How do I help a claim adjuster understand that my car needs to be repainted since the metallic cant be matched

Question

My car's paint was stained by a pipe that broke and released stuff on it. The responsible party's insurance company is sending a claim adjuster to look at the car and determine how much they will pay me for damages. The trunk and bumper panels will need repainting. The problem I have is, the car's color is a very dark maroon metallic. It has a deep purple base and red flake over top. You can't match it because of the complex purple tinting and the size of the metallic particles. In other words, it will have to blended. If the car is blended, you will be able to notice the rear bumper is different when looking at the car from the side. To me that won't look right and it will also diminish the value of the car. How do I help the adjuster understand this and have him approve me to paint the whole car as to not diminish the asthetic and resale values? Thank you

Answer 1

The responsible party must return your vehicle to pre-loss condition. Tell them that.

As for painting the whole car....never gonna happen, they don't owe you that. By doing so would put your car in BETTER condition than it was, and legally, they don't owe you for that.

You have the right to have your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice...so take it somewhere that can do the work.

Answer 2

Dream on. If your car has an OEM finish then it can and will be blended. This is an industry accepted standard and you have 0% chance of squeezing a complete refinish out of the insurance company. If your vehicle has been repainted -- then forget about diminshed value because that happened when it was painted. Here you are squaking about how it won't 'look' right before the work has even begun. You have already made up your mind about the results so nothing will ever make you happy. I suppose if a stone chipped your hood you would expect the entire car to be repainted? How about that parking lot ding on the rt lower door? Repaint the entire car for that also? If you are so determined about this then why not file a claim under your own policy and see what they say?

Answer 3

Welcome to the world of diminished value. You will not get any adjuster to paint your whole car. Even though a paint job will never be perfect no matter much metallic, there are guidelines considered acceptable by insurance companies and the courts. They are required to meet these "acceptable guidelines".......NOT to make your car match perfectly in metallic. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I am a car dealer that has been through this many times! As a bodyman, I can tell you that ANY paintwork diminishes a car's value (and a complete repaint diminshes a car's value WAY more than a spot job)......but there is nothing you can do.

Answer 4

Ha. Let me tell you.. if i had a dollar for every person who thought that there whole car needed to be painted id be a millionaire. thats absolutely, positively ridulous.

There is no way in a thousand years you will be reimbursed for getting your whole car painted. Metallic cars are painted everyday using the blending method. CUSTOM metallic cars are painted every day using the blending method. If YOU use a decent painter they will have no problem doing this. Dont waste your time or breath trying to convince anyone otherwise b/c they will get off the phone and laugh with the rest of the adjusters about how silly you were being.

Answer 5

The insurance company has no obligation to repair something that isn't damaged. Your requests will fall on pretty much deaf ears. If it had been totaled you would get only what similar vehicles are worth, and not much extra for your 'special' paint. That's just the way things are.

You could make the same argument if you had an older car with faded paint, the new paint will stand out...well, too bad. Sorry.