Dude, Where's My Car?

My Toyota Corolla, unfortunately, was partially flooded during the recent hurricane known as Florence. One of my mom’s neighbors, whom we just met, is also named Florence; lovely woman, originally from Kenya. I asked her if the storm was named after her, although she wouldn’t confirm or deny…but I digress.

'Oooo-riental, where the wind comes sweepin' with the rain!'

I entered a claim on 9/17 with Geico and was phoned soon thereafter regarding said claim. I explained that the vehicle was drivable, but that water was dripping on my feet when I drove it so it must have flooded several feet inside. The car was also starting to mildew because we had to keep it closed due to several days of rain after the hurricane.

'I can totally drive through this.'

I was told by the adjuster that it would have to be towed to Clayton, NC (three hours away!) so it could be assessed. I asked if I could just get estimates, but was told that all flood damaged vehicle had to go to the same location. Hmmm, already sounds a bit fishy. I was then asked if it was ready to be removed from the property. I affirmed that, indeed it was, although I was still remiss about letting someone take it away. Now, I know a 2008 Toyota Corolla is no Lexus, but it is paid for and it runs. Good enough for me.

Fast forward to Wednesday morning, 9/19. My locked car that was partially sitting in a field next to my mom’s house is gone. There are deep drag marks in the field where it had been parked. When I come downstairs, John informs me that my car is gone. I ask him if he had spoken to the tow truck driver and he says, ‘the car was gone when I got up at 6:45 this morning.’ Um, what?

I immediately call Geico, who has no record of my car being taken. If you know me, you know I am at my ‘what the fuck?!’ threshold at this point. The adjuster asks me to hold, and when she comes back, tells me that it has been towed by a salvage and auction yard. Okay, now I’m pissed. Me- ‘My car got towed by a company that informed neither you nor I that it was being taken, and I have no receipt or confirmation from the towing company because they drug it off in the middle of the night?’ Her- ‘Well, they are working 24 a day to pick up all the vehicles that have been damaged.’ Me-‘Without informing anyone? It’s not like my car was being repossessed, for fuck sake.’ (I didn’t say that last part, but it sounds good for effect)

I have yet to be told anything about the car, and it appears that I will have to drive to Clayton so that it isn’t sold at auction before I get there. My assumption is that the insurance company is going to total all vehicles from the storm, regardless of how much or little damage there is. Blue book value is almost always lower than what they would have to pay to repair, so I’m guessing that’s what’s happening here. They will give me nothing, then make a few repairs and sell it for at least twice what I get. Fucking thieves.

Now, we have one car between the two of us, and it’s a truck. I need a pole vault to get in it. Yay.