An insurance company will always try to settle for the least possible dollar
amount, they are in business to make money. That being said, you'll most likely
have to haggle with them just like when buying and/or selling a car, to ensure
you get the best deal for YOU (not them), and the phrase to use is: "YOU ARE
TO MADE ME WHOLE WITH THE SETTLEMENT" , meaning the settlement puts
you in the exact financial position (vehicle position) as you would were in prior
to the accident. You need to do YOUR research to argue your point of value.
Search autotrader, cargurus, ebay, craigslist etc etc. search for low mileage,
similarly equipped vehicles like yours, sometimes hard to find the exact color so
be somewhat flexible, and see what they are asking for them. If you have all
your records of maintenance, make copies of them, that increases the value of
ANY car to a prospective buyer, regardless what they might say. Also, the
insurance company will try and offer you "trade-in value" OR LESS. Simply tell
them it's NOT acceptable as you, as you weren't trading it in, so you are to get
RETAIL price, especially since you have to pay retail for a replacement car so
you MUST get retail for your vehicle! Also, you can offer to allow them to find a
2004 Alero GLS with 52,000 miles OR LESS, with the same equipment or
MORE, with FULL records in helping making you whole again.