Totaled Taycan Turbo S - insurance settlement suggestions please

[alynn3]

I loved my Taycan. Fantastic ownership and driving experience.

Heartbreakingly, it has been totaled in what seemed to be a relatively minor, only-body-damage collision (rear driver-side bumper, quarter panel, wheel, and tire). My insurance company initially gave a settlement appraisal on the wrong car - a Turbo rather than a Turbo S. So, I am suspicious of their competency, and hesitant that their follow-up appraisal will give me fair value.

Here are some details:

- highly optioned silver 2020 Turbo S with 31,000 miles
- original sticker $222,570 (i.e. seemingly every option and upgrade that Porsche offers was included)
- Purchased Porsche Certified Pre-Owned in 2024 for $117,000 with 17.5K miles - 1 prior owner
- always serviced at local Porsche dealer under warranty
- never a single problem other than recall hassles
- well-maintained with new tires and in perfect condition for age and miles

I know what the original sticker or what I paid doesn't really matter. I included them just to give a sense for comparing options and trim.

What would you expect for a fair insurance settlement if you were in my shoes?

Any tips on maximizing settlement (e.g. 3rd party appraisal, source for higher comparable sale, other)?

Thanks for any thoughts.

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[targa666]

So sorry to hear… Here in Netherlands most companies cover the price you paiD for three years. After that it’s “dayvalue”. A difficult concept since these cars are not on the valuelists that the companies use (these lists have all the ‘Normal’ cars with all the possible configuration with a fixed price).
I would look into the market and see if there are similar cars for sale and what the price is; that given you a good idea. Maybe even your dealership can tell you the fair price?

 

[SergeyIndy]

Really sorry to hear this, that clearly exposes the risk of having one damaged. First, get the settlement value first, second get a repair quote from several places that are Porsche collision certified.

I suspect the reason why it is totaled is because if the battery and/or cooling system has been impacted, this would most certainly exceed the market value of the car to replace. You can search for similar examples on sale, and I would be almost certain that they are lower than the cost of the battery replacement. Then add anything else that is damaged and you are quickly under water.

Looking at CarGurus for 2020 Turbo S with about 30k miles, the selling prices are in $73k-$78k. The battery replacement alone will cost about that much at retail pricing since the battery replacements are now all J1.2 generation with J1.1 emulation for J1.1 models.

This situation would certainly make me explore gap insurance options as any accident would very likely total the car even if it can be repaired due to very low market prices for used and plentiful examples.

 

[Genau]

@dflohr is also in Atlanta, and his experience with a totaled Porsche could be very relevant to you:

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...preciative-of-some-guidance.16107/post-258383​

 

[pbmorrow]

I’d look at a similar car and calculate the all in costs to put you into that similar vehicle (taxes and fees included) and start there. That’s probably a good place to start negotiations with insurance. Is it your insurance or the other parties that is paying?

 

[alynn3]

I’d look at a similar car and calculate the all in costs to put you into that similar vehicle (taxes and fees included) and start there. That’s probably a good place to start negotiations with insurance. Is it your insurance or the other parties that is paying?

My insurance will pay me and subrogate the expense to the other driver's insurer.

 

[alynn3]

Thanks for the replies, suggestions, and advice. I appreciate everyone taking the time to reply and help me out.

 

[AutoX]

When my previous car (BMW) was totaled, the offer was much less than market replacement value. I contested it, and they had me send them ads for 3 cars currently on sale with similar specs and miles. I sent them 3 of the highest listed price ones I found on Cargurus. They accepted the listings and cut me a check for the avg of the 3.

 

[RAHRCR]

I loved my Taycan. Fantastic ownership and driving experience.

Heartbreakingly, it has been totaled in what seemed to be a relatively minor, only-body-damage collision (rear driver-side bumper, quarter panel, wheel, and tire). My insurance company initially gave a settlement appraisal on the wrong car - a Turbo rather than a Turbo S. So, I am suspicious of their competency, and hesitant that their follow-up appraisal will give me fair value.

Here are some details:

- highly optioned silver 2020 Turbo S with 31,000 miles
- original sticker $222,570 (i.e. seemingly every option and upgrade that Porsche offers was included)
- Purchased Porsche Certified Pre-Owned in 2024 for $117,000 with 17.5K miles - 1 prior owner
- always serviced at local Porsche dealer under warranty
- never a single problem other than recall hassles
- well-maintained with new tires and in perfect condition for age and miles

I know what the original sticker or what I paid doesn't really matter. I included them just to give a sense for comparing options and trim.

What would you expect for a fair insurance settlement if you were in my shoes?

Any tips on maximizing settlement (e.g. 3rd party appraisal, source for higher comparable sale, other)?

Thanks for any thoughts.

You can try stressing the options the car has but as a general rule, insurance companies pay very little for options. During a settlement, its more typical to focus on mileage and little else.

 

[targa666]

You can try stressing the options the car has but as a general rule, insurance companies pay very little for options. During a settlement, its more typical to focus on mileage and little else.

Everything that us option of factory is not countrd as an option. Only what you did after that is option in insuranceworld. And that indeed is very low valued

 

[JackSparrow]

Looking at 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S CPO vehicles for sale with lesser options (High option/low mileage Taycans in great condition sell at a premium) I see mid 80’s, your car has little or no warranty left but is more highly optioned.
I think $85K-ish plus sales tax is fair.
https://finder.porsche.com/us/en-US/details/44R9O5

 

[MrStak]

I loved my Taycan. Fantastic ownership and driving experience.

Heartbreakingly, it has been totaled in what seemed to be a relatively minor, only-body-damage collision (rear driver-side bumper, quarter panel, wheel, and tire). My insurance company initially gave a settlement appraisal on the wrong car - a Turbo rather than a Turbo S. So, I am suspicious of their competency, and hesitant that their follow-up appraisal will give me fair value.

Here are some details:

- highly optioned silver 2020 Turbo S with 31,000 miles
- original sticker $222,570 (i.e. seemingly every option and upgrade that Porsche offers was included)
- Purchased Porsche Certified Pre-Owned in 2024 for $117,000 with 17.5K miles - 1 prior owner
- always serviced at local Porsche dealer under warranty
- never a single problem other than recall hassles
- well-maintained with new tires and in perfect condition for age and miles

I know what the original sticker or what I paid doesn't really matter. I included them just to give a sense for comparing options and trim.

What would you expect for a fair insurance settlement if you were in my shoes?

Any tips on maximizing settlement (e.g. 3rd party appraisal, source for higher comparable sale, other)?

Thanks for any thoughts.

Would you happen to have some pics of the damage? My Taycan was also involved in an accident and I wanted to compare my damage to yours that was deemed a total loss. Sorry that we're both dealing with the loss of our vehicles.

 

[JackSparrow]

Looking at 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S CPO vehicles for sale with lesser options (High option/low mileage Taycans in great condition sell at a premium) I see mid 80’s, your car has little or no warranty left but is more highly optioned.
I think $85K-ish plus sales tax is fair.
https://finder.porsche.com/us/en-US/details/44R9O5

Here’s an Edmunds appraisal of a fully loaded 2020 Turbo S (Dealer Retail). Dealer retail reflects the market value cost of replacement as you had purchased it.

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