Car insurance question - Kalyfish/others

Thanks for the comments guys. 

As you see from my post I just stated the numbers and did not say whether I was in agreement or not with the outcome. 

I still have not accepted the settlement but I can say I am pretty happy with the offer. I would say its pretty close to what I wanted. The number I had in my head was $350 higher than their offer so we are not that far apart. 

The only question I have for you guys as you might know the answer is regarding taxes. The state of Florida has a 6% tax rate, but the county I live in applies an extra 1% for a total of 7%. Should they give me the full 7% as I am buying the replacement here? It is a $200 difference and even though it will not drastically change my life, I dont want to leave that money on the table. 

Thanks much for all the help and advise through this E36 M3ty situation. 

Yes, they owe you whatever the taxes would be where you specifically live.  So if it's 7%, then that's what they owe. 

thanks Klayfish!

Ok. Insurance is settled and a new car purchased from the same salesman. 

I don’t know why people always complain about insurance companies and dealerships, maybe I have low standards. 

Again, thanks all for the advise and help!

Klayfish said:

mtn said:

Ask them how they got to the value they did, because it doesn't make any sense to you (because it doesn't make any sense period). Also come up with your own comps. 

Maybe I'm missing something, but how does it not make sense?  Their valuation is right in the range of the comparables that were found.  $17,200 for a car with 4xxx miles and they're offering him $18,000 for his.  A car with 1800 miles doesn't have a huge value difference from one with 4000 miles, they're still both basically brand new. 

Slippery, you can try to press for a little more, and maybe they'd give you another hundred or two, but from what you're describing, sounds like they're pretty spot on.  As for the tint, keep in mind they don't owe you for the cost you paid, they owe you for whatever value it may have added to the car. 

They don't make sense because a car with 4 times the mileage is worth more. His should be at the top of the range, not the middle. 

In reply to mtn :

I am not convinced it is the best way, but the way they explained it to me it sort of makes sense. At the end of the day, I honestly want to move on and get on with my life. I could have spent two weeks fighting with them, but I rather close the chapter.

I asked for a report since I was not understanding how they came up with the number, so this is what they sent me:

1.  7252 miles $18599
+$400 for miles
+$100 for tint
$19099 total

2. 5013 miles $16603
+$235 for miles
+$100 for tint
$17808 total

3. 6991 miles $15938
+$380 for miles
+$100 for tint
$17288 total

4. 3815 miles $16508
+$145 for miles
+$100 for tint
$17623 Total

They then averaged all for of those and came up with what they offered. As much as I would have liked for them to go by car number one, they had a point that there were more offers out there. We all also know that if you go to the dealership, you most likely be able to better those numbers. They are working with cars for sale and not sold prices.

I don't want to give out all the details here, but believe me this worked out OK for everyone involved. Hopefully in a few days I also get the police report and they got the pick-up's insurance info and I can collect my $500 deductible.

The worst part was convincing the insurance guys that Palm Beach county just passed a law this year for a 1% tax on top of Florida's 6%. It took me talking to two different guys that could not even calculate percentage on a calculator, to get them to adjust that.