samgabecas

I just bought a 2011 LS460 about 5 weeks ago and an idiot I work with backed into my driver's side door. The insurance estimate is $2,000 to replace the door and get it back to the way it was. Does anybody have any idea how much I should claim from his insurance company for the loss of value on the car?

Newps

I've heard it's 10% of the repair amount or $200.00 bucks in your case.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

only 200 bucks? with a new door (different VIN) i am pretty sure the loss of value when selling the car is more than 200

JFNash

How about you check it out with a Lexus dealer. I guess they would be a better judge given the reselling experience they go through all the time.

As to the 10% rule, I think I wouldn't be negotiating hundreds of dollars if I knew that the car I'm about to buy had been hit in the door and the door was replaced as a result of that. I think I would be negotiating a thousand dollars or even more, but certainly no hundreds.

I mean think about it this way: if in two or three years you wanted to sell the car, the buyer would ask for more than few hundreds as a compensation for the door replacement at a time when the market would be offering so many cars just like yours but without the door being replaced.

I would keep pictures of the accident along with all the repair documents. You never know how you're going to use them in the future.

Good luck.