Motor insurance company changed salvage retention option after delaying claim
Hi, need advice on a motor insurance issue.
I informed my insurance company (Reliance General insurance) about my car accident on 28 May. Since then they have dragged the claim.
Car details:
2017 Maruti Suzuki Dzire diesel
Around 1 lakh km running
IDV: approx ₹2.68 lakh
Policy has zero depreciation cover
Official service center repair estimate is around ₹3.5 lakh
Because the official estimate is more than IDV/75% IDV, the insurance company is treating it as Total Loss/CTL.
But I told them I can repair the vehicle from outside for around ₹1.6-2 lakh with proper bills. Earlier they also told me that if I want to keep the vehicle, salvage bidding will happen and I can retain the car after adjustment/payment of salvage value.
Now they are saying there are only two options:
Take total loss settlement, or
Keep the vehicle and get less than/around ₹1 lakh.
My main question is: Can the insurance company refuse the earlier salvage bidding/vehicle retention/outside repair option without giving any proper reason or written calculation?
Also, practically, should I accept total loss in this situation, or is there any legal/practical way to push them for around 50% of IDV as repair settlement if I get the car repaired outside with bills?