aim-high: You appear to be right once again on the concept that there is a small window of time, outside of which a totaled VW will not affect an owner's right to the settlement payment. (Darn, you are good.):
Question 11 of settlement FAQ brochure (page 10): "Can I receive benefits if my car was totaled after September 18, 2015?" Answer: "If you owned an Eligible Vehicle that was functioning and operable as of September 18, 2015, but was subsequently totaled (and the title was transferred to an insurance company), you will be eligible for benefits under the Class Action Settlement as described in this notice.... There is one exception: if your car is totaled after June 28, 2016, but before the [class action] opt-out date (September 16, 2016), you are excluded from the settlement class...."
So the exclusion-from-payment window opened on June 28, and will close in less than a month. After that, it appears that you can drive your car till September 1, 2018, and even if your car is totalled, you can get the payment (minus any deductible under your policy, etc.) Anyone in the class should read the brochure to confirm this and make their own decision, but it appears to be so.
Thus, one could essentially use the car for a multi-year period (in my case over 4 1/2 years) and still get the full payment. That would amount to having a free car for that period or, depending on the final specifics of the payment calc, having it for maybe $100/month during that time. Wow, okay with me.
Drive carefully during the next 30 days!
