Modern Vespa

Good morning! I have just joined this site after lurking for months as I tried to decide to upgrade my old scoot (an 03 Honda Metropolitan) to my dream Vespa. After months of deliberation, I finally did it!

We drove from Wichita to Denver to pick up a new, 2021 GTS 300 in Verde Relax. We secured it in the back of my husband's work truck and off we went to drive home. Less than two hours after purchasing it, the high winds caused by blizzard-like conditions caused the truck bed cover (he has a steel box bed, with a very heavy folding cover) to come unsecured and crash down on the leg shield of our new ride. When we stopped, I saw immediately that the "tie" part was completely shattered, but that was all I saw. I emailed the place we bought it to see if they could order me a new one.

Well, when we got home and unloaded, it quickly became clear that there was far more damage than I originally thought. The leg shield is dented, there is a paint dent/chip, the side chrome is not perfectly fitted anymore, and neither are both of the front lights. The left side took more damage than the right. I don't know what to do. I have a brand new loan on it, and dumped all of my cash into the down payment.

I have insurance that started the day before the incident, but the truck that damaged it is also on that same insurance. After reading some posts here, it sounds like the Vespa could be totaled, since there is damage to the frame. I have absolutely no idea what to do. I would appreciate any and all advice. Maybe I'm being dramatic and uninformed, and after looking at the pictures you guys will tell me that insurance will cover it, but I think that's wishful thinking. Do we tell insurance what happened and risk having them total it? I have gap insurance from the dealer, and total coverage under my insurance company, so as far as I can see, there are three possibilities:

1. Leave it. It rides fine, so just replace the shattered front tie part out of my pocket, and deal with the dents and other cosmetic issues.
2. File insurance and they don't total it, so have it repaired. Insurance goes up and I continue making payments.
3. File insurance and they total it. If this happens, what money will I be out? Can we pay to keep it? Will I have to keep making payments if we do this?

I'm just absolutely lost and devastated. I have wanted a Vespa for as long as I can remember, and what should have been one of the most exciting days of my life quickly turned sour. I have added photos of the damage as well (I can't figure out how to rotate them though, so I apologize). Please give me some guidance!

Hi, sorry to hear of your mishap I feel your pain.

I don't have experience of Insurance companies on your side of the pond but I'd definitely file a insurance claim and wouldn't ride it in that condition.


Good luck getting it sorted.

Wow, talk about no luck.

I am an insurance agent. Here are my thoughts which are generally
valid in most states. (Insurance can differ from State to State).

1. The real cause of loss is windstorm. The loss would be covered under your
comprehensive coverage (not collision coverage). Your insurance rates are
not surcharged or uprated for this type of comprehensive loss.
2. Turn the claim in. If it is a total loss, they will pay you the market value of
the Vespa less your deductible. Then go buy another undamaged Vespa.
3. If it is repairable, the insurance company will pay the repair less your deductible.

The reason scooters routinely become total losses is due to the high cost of labor.

I say call in he claim. Sorry for your misfortune.

Bob Copeland
Minnesota

Of course file an insurance claim. Isn't that exactly the point of insurance? And, as Bob notes above, you won't be penalized for a comprehensive claim. You are only out your deductible, which is bad luck, but much better than a new - and damaged - Vespa.

Welcome to MV and so sorry that your first post is such bad news. I will let the experts advise you on the best way forward regarding the insurance claim, but please keep us posted and let us have a picture of your new scooter once it has been repaired.

Sorry to hear about the damage so soon after picking up your Vespa!

None of the damage looks too serious to me. The bends in the metal body are gradual which makes them easier to correct. To me, the toughest part of the fix looks to be the crease in the first photo next to the turn signal. A skilled body tech should be able to make it right. Of course you'll have to replace the broken plastic and you'll need some paint to make it all good. Barring any damage that isn't evident in the photos, I'd be surprised if it's a total loss.

-Craig

Agee with Craig, that is no way that is going to get totaled, not even close. For sure, put in a claim, that's why you buy insurance.

First: Welcome!

Second: Ouch.

I'm with Bob about this: definitely file a claim.

looks repairable to me .

I want to see a pic of the truck and metal lid that fell on it.

It isn't about whether or not it's repairable, it's about whether the cost of having a shop repair it exceeds the insured value of the vehicle. See back to Copeland's excellent post earlier in the thread: It's usually the cost of labor that makes Vespas get written off.

OP: Sorry for your luck. Slightly different circumstances, but my first scooter ever, only made it about 15 feet before I crashed it, so I definitely feel your pain. Pick up a panzerotti, it helps the healing.

What he said. Get a few quotes before you file a claim. Near Overland Park?

Great colour.

Sorry this happened on what was supposed to be a fun day.

Good news is that Karma is now in debt to you. Suggest buying a lotto ticket…


Chris from CLE

You must be absolutely gutted . Welcome to MV .

Thank you to everyone who weighed in! I went ahead and called the dealership and talked with them first. They said that it should be entirely fixable, and to for sure file a claim. They are pricing out parts, but did say it could be 7-9 months before the painted parts arrive. Talked to insurance and he didn't seem concerned at all, and I'm supposed to call back on Tuesday when I have a better estimate of the damage. Like Bob said (thank you, Bob for your detailed answer), it will be under comprehensive coverage, which for me only had a $500 deductible.

Thanks for everyone's welcomes and well-wishes. After the dealer cleared it to ride (and our KS wind died down some) I got to take it out for the first time. It was absolutely everything I had hoped for! I'll post an update when I gets prices for anyone who is curious.

You might consider going with unpainted parts (or parts in a different color) and having them painted by a local auto paint shop. That could substantially speed up the repair time. Perhaps worth discussing with your dealer.

As above - get unpainted parts as the body shop will have to do some painting anyway.

Darn wind and sorry it's damaged before you even got to enjoy that first long ride. Glad it can be repaired and plastic replaced. I have limited patience and a local good body shop I trust, so if I really want a good paint job, they get it, and I admit to rattle can paint on my LXV150IE, yes, my careless lack of brains was the cause of buying a new fender, so I did a few more things to match.

Winds are one of the biggest reasons I don't like crossing Kansas. The soft cover on our truck was torn off by Kansas winds last November. Fortunately everything in the bed was in boxes and it wasn't raining.

I would just replace the cracked piece and find a body shop that will pull out that fender dent that causes a trim gap (probably with a suction tool...like hail repair). Then enjoy it. As Garp said "It's pre-disastered".

What an awful experience. My vote is for replacing the replaceable with unpainted bits. Then decide if you want it to look perfect or tell everyone that you bought a scratch and dent.
Either way, we are happy to have you join the MV community!