The Value of your Car

[TomoHawk]

How would you calculate the value of your Z car, for insurance purposes, like the Haggerry insurance?

I have all the receipts for service, parts, and any engine/body/chassis improvements done since I got the car. I would not count the cost of regular service or functional repairs.

Would you just calculate the sum total for all improvements and give that to the insurance guy?

thxZ

[Arne]

http://www.autoappraisalnetwork.com/

[TomoHawk]

What is that for?

[sblake01]

What is that for?

To help set a value.

Our goal is to provide our clients with an accurate vehicle appraisal value whether they own a basic classic car, or the most tricked out custom vehicle possible.

[Arne]

What is that for?

If you can't figure out what that's for, I'm not going to bother to try to explain it.

[TomoHawk]

When you post a link to somewhere, it is considerate to note where it goes or what it (the destination website) does. It was off-topic anyway. The topic is to see what things you would consider in your estimate for the value of your car, not some blue-book, value. Most all of the Z owners I know have many thousands more invested in the car than the pittance you'd get as a look-up quote from some book.

I tried to look up the value on Edmunds or Kelly's Blue book, and they only go back to about 1990, so you're on your own, unless you can find some pricing service for antique cars. They seem more interested in selling you a new or used car.

Thanks Stephen, for the note.

That one appraisal company looks to be the kind of place that might get you the appraisal you'd like. But it will help to know what to tell them beforehand, besides the year & model.

Is there a website that will just give you a simple value, like the blue-book value?

thxZ

Edited September 8, 2009 by TomoHawk

[yetterben]

nada for baseline

[TomoHawk]

I think you mean the NADA Used car price Guide which is at: http://www.nadaguides.com

I've got a lot more than the $9000 invested in it. Maybe I will go through the receipts to see exactly how much.

Edited September 8, 2009 by TomoHawk

[Arne]

When you post a link to somewhere, it is considerate to note where it goes or what it (the destination website) does. It was off-topic anyway. The topic is to see what things you would consider in your estimate for the value of your car, not some blue-book, value.

I didn't post an explanation of the link because the URL is pretty much self-explanatory. I mean, really. What else is www.autoappraisalnetwork.com going to be about?

Also hard to see how that might be off-topic. You want to get an idea what your car is worth? Don't try to look it up yourself, or even worse, take a guess at it yourself. Hire a professional to do the research for you. They send someone to meet you, they inspect the car, take loads of pictures, and view any documentation you may have to show them. Then they compile a list of similar cars and document the cr@p out of it.

Hagerty is simple - you tell them how much you want to insure it for, they give you a quote. The onus is on you to set your own value. You pay for what you ask for, no more, no less.

Those of us who don't use Hagerty or similar specialty insurers don't have that luxury. Your average insurance company isn't going to take your word for the car's value, you'd best have something to back it up. The best backup is a professional appraisal, done by people who do them all the time. The outfit I linked even has a service to come and testify in court as to the accuracy of their appraisal, should it come to that.

[TomoHawk]

That was a nice explanation, Arne.

As to documentation, what would that include? I have mostly new parts to replace the worn-out stuff like the driveshafts, a trans rebuild, and engine parts/repairs/improvements.

thxZ

[sblake01]

When I was insured with Hagerty, I didn't have to give them any documentation. Just a few pictures.

[yetterben]

Same here mine is currently insured for 12 grand. Not bad seeing as how i paid under 3 for it painted it and a few other things.