typical length before receiving an insurance cheque

**rocky.ca** · 10-28-2008 05:41 PM

colision shop told me that the car is most likely a total loss. Just filed the claim yesterday, have yet to have the car inspected, but how long does it typically take in order to receive a cheque from insurance? I really need to get a new car soon. Any input is greatly appreciated.

Mike

**djwimbo** · 10-28-2008 05:47 PM

2-3 weeks. Sometimes more.

When my house burnt down (march30/apr 1), I got the insurance check for my motorcycle about a week after they documented the loss, and the homeowner's took about a month.

**kingtr** · 10-28-2008 08:18 PM

You need to be careful how you approach this situation. The FASTEST way to get a check will also most likely result in the least amount.

Insurance will give you a "total loss offer." This offer is their lowball. If you want the cash right away, say yeah fine. Mine was pretty low so I found a bunch of local cars (A4's w/ similar mileage in my area) as well as KBB/edmunds reports and sent them to the insurance agent. They (insurance) came back with an offer that was nearly $1500 more than the initial offer. Insurance agents KNOW time is important to you, so lowballing you and hoping you settle right away is their goal.

I do not recommend rushing the insurance settlement, OR the new car buying process. Otherwise I think you will end up with less (car) for more (money). (or less car for less money! --> if rush insurance settlement)

**slopoke** · 10-28-2008 09:22 PM

what happened, we just talked about detailing it? That was a clean volcano b5! What are you gonna get know?

**getslideways** · 10-28-2008 11:52 PM

i think it just depends on the situation, i am not sure of the events that led to your particular case, but for reference:

my brother was hit by a neighbor who ran the stop sign at the top of our hill. The guy admitted fault the next day, then my brother's insurance company sent out an adjuster two days later, he considered the car a total loss, hammered out an amount, and my brother picked up the check 3-4 days later at the Insurance Company's main headquarters for our area. He went in, handed them the title, they handed him a check, and the insurance company sent out a tow truck the next day. My brother just met the tow truck guy and gave him the keys. and the deal was done. Whole process accident-to-car-towed was a week

It worked out to be the easiest/fastest possible situation i have yet heard of with dealing with insurance and payment.

**CruzS4** · 10-29-2008 01:03 AM

my experience has been 2-3 weeks as well. they're usually flooded with claims and it takes a while. since your car is officially a total, the process should be expedited, in that they don't have to determine an estimate and all that nonsense. any idea what new car you're to purchase?

**Poopie** · 10-29-2008 01:08 AM

mine tool about 3 and a half weeks. then another 3 months to get my deductible back.

**Poopie** · 10-29-2008 01:09 AM

and the shitty part, depending on the company, they only cover rental like 5 days after the total loss is issued. soo yeah...you are left with out a car for a while.

**rocky.ca** · 10-29-2008 11:49 AM

yeah, thats fine, i have my car at a shop where insurance has to pay for storage so it is going to cost them every day to keep it there, apparantly the shop said that it gives you much more bargining power when it comes to both the ammount you want and the length of time before it is settled (because they have to dish out money every day to keep it there) BTW im picking up another black b5, probably a 2001 this time though, im thinking brilliant black this time to change it up. the one im looking at i can have for around 8k Canadian taxes and everything and it only has 67000 miles :) 113 000 kms... hopefully they hurry up with the cheque so i can pick it up lol

btw, how did you get your deductable back?

**dubbin.t.rex** · 10-29-2008 02:36 PM

Hope you get lucky like me and their evaluation says your car has an engine in it that's worth more than what's really in there or even exists. My car got totaled over the summer, it was a mkiv VW Jetta 2.slow and I got almost as much as I paid for it because they thought it had a 2.0T in it. It took about 10 days to get the check, good luck man

**rocky.ca** · 10-29-2008 02:57 PM

sweet.. the adjuster will come within a few days and almost for sure just declare a total loss, which would be a lot quicker then waiting for it to be repaired especially since its fairly stock :) i did raid the hell out of it though... all of my sound system, spare tire, jack, reflective triangle, oem floor matts hehe... anyone want to make me offers on these things?