Youch. Not sure if you have settled with her insurance company yet, but I would not settle until you look at what they are offering. Here are some tips.
Primary Insruance companies will not go by NADA most of the time. Odds are, they will either use a CCC Valuescope, or a JD Power evaluation. CCC's are on average 1500 to 2000 less than an NADA. I do subrogations for a company and I had to go after the large primaries over this difference everyday for a long time. It sucks. USAA is the worst.
Knowing that, you need to look at what comparables they are using. By state insurance statutes they have to look within so many miles of your principally garaged area, they have to look at the options, model and you might get away with saying it's more valuable because of the color, most times they won't care. What you have to remember is that an insurance policy is rarely ever a replacement policy, it is an Actual Cash Value policy meaning, they will pay you only what the car is worth.
Now, once they gather up all of their comparables, they will assess a fee across the board of some amount, usually between 400 and 800 bucks for what they say is the fee to get your car, the loss car, ready for a dealer lot. They will deduct that from each comparable. They will deduct or add to each one, depending on model and options, and then add all of them together and divide by the number of comparables to get your ACV. Especially since it was her company, they are going to try to nickel and dime you to death. Make sure you have records of anything you have done to the car: tires, wheels, suspension mods, tune ups, alternator....whatever. Use those. You just performed so and so to your car, you want it back. That will carry a value to it most times, don't forget it.
What you can do. Look over your Evaluation HARDCORE! Make sure all their math adds up, make sure all your options are accounted for and make sure they followed all of the state rules. If you don't, as SOON as you sign that paper releasing them, you won't get shit from them again. Make sure it's all in one sock. You can approach them with the NADA value, usually it won't matter.
Now some tricks to deal with them on the phone. Be PATIENT, be cordial, polite...but firm. Here is a trick of Customer Service. They cannot disconnect the call without a reason. IE you cursing them out and calling them cows balls. Don't do that. If you don't like the answer, simply say "That's unacceptable" and dont say another word because the next person that speaks...loses. If you get nothing out of that person, go to the next higher up. Sooner or later you will get a very smooth, calm talking guy, most likely a guy, we have one at our office, that will try to assuage you with a smooth, deep and calm voice. Don't skip a beat, he will be unacceptable too so skip him. Sooner or later you will get someone who is willing to listen and you might get something done. Make sure your shit is in one sock.
Hope this info help you and anyone else out there that might get fucked by the primary insurance industry.
