When To Total A Car Vs Making Repairs

A car accident is certainly a frightening experience, and the aftermath can also be very stressful. The upset and inconvenience following the accident, when you are left without your car and have an array of decisions to make can be quite taxing. Your insurance company will have a lot to say about those decisions. Knowing the right questions to ask, and how to deal with your claim adjuster will be immensely helpful.

The best way to begin is to know what your insurance policy covers and what the rules are regarding insurance in your state. The insurance company will send an adjuster to evaluate the damage to your car. Adjusters use their own criteria and state laws to determine when to total a car. Some insurance companies use a percentage to gauge whether a car is totaled. This percentage can vary from state to state, anywhere from 51% to 90%. Once the car repair costs reach that point, the adjuster declares the car a total loss. Some state laws only say that it constitutes a total loss when the cost of the car repair exceeds the value of the car itself. Not all states specify what constitutes a total loss. In Arizona, that decision is left to the discretion of an insurance adjuster or a licensed inspector. Many insurers who are allowed the freedom to make the evaluation when a car is a total loss use 70% of the car’s value as the cut off point.

When the adjuster looks at your car, he will look at the current value of the car using a database maintained by the insurance company. He will also consider how much it will cost to pay for a rental car for you while you are without your car. In many states, including Arizona, auto insurers are required to include sales tax as part of the total-loss settlement check. All this will factor into the determination of whether to total your car or repair it.

Moreover, there may be mechanical damage that is not apparent, so the vehicle should also be examined by a qualified mechanic. Some mechanical damage is more obvious, such as water or oil leaking out. Other damage, such as alignment or a damaged universal joint, may need to be determined by a mechanic.

Post by Scottsdale Muffler and Automotive.

 

It is often in the best interest of the insurance company to total a car, so you will need to look out for your own best interests. It is merely a business decision on their part. If your car is totaled, after paying you the settlement amount for your car, the insurance company will probably take possession of your car and apply for a salvage title. They will then sell it at a salvage auction. They often make more money by doing this rather than fixing your car. The process may depend more on the actual cash value of your car than the amount of damage, as a newer, more expensive vehicle is much more costly to declare a total loss than an inexpensive one.

Furthermore, the insurance company will most likely not take it into account if your car was in excellent condition, well maintained with regular oil changes, etc. They also aren’t likely to fairly reimburse you if you just purchased new tires or brakes.

Keep in mind that what the insurance company wishes to pay you may or may not be what is a fair market value based on the condition of the car before the accident. If you disagree with the assessment, you can refuse the settlement and continue discussions with the insurer. If you do not agree and sign over the title of your vehicle, then there is no agreement and no settlement. The insurance company is responsible by state laws to reimburse you in an amount that is equal to the fair market value of your auto. There are several resources available to you for help in determining the market value of your vehicle.

If your vehicle is declared a total loss and you wish to keep it, you can also negotiate with insurance company. You can refuse the settlement, possibly receive a reduced insurance payout and keep the car and repair it at your own expense, you can sell the car as is, or part it out.

If your vehicle was not totaled, do not let the insurance company dictate which body shop or mechanic you use for your car repair. It’s a good idea to get 2 to 3 estimates.

Although this is a trying time, remember that you are the one in control, not your insurance adjuster.