So yesterday we went to get the T&C out of the tow yard where it was being kept. Assuming it was drivable the plan was for me to drive it home with my girlfriend and mom following behind me. We get to yard, pay the bill and my girlfriend and I go to the van. It's way at the corner of the yard against a fence and about 6 inches away from some smashed up Elantra. I get in and start it up, then slowly back it out. I hear dragging and she points out the exhaust is on the ground...oh goodie. I move the van to an open space and notice that the force of the impact knocked it off of the hangers...no big deal. I get under the van and look around under it while I'm putting the exhaust back on. Yup...there's a big dent but nothing leaks and all of the suspension components fine. I also pull off teh side molding since it was hanging low.
This is where it gets fun. I get up from under the van and one of the tow guys...I dunno if he's the boss or what...don't really care comes over with my mom. He then proceeds to tell me "it's unsafe to drive and the cop will pull you over and take away your license if you drive it because there is a dent in the side." I'm like..WTF? Yeah ok, because I had a swat team on my ass when we drove the Prizm across town to a body shop right? Before I get a word in he interrupts me and starts to tell my mom "it's worthless, they totaled it you should just leave it here. If you take it away I have to call the insurance company and tell them and they will drop your claim" Then he goes on "interrupting me again with scare tactics like what will we do if it gets hit again since the driver's door is stuck?" I',m thinking to myself, hey major douchebag? There's 3 other doors to exit from? Unless I get sandwiched between a walll, a car one side and a car in my ass I think I can you know...open another f@#king door.
He continues you cut me off each time I go to say something, and my mom, being my mom, buys into his BS hook line and sucker. He then comes up with his best line yet "i'm on your side, i'm looking out for you and I'll help you with the insurance company so they don't give you the lowest value". She buys into this crap, which infuriates me because I have been down this road before, with the same totaled car issue. Furious, I say f@#k it, and go back to my car. We leave and I give her an earful...pissed is putting it mildly, because I hate how my word is always ranked lower than everyone else's, even some stupid stranger out to make a buck. When the Prizm was totaled the insurance company didn't care that I took it home, because even though they declared it totaled I said I wanted to take it to a shop and have it looked t. Yet amazingly I was not denied my claim or pulled over by the entire police department for driving it.
So guys, you can see where my frustration comes from. I'd have AAA tow it but our coverage expired in November and was never renewed (my mom was the plan holder and never told me she didn't renew it, I found it out yesterday after calling AAA).
Do you think the insurance company can "reject a claim" for taking your own car out of the tow yard under it's own power? Will the cops suddenly be alerted to a van with a big dent in it going across town and drop their donuts and leave the scene of a murder to converge on it?