Before the accident, my car was worth $27,721 before the accident. After repairs are completed flawlessly, because of the accident and the stigma that goes with it, the car will now be worth $8,316 less. This is due largely to the fact that this major accident will show on CARFAX reports, and must be disclosed if I want to trade it in, which I would LOVE to do now that its a damaged car that will never be a collector's item. Unfortunately, I can not afford to trade the car in, now that it is worth so much less than I owe on it. I think that is a very real issue to worry about. I expect the insurance company to make me whole. I now owe more on the car loan that the car is currently worth, and since I am not at fault in the accident, Allstate is required to bring me back to pre-accident state, financially.

There is no state insurance law I am aware of that requires me to sell my car to prove loss of value. I have had the car appraised, to establish loss of value. I can even get car dealers to give me trade-in appraisals to show the loss.

The only issue at question is, can I get my car while fighting for this diminished value or does the body shop have to keep it while all this goes on? Can I make the insurance company pay for my rental for the duration of this fight, or will I have to pay for the rental? Anyone know how to handle this?