying how expensive it would be to fix it. Have to remove a lot of the interior linings and cupboards to get to the damage. My worry is they will write it off. Do I have to accept this should they decide this is the way to go? I would be quite happy leaving it as it is rather than have it written off.
Can anyone tell me what I can and can't do?
Tricky questions dealing with insurance companies.
Firstly you have by what I read, you have made a claim, that vehicle is now there responsibility to do what ever for the best out come for both parties.
2nd thing is, if you are caught in another hail storm and damage is similar it will become 2 claims, 2 esses. Not a good scenario.
Back in 2013 we had a very much loved car damaged with hail, I at first thought it's only a little bit of damage, further investigation the insurance company wrote the car off, they did offer other choices but I took the money and ran.
Our caravan which come back home from the repairer night before from having some water damage to the interior repaired and was looking a million dollars, got hail damage mostly down the right side and on the roof but it was the insurance company agents that found the damage front and rear, strongly recommended that I find a good repairer have him quote the full job, the damage was about a third of insured valve.
The caravan was repaired and I could relax knowing if it was caught in another hail storm the insurance would not question the damage.
With most polices the insurance companies do ask, "vehicle have any previous hail damage".
Hope this may help in your decision making.
Sarge9 said
09:55 PM Mar 4, 2020
A different approach might be to find a repairer who specialises in hail damage, some of them suck the dents out, no damage to the skin. I had my car cop about 100 dents in a storm, sucker man fixed it for about $700. I would imagine a caravan skin would pop out easier than a car. Your assessor may not have much experience in caravans.
Sarge.
Knightrider said
11:00 PM Mar 4, 2020
Be careful if the skin is aluminum. Whilst the dents may be easier to roll or suck out, the real damage may occur on the inside. Should the coating on the inside of the sheeting be damaged, it will eventually corrode from the inside out with small pit holes gradually appearing in the sheeting.
Tony Bev said
09:43 AM Mar 5, 2020
Below is a snip from CIL Insurance PDS (Product Disclosure Statement)
I have no idea about other insurers
Hope that the info is helpful
When we pay for a total loss of your caravan, your caravan or its wreck becomes our property. If you wish to purchase the salvage of your caravan we will give you first option to buy the salvage at the price established by an auction or salvage company agreed to by both of us. If you purchase the salvage of your caravan we will contribute up to $1,000 towards moving your caravan to your residence or a place of your choice
Edit to give to link to the PDS, the sip above is from the bottom of page 52
Although the date says 2016, I copied the link this morning
-- Edited by Tony Bev on Thursday 5th of March 2020 09:48:54 AM
Aus-Kiwi said
11:02 AM Mar 5, 2020
If its light dents and no sign of damage to seals, joints etc . I wouldnt bother . As said add a cover ? Solar or double skin type insulation . Depending on type of roof . Even paint or body filler ? Youll find what ever insurance pays out . Chances are you wont buy a motorhome the same condition. You know condition of yours , Unless theres other issues ?
msg said
01:22 PM Mar 5, 2020
P&M Its a Transit Van so all metal.
As its three metres high, I can't get up the ladder to inspect. At least 90% of the roof would be covered by solar panels. They were undamaged it would seem as they are still working.
Other things up there are the roof hatch (Wrecked) Aerials (Radio, internet, UHF & TV) OK, Toilet extractor fan vent OK (It has always leaked onto bathroom floor. )
I expect roof not to be as bad as front luton panel (worst) and drivers side of van. Front & Drivers side took the brunt of the hailstones which were practically horizontal.
All in all, it appears another win for the TRANSIT VAN. No broken glass, headlights, taillights etc. Just a few small dings you can hardly see. 2008 Model with 220,000 on the clock. Been around OZ plus up the middle. Many forays into Western Qld on bush tracks, over sharp rocks and through bull dust up to the door openings. but still looking good.
A Mighty tough little motor home. After 11years, I still love my Motorhome.
Peter_n_Margaret said
02:58 PM Mar 5, 2020
Most unlikely they would want to write it off. I would simply let the process proceed. If by chance they say they want to write it off, then negotiate. Probably take the money and buy the "wreck". That will save you having to have comprehensive insurance any more. Cheers, Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Thursday 5th of March 2020 02:59:58 PM
Jaahn said
03:36 PM Mar 5, 2020
Hi msg
A friend of mine had his VW Transporter hit by hail. It is about 5 years old and his main vehicle with interior trim and seats etc. In good condition and worth quite a bit. Not too much damage but the insurance wanted to cut the roof off and replace that, which involved stripping the inside completely breaking the windscreen out and regluing the new roof on and screen and replacing the interior again. He though that the car would be never the same again and some opinions from panel beaters agreed with that. So he negotiated with the insurance company to get a local hail dent specialist to just repair the roof and replace the bonnet and do a few other hail dents around. The dent man said he could not guarantee the repairs would be totally invisible on the flat roof in the long run. The insurance agreed to continue the insurance but not cover the roof for hail damage again
My mate was happy with the job and the much reduced work on the vehicle insides. A year later he is still happy he did it like that. It did require a bit of work on his part to make them do what he wanted and he had to chase up the alternative panel beaters and get them to quote. But they then dealt with the insurance direct. But the fact is it is your vehicle so you can choose within limits.
Jaahn
dogbox said
02:44 PM Mar 6, 2020
Knightrider wrote:
Be careful if the skin is aluminum. Whilst the dents may be easier to roll or suck out, the real damage may occur on the inside. Should the coating on the inside of the sheeting be damaged, it will eventually corrode from the inside out with small pit holes gradually appearing in the sheeting.
this is what happens when all the dents are removed the damage is underneath the paint an it may take a few years for the real damage to appear
msg said
04:01 PM Mar 6, 2020
Thanks E!
Warren-Pat_01 said
10:12 PM Mar 6, 2020
Hi msg,
This is similar to Jaahn's reply -
My son's car was caught in the hail storm in Canberra recently. The car is a Kia Sorento & just over 12 mths old.
His insurance company told him to take it to their nominated repairer who said they would replace the bonnet & roof & then knock out the rest of the dents & spray filler in the very small dents. They said "If you find any left-over damage that could be associated with this incident even after two years, to bring it back."
To make the car legal to drive in the meantime, they suggested that he replaced the windscreen. He was worried that this would cost an arm & a leg extra but was assured it would be covered under the main job. His car goes in for the repair at the end of this month.
He asked at what stage would they write the car off - "When the cost of repairs equalled the value of the car".
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:51 AM Mar 7, 2020
Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
He asked at what stage would they write the car off - "When the cost of repairs equalled the value of the car".
I suggest if they write off the vehicle OR NOT is calculated differently from that. Their aim is to minimise their total cost.
For example, if the insured value is $20,000, and repairs are estimated at $10,000 and the wreck is valued at $8,000, their total cost is $20,000 (that they pay the owner) - $8,000 = $12,000 if they write it off and $10,000 if they fix it. They will fix it.
If the insured value is $20,000 and repairs are quoted at $13,000 and the wreck is valued at $8,000, their total cost will be $20,000 - $8,000 = $12,000 if they write it off and $13,000 if they fix it, so they write it off.
If the repairs are quoted at HALF the insured value OR MORE, they will get the wreck valued before making a decision. If the repairs are quoted at LESS THAN HALF of the insured value they will just fix it without valuing the wreck. Of course, once they start the repair they WILL complete it, even if the actual repair cost is considerably more than the estimates.
Recently got caught in hailstorm. There is only a small amount of visable damage (in fact you have to look really hard to see it.) Mostly on the roof that is three meters high (motorhome)
The assessor was intent on saying how expensive it would be to fix it. Have to remove a lot of the interior linings and cupboards to get to the damage. My worry is they will write it off. Do I have to accept this should they decide this is the way to go? I would be quite happy leaving it as it is rather than have it written off.
Can anyone tell me what I can and can't do?
Depends on the insurer. You may be able to do a deal whereby you accept a reduced payment in cash and then you do what ever you wish. They may not want to continue to insure it though.
Talk to them. There may be other options too. Take the right-off cash and retain the vehicle? Cover the damage with solar panels?
What is the roof made from?
Cheers,
Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Wednesday 4th of March 2020 07:04:03 PM
Tricky questions dealing with insurance companies.
Firstly you have by what I read, you have made a claim, that vehicle is now there responsibility to do what ever for the best out come for both parties.
2nd thing is, if you are caught in another hail storm and damage is similar it will become 2 claims, 2 esses. Not a good scenario.
Back in 2013 we had a very much loved car damaged with hail, I at first thought it's only a little bit of damage, further investigation the insurance company wrote the car off, they did offer other choices but I took the money and ran.
Our caravan which come back home from the repairer night before from having some water damage to the interior repaired and was looking a million dollars, got hail damage mostly down the right side and on the roof but it was the insurance company agents that found the damage front and rear, strongly recommended that I find a good repairer have him quote the full job, the damage was about a third of insured valve.
The caravan was repaired and I could relax knowing if it was caught in another hail storm the insurance would not question the damage.
With most polices the insurance companies do ask, "vehicle have any previous hail damage".
Hope this may help in your decision making.
Sarge.
Below is a snip from CIL Insurance PDS (Product Disclosure Statement)
I have no idea about other insurers
Hope that the info is helpful
Edit to give to link to the PDS, the sip above is from the bottom of page 52
https://www.cilinsurance.com.au/sites/default/files/fm/pdf/CIL-secure-caravan-insurance-product-disclosure-statement-may2016.pdf
Although the date says 2016, I copied the link this morning
-- Edited by Tony Bev on Thursday 5th of March 2020 09:48:54 AM
As its three metres high, I can't get up the ladder to inspect. At least 90% of the roof would be covered by solar panels. They were undamaged it would seem as they are still working.
Other things up there are the roof hatch (Wrecked) Aerials (Radio, internet, UHF & TV) OK, Toilet extractor fan vent OK (It has always leaked onto bathroom floor. )
I expect roof not to be as bad as front luton panel (worst) and drivers side of van. Front & Drivers side took the brunt of the hailstones which were practically horizontal.
All in all, it appears another win for the TRANSIT VAN. No broken glass, headlights, taillights etc. Just a few small dings you can hardly see. 2008 Model with 220,000 on the clock. Been around OZ plus up the middle. Many forays into Western Qld on bush tracks, over sharp rocks and through bull dust up to the door openings. but still looking good.
A Mighty tough little motor home. After 11years, I still love my Motorhome.
Most unlikely they would want to write it off.
I would simply let the process proceed. If by chance they say they want to write it off, then negotiate. Probably take the money and buy the "wreck". That will save you having to have comprehensive insurance any more.
Cheers,
Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Thursday 5th of March 2020 02:59:58 PM
Hi msg
A friend of mine had his VW Transporter hit by hail. It is about 5 years old and his main vehicle with interior trim and seats etc. In good condition and worth quite a bit. Not too much damage but the insurance wanted to cut the roof off and replace that, which involved stripping the inside completely breaking the windscreen out and regluing the new roof on and screen and replacing the interior again. He though that the car would be never the same again and some opinions from panel beaters agreed with that. So he negotiated with the insurance company to get a local hail dent specialist to just repair the roof and replace the bonnet and do a few other hail dents around. The dent man said he could not guarantee the repairs would be totally invisible on the flat roof in the long run. The insurance agreed to continue the insurance but not cover the roof for hail damage again
My mate was happy with the job and the much reduced work on the vehicle insides. A year later he is still happy he did it like that. It did require a bit of work on his part to make them do what he wanted and he had to chase up the alternative panel beaters and get them to quote. But they then dealt with the insurance direct. But the fact is it is your vehicle so you can choose within limits.
Jaahn
this is what happens when all the dents are removed the damage is underneath the paint an it may take a few years for the real damage to appear
This is similar to Jaahn's reply -
My son's car was caught in the hail storm in Canberra recently. The car is a Kia Sorento & just over 12 mths old.
His insurance company told him to take it to their nominated repairer who said they would replace the bonnet & roof & then knock out the rest of the dents & spray filler in the very small dents. They said "If you find any left-over damage that could be associated with this incident even after two years, to bring it back."
To make the car legal to drive in the meantime, they suggested that he replaced the windscreen. He was worried that this would cost an arm & a leg extra but was assured it would be covered under the main job. His car goes in for the repair at the end of this month.
He asked at what stage would they write the car off - "When the cost of repairs equalled the value of the car".
I suggest if they write off the vehicle OR NOT is calculated differently from that. Their aim is to minimise their total cost.
For example, if the insured value is $20,000, and repairs are estimated at $10,000 and the wreck is valued at $8,000, their total cost is $20,000 (that they pay the owner) - $8,000 = $12,000 if they write it off and $10,000 if they fix it. They will fix it.
If the insured value is $20,000 and repairs are quoted at $13,000 and the wreck is valued at $8,000, their total cost will be $20,000 - $8,000 = $12,000 if they write it off and $13,000 if they fix it, so they write it off.
If the repairs are quoted at HALF the insured value OR MORE, they will get the wreck valued before making a decision. If the repairs are quoted at LESS THAN HALF of the insured value they will just fix it without valuing the wreck. Of course, once they start the repair they WILL complete it, even if the actual repair cost is considerably more than the estimates.
Don't ask me how I know.
Cheers,
Peter