Dear Terry,
My daughter's car was struck by another vehicle while stopped at a red light. The insurance company wants to total her car. It can be fixed. Six days before the accident, she had a custom paint job, new tires and 20-inch custom wheels at a cost of $4,000. The insurance company refuses to take the add-ons into account when appraising the car. How can we fight this?
-- Deb

Dear Deb,
Have an independent appraiser look at the car and submit that appraisal report to the insurance company. There's a procedure for arbitration when dealing with an insurance settlement, which is what this is. You may need to hire an attorney, but in this case, it might be worth it.

Here are this week's reader questions:

• 7 ways to avoid buying a used-car lemon • How can we fight the insurance company's appraisal? • Should I pay cash or finance my new car? • Can my dealer renege on a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty?

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